Tavis Leake

For Tavis Leake, Newton YMCA volunteer coach, the season was about far more than wins and losses. It was about impact.

“What motivates me is the opportunity to pour into the youth and give them something positive to be a part of,” he shared. “I’m thankful for the coaches who had a positive impact in my life, and I’m hoping I can pay back all that I was blessed with.”

Each week on the court became something Tavis looked forward to — not just for the game, but for the growth he witnessed.

“The practices every week were the most rewarding,” he said. “The young athletes I had the opportunity to coach worked hard and did it with joy. It was so rewarding to watch them improve weekly!”

Through Tavis’ eyes, as both a mentor and a collegiate coach, the experience stood out as something deeper.

“This experience reminded me that the small or big lessons learned while playing whichever sport is chosen is greater than the sport itself,” he reflected. “Seeing those young athletes become a team, work hard, learn to lead, learn resilience and dedication was the biggest blessing.”

He added, “As a collegiate coach, it was refreshing to see these kids play the sport with joy and work hard without expectations or constraints.”