Go Yungsterz!

The YMCA Teen Center has established a basketball team that is actively participating in the City of Española Men’s Basketball League. The team has overcome trial and error to better their skills as a team. Coaching the team is Ben Sandoval, the YMCA Teen Center Director. The team name "YUNGSTERZ" was used because the team had the youngest group of players in the entire league. The team felt that they would be natural underdogs as they are only in middle and high school, but they had a passion, or as some would say "ganas", to play on a team. The team is diverse and the members come from different walks of life. Many have not had the opportunity to play on their school team for various reasons, but at the YMCA the focus is to unify and put an end to some of the anger and hate that can be evident in a community. The team often struggled to work or play together and required learning of basic fundamentals of the game. The team now has players that three months ago could not dribble down half the court; now they can dribble the entire length of the court and drive in a lay-up. For some readers of this story, this may sound juvenile, but take a moment and consider what options some of these teenagers would have if the basketball program at the YMCA did not exist. The team wishes to thank those that have embraced their efforts as a team and are active supporters of their success. Special thanks to Maria Sandoval for creating an opportunity for the YUNGSTERZ to be involved in the Men’s league, Stephanie Martinez and the Española Weed and Seed program for sponsorship with the basketball uniforms, the Lucero Center staff for caring for and often defending the teenagers when adults on the court would sometimes be rude to the players because they were so young, and as some would say "lacked skills". Thanks to the City of Española for supporting the ongoing partnership with The Family YMCA. Also special thanks to the JPPO and Rio Arriba drug court program for supporting students and their successes in their involvement with the basketball team. Last but not least, thank you to the parents who have made the effort and attended the basketball games at the Lucero center. We need more parents like you to help our teenagers succeed. As a coach and mentor of these teens, I want to say thank you to my team of staff for the great job they do on a daily basis at the Teen Center. I wish to invite all readers to come by the YMCA Teen Center and see what is going on. I encourage you to become involved and bring your teenager to a supervised environment where change does happen.

We can be reached by phone at 505-747-6569, we are open from Monday thru Friday 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or you can visit us on the web at www.laymca.org and you can select the "Teens" tab for more information. GO YUNGSTERZ!!!