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CBS News
a day ago
- Sport
- CBS News
North Texas teen commits to college wheelchair basketball team, sets eyes for 2028 Paralympic Games
From Red Oak to Mizzou, Jeraldo Henry Jr. is chasing greatness — on and off the court. Early morning practices, intense workouts and road trips for national tournaments. For most teenagers, it might sound overwhelming — but for Jeraldo Henry Jr., it's all part of the plan. The 18-year-old wheelchair basketball standout from Red Oak, Texas, is heading to the University of Missouri this fall with a clear goal in mind: earn a college degree, continue competing at the highest level and make it to the 2028 Paralympic Games. "It's been a goal ever since I started playing to make it to the Paralympics," he said. Jeraldo Henry Jr. has been playing wheelchair basketball since he was four years old. Now, he competes nationally with two elite programs: the Dallas Jr. Wheelchair Mavericks and the Texas Outlaws, an adult-level team. He recently committed to Mizzou's collegiate wheelchair basketball team — a major step on his road to Team USA. "[I'm] mostly training a lot, like pretty much every day with my dad outside. Even if it's hot, we still go outside, shoot some hoops, just trying to get to the level where I want to be at," he said. His talent and drive have earned him national recognition, including the Timothy J. Nugent High School Academic All-America Award, which honors both academic and athletic excellence. Jeraldo Henry Jr.'s ability to excel both on the court and in the classroom is made possible through Texas Online Preparatory School (TOPS) — a fully accredited online public school program. Through virtual learning, he maintains a 4.03 GPA, even while managing frequent travel, training and medical challenges. "If I have classwork or homework, I take it on the road and open my laptop wherever I am," he said. His mom, Christina Henry, said that the flexibility of TOPS has played a key role in his success. "He set a goal: to play in college and make Team USA. TOPS gave him the flexibility to make it happen," Christina Henry said. His impact extends beyond sports. Alongside his mother, he co-authored a motivational book for teens called The NARWHALS' Way: A Framework for Teenage Happiness. The book offers tools and encouragement for overcoming life's obstacles — something he knows firsthand. "If you think we couldn't get any closer," Christina Henry said, "writing the book got us even closer." As he heads to Mizzou to study nutrition and exercise physiology, Christina Henry's advice remains simple and powerful: "Stay driven. And when you can't drive yourself — find someone who can, until you're ready to get back in the driver's seat." From basketball courts in North Texas to national arenas, Jeraldo Henry Jr.'s journey is far from over — and he's not slowing down anytime soon. Whether it's representing Mizzou, mentoring younger athletes, or aiming for gold with Team USA, Junior is focused, fearless and fully committed to living a life with no limits. "It's not about how you start," his mom said. "It's about how you live."
CBS News
a day ago
- Sport
- CBS News
North Texas teen with spina bifida commits to college wheelchair basketball team, sets eyes for 2028 Paralympic Games
From Red Oak to Mizzou, Jeraldo Henry Jr. is chasing greatness — on and off the court. Early morning practices, intense workouts and road trips for national tournaments. For most teenagers, it might sound overwhelming — but for Jeraldo Henry Jr., it's all part of the plan. The 18-year-old wheelchair basketball standout from Red Oak, Texas, is heading to the University of Missouri this fall with a clear goal in mind: earn a college degree, continue competing at the highest level and make it to the 2028 Paralympic Games. "It's been a goal ever since I started playing to make it to the Paralympics," he said. Jeraldo Henry Jr. has been playing wheelchair basketball since he was four years old. Now, he competes nationally with two elite programs: the Dallas Jr. Wheelchair Mavericks and the Texas Outlaws, an adult-level team. He recently committed to Mizzou's collegiate wheelchair basketball team — a major step on his road to Team USA. "[I'm] mostly training a lot, like pretty much every day with my dad outside. Even if it's hot, we still go outside, shoot some hoops, just trying to get to the level where I want to be at," he said. His talent and drive have earned him national recognition, including the Timothy J. Nugent High School Academic All-America Award, which honors both academic and athletic excellence. Jeraldo Henry Jr.'s ability to excel both on the court and in the classroom is made possible through Texas Online Preparatory School (TOPS) — a fully accredited online public school program. Through virtual learning, he maintains a 4.03 GPA, even while managing frequent travel, training and medical challenges. "If I have classwork or homework, I take it on the road and open my laptop wherever I am," he said. His mom, Christina Henry, said that the flexibility of TOPS has played a key role in his success. "He set a goal: to play in college and make Team USA. TOPS gave him the flexibility to make it happen," Christina Henry said. His impact extends beyond sports. Alongside his mother, he co-authored a motivational book for teens called The NARWHALS' Way: A Framework for Teenage Happiness. The book offers tools and encouragement for overcoming life's obstacles — something he knows firsthand. "If you think we couldn't get any closer," Christina Henry said, "writing the book got us even closer." As he heads to Mizzou to study nutrition and exercise physiology, Christina Henry's advice remains simple and powerful: "Stay driven. And when you can't drive yourself — find someone who can, until you're ready to get back in the driver's seat." From basketball courts in North Texas to national arenas, Jeraldo Henry Jr.'s journey is far from over — and he's not slowing down anytime soon. Whether it's representing Mizzou, mentoring younger athletes, or aiming for gold with Team USA, Junior is focused, fearless and fully committed to living a life with no limits. "It's not about how you start," his mom said. "It's about how you live."
