Latest news with #WashingtonHighSchool
San Francisco Chronicle
16-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries coach inspires Bay Area's young Asian American athletes
There's nothing special about the basketball court at Meyer Park in Fremont, with its cracked black asphalt, fading white paint and a splintering wood backboard. But it's the court where Jordyn Yamaguchi grew up playing with her dad and older brother. 'My dad would always bring us out here and he'd bring cones and everything,' Yamaguchi, a senior at Washington High School, said as she made her way around her childhood stomping grounds. She started playing organized basketball in kindergarten. Since fifth grade she's been with the San Jose Ninjas organization, one of the many Asian American basketball leagues in the Bay Area. But despite having a tight-knit Asian American and Pacific Islander sports community, Yamaguchi, who is Japanese American, didn't often see herself represented in higher levels of the sport — until now. The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA's first expansion team in 17 years, played their first regular-season game on Friday at Chase Center. Yamaguchi will be in the stands with a couple of friends and thousands of fans ready to back the new team led by Natalie Nakase, the first Asian American head coach in the league. 'It's just really huge,' Yamaguchi said. 'I feel like we're finally being seen, women and Asian Americans, through a sport, which never really was the case in the past.' As of 2023, there had only been 12 players of Asian descent since the WNBA started in 1996. Nakase, who is Japanese American, said during training camp she understands the significance of her place in history. 'I can handle being the first,' she said, 'but it's more important to me that I'm not the last.' At 5-foot-2, Nakase walked on as a point guard at UCLA. She would eventually earn a scholarship and a spot in the starting lineup. She played professionally in the NWBL before the league folded in 2007. In 2018, Nakase became one of the first female assistant coaches in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers. She then joined the WNBA in 2022 as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces. 'I didn't grow up thinking like, 'Hey, let's be a role model,' or 'Let's be someone who inspires people.' I'm honestly just following my passion. I love basketball. I wouldn't know what to do without it. I'm actually just showing the world that when you have a passion and you work really, really hard, you can do anything,' Nakase said. It's Nakase's trailblazing path that is now serving as a blueprint for young players like Yamaguchi. 'She's a great coach, she's well respected in our community. It was an eye-opening moment, seeing a girl who had a similar path that a lot of my close friends have right now and just seeing how successful she is and this big accomplishment, it's been really exciting for all of us,' Yamaguchi said. For both Yamaguchi and Nakase, the basketball communities they grew up in were about more than just playing the game on the court. Nakase said the game was a passion and love language she shared with her own dad. Her father taught her to push through obstacles and embrace struggle. Now she hopes to repay those life lessons with her players. For Yamaguchi, Asian Leagues have allowed her to connect with lifelong friends who not only share the same passion but the same background. 'We've all connected over a sport, but we've also been able to bond over culture and heritage. I've made meaningful relationships with so many Asian league coaches as well as people from teams in Sacramento and teams in L.A.' Yamaguchi will start the next chapter of her basketball career playing for Cal Lutheran at the NCAA Division III level, where she hopes to inspire the next generation of young players. 'Finally being here and having girls look to me in my community and at the next level, I just think it's really important to have confidence in yourself because you're going to get where you want to be if you just put the time and effort in,' Yamaguchi said. Until then, she'll be attending Valkyries games this season, including the season opener on Friday, cheering on her own role models. 'I've grown up going to NBA games, but never WNBA games until now. I feel it'll just be that much more personal to me just because I grew up being a girl playing basketball. Finally I can experience it at a professional level,' Yamaguchi said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Death threats, and a cross burnt in my front yard" - Dominique Wilkins recalls living in North Carolina after he chose to go to Georgia
Dominique Wilkins was a high school phenom. A walking headline. A soaring, rim-snapping promise of basketball brilliance out of Washington High School in North Carolina. Nique was supposed to play for North Carolina State. That was the plan. Homegrown hero. The local boy stays home. Red and white banners, ACC glory, and decades of nostalgia in the making. But just as the ink was expected to dry, another school came knocking. The University of Georgia entered the picture late — and Wilkins listened. Then he signed. And then, North Carolina turned. Wilkins' decision He and five other high school All-Americans decided to go there together. The decision to choose Georgia came at a cost. It was a move of autonomy and vision, but for the people in his hometown, it was a betrayal. Advertisement "Once I made that decision, all hell broke loose in the state of North Carolina," he said. "I got F's on my transcript, paint poured on my car, windows burst down, death threats, and a cross burnt in my front yard." This became targeted hate. At 18, Wilkins became the enemy of his own community. The same people who had cheered his state titles and filled gyms just to watch him dunk were now willing to destroy him for leaving the ACC. By the end of the 1970s, he had already carved out legend status in the local hoops scene — back-to-back MVP honors, back-to-back Class 3-A State Championships, and a game that danced somewhere between raw power and divine grace. He was everything the state hoped for. Until he wasn't. Advertisement His cousin, a police officer, got the call when things reached a boiling point. He told Wilkins he'd escort him to the police station to get things sorted. But after seeing the rage boiling in the streets and hearing the whispers of