In less than a year’s time, Kevin McDonald has turned an idea into a burgeoning organization that aspiring area athletes have begun flocking toward.
McDonald is the president and head coach of the Paper City Flyers youth track and field program based out of Holyoke, a nonprofit that “strives to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where young athletes of all abilities can develop their skills, build character, and learn the values of perseverance, teamwork and sportsmanship,” as noted in the Flyers’ cover letter.
McDonald accepts athletes from grades 2-12 and the Flyers are members of the USATF and AAU, which allows athletes to compete in organized meets against competitors from all around the state and New England.
This past spring, the Flyers attracted around 50 athletes who joined the program and a pair of youngsters in Genesis Kelly and Ben Ramos earned national qualifier status.
“They just competed in the regional Junior Olympics in Fitchburg,” McDonald said. “Genesis, in particular, took third place in the long jump and fifth place in the 100 and qualified for nationals. Ben took, I believe, seventh and is a national qualifier.”
McDonald noted neither Kelly nor Ramos will compete in the national meet, due to prior commitments, but nevertheless, the fact that two athletes from the up-and-coming Flyers program did well enough to earn spots in a nationwide meet speaks to the potential that lies within this Paper City youth program.
“My goal is to develop programs here in Holyoke to compete with what’s going on in Northampton, with what’s going on in Longmeadow,” McDonald said. “We have all the facilities, we have all the athletes available, not only in Holyoke but in South Hadley, Southampton and so forth.
“Bill Kane’s name is all over the track,” McDonald added of the longtime HHS track coach. “A lot of the major events in the area come through Holyoke, it doesn’t make sense that we don’t we have a strong youth team right here.”
The Flyers met every Tuesday and Thursday from April through June, hosted their own Mini-Meet, plus competed in meets as far south as Connecticut in what McDonald dubbed a “very successful season.”
Still, McDonald sees room for growth within his program, specifically in garnering more high-school-aged athletes. As a result, McDonald is hosting an All Sports Combine Event on Sunday, July 27 at Holyoke High School.
“We had trouble getting football players to be involved with what we’re trying to do, so what I did is I put together a football combine that includes track events,” McDonald said. “I made it available to every sport in town and every sport in town is going to be involved — soccer, basketball, football, et cetera, and hopefully what this will do is this’ll give those athletes, those kids, a taste of track and field.”
The Combine is a free event that will begin at 1 p.m.
Local businesses also have taken note of McDonald’s efforts as the Flyers have already received some considerable sponsor partnerships. McDonald mentioned the YMCA of Holyoke and Gary Rome Hyundai as two of the numerous sponsors who have stepped in to help the Flyers fund their equipment, uniforms, transportation, competition fees and facility rentals.
“Things are working, things are growing,” McDonald said. “We’re not out here by ourselves. I’m actually shocked at the amount of support that we’ve gotten, particularly in this area.”
Despite growing up in California, McDonald has lived in western Massachusetts for the better part of a decade and decided now was the time to put together a youth program that can not only compete with the bedrocks of Hampshire County, but also those from eastern Mass.
“When I came out here, I saw what was going on and to be quite honest, I was tired of hearing about eastern Mass. and what they do in eastern Mass. and track is a whole different situation in eastern Mass.,” McDonald said. “I would like to bring that and make that as strong here in western Mass. as it is in eastern Mass. That’s how I got involved in what I’m doing here.”
In a small sample size, McDonald has proven he’s committed to building a sustainable youth track program — which will continue this winter — that not only brings athletes together, but also provides an avenue for them to flourish.
For more information, McDonald can be reached at papercityflyers@yahoo.com.