CBS News
05-08-2025
- CBS News
Three shot, one seriously injured at unsanctioned North Texas trail ride that featured back-to-school giveaways, authorities say
An unsanctioned trail ride in Red Oak that included back-to-school giveaways ended in gunfire over the weekend, leaving three people shot — one seriously injured, according to the Ellis County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office has not released the names of the victims, and it remains unclear what led to the shooting. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Sheriff Brad Norman said deputies were called to 830 Batchelor Road around 1:30 a.m. Sunday and found three adults suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims remains in intensive care, the sheriff's office said. Norman said most of the attendees weren't Ellis County residents and had traveled from other parts of Texas to attend. The sheriff also said no mass gathering permit was issued for the trail ride, violating Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 751. The unauthorized event raised safety concerns and placed a strain on local emergency services, according to Norman. "We take public safety seriously, especially when it comes to large, unregulated events that draw crowds from outside our county," Norman said in a news release. "These gatherings create unnecessary risks for our community and strain local emergency services." Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact the Ellis County Sheriff's Office at (972) 937-6060 or submit tips anonymously through CrimeStoppers of Ellis County at (972) 937-PAYS (7297). CBS News Texas will provide additional details as they become available.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mastriano proposes banning non-military-related gatherings at Harrisburg's Soldiers' Grove
(WHTM)– Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano is proposing legislation that would ban non-military-related events from happening at Soldiers Grove in Harrisburg. According to Mastriano's memo, the legislation aims to preserve the historical significance of Soldiers' Grove, which is situated on the grounds of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Soldiers Grove is a living memorial dedicated to Pennsylvania's war veterans. The space is often used for events, including a weekly food truck festival when the weather permits. The Pride Festival of Central Pennsylvania is set to take place at Soldiers' Grove next weekend, on July 26. The memo says the legislation seeks to 'protect the dignity of this sacred space by restricting its use to only those events held exclusively to honor or support veterans or first responders and their families. If passed, the Department of General Services would be prohibited from issuing permits to authorize non-military-related gatherings in the area. Individuals or groups that break the rule may be fined up to $2,500 or face up to one year in prison, per the memo. The legislation has not yet been submitted for introduction. Soldiers' Grove, a grove of Red Oak trees dedicated to all Pennsylvania military veterans, is situated behind the Capitol on Commonwealth Avenue. It was officially established under the Act of October 30, 1987, and lists the names of soldiers from Pennsylvania. It also hosts a historical marker commemorating the United States Colored Troops Grand Review, according to PAGetaway. The Grove surrounds Pennsylvania's Congressional Medal of Honor Monument and can be reserved for ceremonies, press conferences, and other events, according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wide Receiver Brayden Robinson Commits To Notre Dame
Wide Receiver Brayden Robinson Commits To Notre Dame originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Notre Dame has picked up another important player in its vaunted 2026 recruiting class with Red Oak (Texas) High School wide receiver Brayden Robinson pledging to the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame beat out Miami (Fla.) and Arizona to land this dynamic playmaker. Advertisement Robinson had a bit of an unexpected breakout in 2024. After catching 46 passes for 686 yards (14.9 YPC) and eight touchdowns as a sophomore while serving as a complementary weapon to veteran standout Taz Williams Jr. (Baylor signee), Robinson was thrust into a bigger role as a junior. Williams went down with a season-ending injury in game two and Robinson stepped up in a big, big way. He finished the season with 79 catches for 1,408 yards (17.8 YPC) and 15 touchdowns while emerging as one of the best pass catchers in the state of Texas. Join the Notre Dame Champions Lounge for the latest intel and analysis of the Fighting Irish! At 5-9 and 160 pounds, Robinson doesn't have prototype size you want in an outside pass catcher but his game is outstanding. He is a legit burner whose 10.44 in the 100-meter dash translates onto the field. Robinson isn't just an after-the-catch weapon, he's also a good route runner with very good ball skills. Combine that with his speed and electric athletic skills and you understand why he was so dominant as a junior. Robinson adds another explosive athlete to the Notre Dame wide receiver room that also includes fellow Texas star Kaydon Finley, dynamic Georgia receiver Bubba Frazier, Arizona pass catcher Devin Fitzgerald and two-sport star Dylan Faison out of Florida. Advertisement Robinson earned a four-star grade and a Top 250 prospect grade on the Irish Breakdown board. He is also a four-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN, with the latter ranking him as the nation's no. 293 overall player. The Red Oak standout earned offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Miami (Fla.), Ole Miss, Auburn, Nebraska, South Carolina, TCU, Arizona State, Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, SMU, Utah, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Baylor, Texas Tech, Arizona, Kansas, Houston, Stanford and California. Robinson is the 25th player to commit to Notre Dame. He joins Florida quarterback Noah Grubbs, Texas running backs Javian Osborne, Georgia running back Jonaz Walton, Finley, Frazier, Fitzgerald and Faison at wide receiver, Kansas tight end Ian Premer, Ohio tight end Preston Fryzel, Pennsylvania offensive linemen Tyler Merrill and Grayson McKeogh, Michigan offensive linemen Ben Nichols, Gregory Patrick and Sullivan Garvin, Connecticut offensive lineman Charlie Thom, North Carolina ends Ebenezer Ewetade and Rodney Dunham, Texas defensive tackle Tiki Hola, North Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis Jr., Ohio linebacker Jakobe Clapper, Pennsylvania defensive back Joey O'Brien Florida cornerback Ayden Pouncey, Maryland cornerback Khary Adams and Tennessee cornerback Chaston Smith. Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge Advertisement Irish Breakdown Content 2025 Scholarship Chart 2025 Football Schedule Notre Dame 2026 Commits Notre Dame 2026 Scholarship Offers 2025 Commit Rankings - Offense 2025 Commit Rankings - Defense 2024 Recruiting Class 2023 Recruiting Class 2022 Recruiting Class ——————— Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community! Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178 Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