violence, he changed his mind and told Nique to pack. That night, the 6'8" forward and his family left for Atlanta. No fanfare. No goodbye. Just silence and fear folded into cardboard boxes. He never returned to North Carolina — not for 30 years. Related: Isiah Thomas recalls his college recruitment: "My mom closed the briefcase and said, 'My son's not for sale" Facing hate Wilkins didn't have any pleasant memories of North Carolina after making the decision not to go to school there. The most harrowing was the appearance of a burning cross in his front yard Advertisement "I go out the front door, and I get to the front yard; there's a big cross in front of my yard," Wilkins said. "And I remember being very nervous and scared to being very angry." It was the kind of moment that rearranges a young man's understanding of home, safety, and identity. Hate called. It set up camp on his lawn. In the days after, the spiral got worse. Accusations started flying. One claimed he stole a tape from a department store, which was the final straw. That night, Atlanta became a sanctuary. Georgia became salvation. And Wilkins never looked back. In Athens, Georgia, the Atlanta icon went to work. Across three college seasons, he averaged 21.6 points per game, muscling through defenses and dunking with the kind of rage only survivors carry. He was named to the All-Southeastern Conference First Team in 1981 and was widely projected to be a top pick in the 1982 NBA Draft. He left college after his junior year, ready to write the next chapter. Advertisement North Carolina, though, remained a scar. For three decades, he stayed away. No visits. No hometown reconnections. Just distance. Until 2014 — when the state tried to make amends. A statue of Wilkins was unveiled at his high school. That was the first time he came back. Wilkins didn't return as a broken son. He returned as a Hall of Famer, a nine-time NBA All-Star, and one of the greatest to ever do it. His choice to leave didn't derail him; it defined him. Related: "If 'Nique decides to stay, I'm not gonna take 21" - Dominique Wilkins says Tim Duncan would've never worn his jersey number out of respect
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Washington's Grace Peterson commits to USD
VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota head women's basketball coach Carrie Eighmey is pleased to announce the addition of Grace Peterson to the 2025 signing class. Peterson is a 6-0 forward from Sioux Falls. She wrapped up her senior season at Washington High School with a South Dakota Class AA all-tournament nod and her third all-state honor of her career. 'We love that Grace has decided to be a Yote and represent her home state!' Eighmey said. 'She is a hard worker and plays with a super high motor. She's very skilled and will be a versatile player on both ends of the floor for us! Her character, competitiveness, and love for the game are all traits that set her apart!' Peterson was a 12-point, 6.5-rebound per game player for the Warriors. In 93 varsity games, she recorded 891 points, 429 rebounds, and 99 assists. She was a three-year starter and four-year letter winners at Washington, receiving all-state honors in 2023, 2024, and 2025. She was the 2025 Class AA Spirit of Su honoree, given to an outstanding senior who shines in athletic ability, leadership, character, sportsmanship, and academics. She is also South Dakota's No. 1 ranked athlete in the Class of 2025 by Prep Hoops. Peterson is an academic all-state honoree and National Honor Society member. She plans to major in education at South Dakota. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘Shred It', to raise money for Crime Stoppers
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — You have a chance to protect yourself from identity theft and help a good cause at the same time this weekend. 'Shred It', the annual fundraiser for Crime Stoppers since 2010, will be operating this Saturday at 4 school parking lots in Sioux Falls. Organizers say it is a great time to safely get rid of those documents you've been hanging on to. The Shred Event provides a safe and secure way to dispose of sensitive documents. The event offers drop-off locations spread all over Sioux Falls. People can bring documents such as tax files, medical records, or other confidential papers to be shredded. The president of Crime Stoppers says it's easy, people can load up their paper in the back seat or trunk and volunteers at the drop off sites will take care of the rest. Absentee voting starts Monday for SFSD school board 'So when people show up we will have some folks there directing traffic, you will definitely see us in the parking lots, we've got a bunch of big trucks handling all the shredding and documents, we will guide you up, people can pull up to where we will be able to unload their documents,' said Jesse Callahan. People dropping off document's to be shredded don't even have to get out of their falls Police Chief Jon Thum says it's a great way to help solve crimes. 'I can tell you first hand, in speaking to our detectives that sometimes it is the Crime Stoppers tip that pushes us one way or another it could be the huge difference in an investigation,' said Chief Thum. This event is a win-win, it assists in solving crimes and helps prevent identity to mention de-cluttering your home or office. 'Anything that you want to get rid of you can,' said Callahan. 'We have people bring in one small grocery bag of things, we have businesses being in a file cabinet's worth of old business documents. The suggested donation is 5 dollars per box or bag.' The 'Shred It' event will be held in the parking lots at four locations Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Washington High School, Lincoln High School , Roosevelt High School and Sioux Falls 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prom for students with special needs gives youths a chance to dress up and shine
