On the Whistle

This week, I virtually sit down with Adam Slone of Life Serve Youth Foundation. Adam is the founder of LSYF, an organization using the sport of tennis to transform the lives of underprivileged youth.   

The program, a two-week sleepaway camp in upstate New York focuses on bettering the lives of children of financially limited families through mentorship, physical activity, learning, but most of all, FUN.   

Adam’s young life was riddled with obstacles as he fought the debilitating Gaucher’s Disease. He tells us how this medical diagnosis changed the course of his life at a young age and where it brought him today.   

On The Whistle is brought to you by SquadLocker

During my interview with Bior Guigni, CEO of Beat the Streets New England we uncover how this exemplary mentor went from being one of California’s first female wrestlers to helping foster the development of community outreach programs in Boston and Providence. 

We hear about how wrestling shaped her upbringing; preparing her for “the next match” no matter what or when it was. Her program, Beat the Streets New England uses wrestling as a tool and motivator to teach our youth to successfully overcome socio-economic injustices. 

Check them out here: Beat the Streets New England - btsne.org

On the Whistle is brought to you by Squadlocker. 

Join our SquadLocker team on a different type of episode of On The Whistle this week! Guests are 

Tip Fairchild- Sales Director, Former Pro Baseball Player 

Stephanie Mirando – Marketing Director, Former NCCA Athlete 

Dan Koppen – Enterprise Brand Advocate, Former Pro Football player and Superbowl champ  

They join Gary as they chop it up about apparel, what it means to them and how it felt to be a youth in sports. Uniforms are more than just a piece of clothing -- it brings a sense of pride and joy to the youth and may mean more than you know.  

Get all of your uniform needs taken care of by visiting squadlocker.com/suitup

This week’s episode features references to suicide and self-harm. If you or a loved one is experiencing thoughts of suicide or harming yourself, please know there are resources to get you immediate help. You can call the suicide prevention hotline 24/7: 800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/

This week, I talk with the founder and president of Elevate Lacrosse and Elevate Academy in Long Island, NY, Dave Kotowoski. Dave tells me a little bit of his story on how he got to where he is today. In the episode, you’ll hear about how he was afforded the opportunity to study at Brown University and meet a life-changing mentor…all while remaining a three-sport athlete. Listen to Dave’s uplifting story to hear his rise from a troubled youth to a successful Ivy League scholar who – after spending some time on Wall Street – decided coaching young kids is where he belongs.

This week’s episode, “We Not Me” features a great conversation with coach Dave Steckel. Stec – as his player’s call him – has an extensive collegiate coaching resume featuring schools like Rutgers, University of Missouri, and Missouri State University. We discuss his recent book, “The Fisherman; Leadership Traits to Win the Game of Life. 

Coach highlights the importance of overcoming conflict and disagreements privately and working together as a team as the key to success on the field. Stec also explains how preconceived notions caused his career shift..and it’s not what you’d think…

You read the book for yourself here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1938254856/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk

On the Whistle is brought to you by SquadLocker! 

This week, Natalie Hummel – co-founder of Every Kids Sports – joins On the Whistle to discuss her program and its mission to enable underprivileged youth a chance to place recreational sports. In the show, we uncover some of Natalie’s past with regard to how sports and coaches molded her into the successful person she is today. 

We learn of a coaching change that gave her a chance to showcase her talents and now, Natalie is giving kids a chance to showcase their own talents, no matter the community or income level.

Today’s episode features a conversation with Sarah Albus, former NCAA Soccer player and US Women’s National Team member. But we’re focused on her athletic feats in today’s show because Sarah has put together an astounding organization called Open Door Sports. Her company’s mission is to provide high-quality sports programs to ALL kids – regardless of physical ability, financial need, or location. 

We talk about her experiences as a mother of a child living with a disability and how her daughter, Hannah helped pave the way for the program’s growing success.

On the Whistle is brought to you by Squadlocker. 

This week, Michael Worden from the Player Progression Academy in Washington D.C. joined On the Whistle to discuss some of the success he’s experienced with his growing program. Being an athlete since his childhood years, Michael has been enveloped in the complexities of youth sports. We learn it takes a whole lot of balance to run his organization. Between coaching players and managing a business. Between balancing player development between training an athlete and raising a well-rounded individual off the field as well. He also has learned to balance parents’ requests with the players’ needs. Michael and the PPA program certainly have found their stride; providing a place for over 2,100 DC metro area youth to sharpen their skills, have fun, and build companionship through sports.

Mike’s TED Talk: https://youtu.be/A40CVc0akWo

Player Progression Academy: https://www.ppateam.com/

Back from our week break, On the Whistle joined up with two renowned Rhode Island high school lacrosse coaches; Coach Mike Fraioli and Coach Steve O’Donnell. Both coaches represent prolific programs who meet regularly in the State Finals. Mike has been coaching Moses Brown lacrosse since 2008 and Steve has been with the La Salle Rams since 2006. A typical 1 and 2 seed, Fraioli and O’Donnell’s programs have come to build quite the rivalry since MB joined the Rhode Island Interscholastic league in 2009. Both coaches are working within our community to make the sport more accessible to underprivileged athletes Our conversation today starts with the importance of Lacrosse in a developing mind and then we get into the Moses Brown / La Salle rivalry…and it’s not exactly what you’d expect.

This week we divert from sports and take a look at the marvelous mentoring Alexander Major II is doing in education. A physics teacher by trade, Alexander brings his life experiences into the classroom to share his knowledge of the subject while keeping it interesting for his students. His revolutionary teaching techniques focus on instructing students how to teach themselves so that they have the tools – and CONFIDENCE – they need when they graduate.  

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"On The Whistle" is brought to you by SquadLocker.