Kids get their game on at Redmond sports camps

Summer sports camps were everywhere on the Redmond High campus this week. Football, boys and girls basketball, wrestling and tennis were on the docket and young participants had a blast during their time with the high school coaches and players who imparted their wisdom on the kids.

“I think the coaches are really nice so they make you feel comfortable for learning,” said Alexis Hendrickson, 8, over at the girls basketball camp.

Added Nolan Setcavage, 11, prior to the football camp: “I’ve been getting a lot of new skills that some people haven’t learned yet. Camp is just fun playing with the high schoolers and hanging out and having fun with your friends.”

Parent Tiffany Gore, who has two sons in the boys basketball camp this year, said it’s fun for them to get exercise and get to know other kids in the community.

Owen Gore, 10, said the camp teaches participants to play hard and have good sportsmanship, and Connor Gore, 8, said he learns how to persevere.

“I think it’s really important that kids are in some type of camp, whether it’s sports or something academic, something to just keep their mind going throughout the summer,” Tiffany said.

RHS boys varsity hoops head coach Todd Rubin’s camp registered a record-setting 105 players in grades 3-8. He wants the players to have fun, learn some skills and gain a greater love for basketball.

“I think it’s awesome that we get a bunch of our high school students working with kids in the community — it keeps us connected with kids at all the elementary schools and the middle schools around the area,” Rubin said.

Mustang girls varsity basketball head coach Ashley Graham echoes Rubin’s sentiment about connecting the high school players with the youngsters. The high school girls run the stations and there are four coaches per group to provide maximum coaching and bonding at the camp for girls in grades 3-8.

“There’s eighth-graders that are coming to the camp, where they get to start to do some of the drills that we do at the high school level,” Graham said. “It was a really fun camp when I was growing up and we always looked forward to it. I think it’s good for the high school girls to teach as well, because I think it helps them learn a little bit better what they’re supposed to be doing.”

Emily Wren practices her dribbling skills while tossing a tennis ball at the Redmond High School Girls Basketball Summer Camp on June 26. Andy Nystrom / staff photo

Brooklyn Perry, 9, said she’s improved her defensive skills and made friends at the girls camp, and Emily Wren, 14, said it’s a good environment where the coaches include everyone and help them understand the drills.

New RHS varsity football head coach Mickey Ahrens was thrilled to be out on the field and getting kids amped for gridiron action in the fall. Ahrens and his staff, which included high schoolers, had the youngsters in grades K-8 — including three girls — throwing and catching passes, running the ball and smacking into pads.

Hank Crawford and Lincoln Perry, both 11, said they enjoy learning new fundamentals to help them become better players and getting advice from coaches and players who have been through the same experience.

Caden Weber plows through the pads during the Redmond Junior Mustang Football Camp on June 26. Andy Nystrom / staff photo

“What I was excited about, was today when I showed up, kids here early just telling me how excited they were, and their moms telling me that they woke up wanting to come to camp early. That to me is awesome,” Ahrens said with a smile. “The Junior Mustangs football is hugely important to the whole Redmond program, and one of the reasons that I came to Redmond was to be a part of the whole football (program) and the whole Redmond community.”