Victor Matts last attended a prom when he was a troubled 17-year-old in Chicago. 'I went to prom with the intent to steal. I wasn't there to dance or celebrate,' Matts, now 65, reflected with a hint of regret. 'I was a completely different person back then.' Fast forward to last Friday night and the vibrant lights of Washington High School illuminated a momentous occasion: Matts was celebrating his daughter Jennefer's first prom. 'She didn't have a date, so I told her, 'Baby, you don't have to worry because I will gladly be your date,'' Matts said. Planning for this big night began weeks in advance. Matts made sure everything was color-coordinated, even driving to Gurnee, Illinois, to find the perfect palace green gown for Jennefer. He complemented it with a matching green suit. with his daughter's look completed with a corsage of green, white, and yellow roses. "I wanted this to be one of the best nights of her life — a night she and I would never forget. This is what prom is all about," Matts said. Send us your pictures: Submit your 2025 prom photos for our statewide gallery Jennefer, 14, and her dad were among the 200 guests and numerous volunteers celebrating the 22nd annual prom for students with special needs April 11. While most students attend MPS, the prom attracts students from all over Wisconsin and has grown into a reunion of sorts with many attendees returning to the dance after graduating. On the dance floor, instead of trying to learn the trendy TikTok dances like "Uptown, Downtown," which has more than 1.8 million likes, Matts chose to embrace the rhythm of his past with the faithful two-step. 'I may not know all those new dances, but I do what I can when I get out there,' he said. 'I'm just trying to ensure this night is unforgettable for my baby girl. This is my first real prom, too.' Jennefer's radiant smile said it all as they twirled on a Wicked-themed dance floor, featuring life-sized characters like Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. In a heartwarming moment, Jennefer paused mid-dance, wrapped her arms around her dad, and pulled him into a warm hug on the bustling dance floor, solidifying the special bond they shared on this memorable night. The prom was established when MPS had separate schools for students with disabilities. Staff members recognized that their students yearned for a magical event celebrating them — a prom where they could dress up and shine alongside their peers. For the past two decades, Washington High School has hosted the prom, and this beloved tradition has flourished thanks to the planning and support of teachers, students, and various community groups. Earl Ingram Jr., a radio personality and a member of the group Voices of the Elders, arrived 8 hours before the first guest arrived. He helped set up props and worked to transform the cafeteria into 'The Emerald City of Oz.' 'I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here," Ingram said. "When you see the joy on these young people's faces and the excitement in their parents, there is nothing like it." This event holds special significance for Ingram, who has been raising Jahmaree, his son with autism, since he was 2 years old. Jahmaree has been attending the event for the last 12 years. Now 23, he eagerly looks forward to the prom each year. When Jahmaree arrived, he quickly spotted many of his friends, and they all headed to the dance floor to support one another. The event resembled any typical prom you might imagine. The DJ played upbeat music, creating an energetic atmosphere. Groups of girls gathered on the side, dancing and taking selfies and videos to share on Instagram. Several of the guys gathered in groups doing their cool dances. When popular songs played, everyone rushed to the dance floor to showcase the latest TikTok dances. Additionally, the event featured a "glam room," where volunteers offered nail and makeup services to the girls and provided suits for young men who wanted to dress up for the occasion. Weeks before the prom, someone donated eight prom dresses for girls in need to choose from. Cherelle Harris, 32, who runs the Pearl Label in West Allis, met with the girls and made alterations to the dresses at no charge. "Just watching them in the dresses and seeing them enjoy their night means everything," Harris said. Amid all the excitement, Victor Matts and his daughter danced to nearly every song. When they took a break, Jennefer was all smiles while her dad caught his breath. Matts said his daughter doesn't speak much to people she doesn't know. He believes that, despite her special needs, she deserves to be treated like any other child. He emphasized the importance of highlighting events like the prom, especially in light of the Trump administration's moves on special needs programs. Earlier this month, 23 Democratic senators wrote a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, warning that drastic funding reductions to the U.S. Department of Education and a proposed transfer of special education programs to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would harm students with disabilities. 'We have to keep shining a light on the positives of those with special needs and fight for them," he said. "I plan to fight for my daughter because she deserves to be treated like everyone else." Heidi Cumbajin, the transition coordinator at Washington, said planning for 'A Night in Emerald City' began in January when students chose the theme, inspired by the movies and musicals "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked." Many volunteers came together to ensure the event would be a night to remember. Numerous special moments unfolded that might go unnoticed if one isn't paying attention. For instance, Willie Jude II, the new executive director of the MPS Foundation, helped a young man tie his tie at the side of the dance floor. There was also a touching moment when a young lady embraced the woman who altered her dress, and the smile on another young lady's face as she admired her freshly done nails. Additionally, Kyle Witty, who provided some animated props, climbed a ladder to ensure the lights on one of his props were turned on. Cumbajin noted that as the event grew, students from the culinary arts program at four schools — Washington, Vincent, Bay View, and Madison — prepared the meals for the occasion. The menu featured wicked wild wings, mac and cheese, stuffed chicken breast, rice pilaf, roasted vegetables, berry tort, cornbread, and garlic bread. Before I left for the night, Jennefer pulled her father back onto the dance floor to dance for the rest of the evening. While I'm sure Matts' feet will be sore after all the dancing, it was a night he and his daughter will never forget. Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@ follow him on X @jecausey. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Volunteers make magic for hundreds at MPS special needs prom | Opinion
