Matt Wilhelm is an international champ when it comes to flatline BMX, which is basically the art of performing tricks on a bike while the bike is still on the ground.
Known the world over as the “King of Spin,” Matt put his moniker to the test recently in a private ride with youth from Triple Threat Mentoring’s Soopah Team. Wilhelm rewarded the youth who completed a bicycle repair program that fixed and donated bikes to an Aurora women’s shelter. Wilhelm has won medals at a number of international competitions, including the X-Games and the World Championships.
Here’s a video of Matt’s recent trip to visit Triple Threat youth. Make sure to watch it in HD!
More than 1,000 people couldn’t be wrong — Celebrate our Children in Aurora’s McCarty Park was a great success.
The blistering heat didn’t stop East Aurora families from partaking in a bevy of activities at the 18th annual urban festival.
There was no shortage of fun to be had. Youth of all ages donned face-wide smiles while painting, shooting baskets, playing African drums, climbing giant inflatables and winning prizes.
A HUGE thank you to everyone who made the event a great success — the planning team, other organizations and churches, volunteers, sponsors, vendors…. the list goes on. You guys rock!
Dameon Mason doesn’t have to be here, at this small gym.
He’s only a few weeks removed from playing professional basketball overseas, and in a few hours he will travel to nearby Plainfield to his paying gig training top-notch collegiate players.
He’s not on the clock here, at the dimly lit Fred Rogers Community Center. And there’s no collegiate players in sight. That doesn’t matter much to Mason, who’s running an intensive basketball camp for Triple Threat youth.
“It’s my ambition and drive to help out the community and the kids. And so is Triple Threat’s,” he said.
On this certain day, he strides onto the hardwood floor, dressed in black Nike gear and a smile. Like magnets, two dozen eyes gravitate toward his towering frame. The inaudible admiration is thick. If not before, they now all know who he is.
Dameon Mason.
West Aurora High School hoops hero Dameon Mason. Louisiana State University Dameon Mason. Overseas pro Dameon Mason.
And Dameon Mason knows that. And with that notoriety comes responsibility, a trade-off he willingly takes.
The dozen or so players on the court any given day might not make it pro, or even make the varsity high school squad. So why does he pour so much time into them?
Because when he talks, they listen.
“Dameon is the perfect guy for this camp,” said Triple Threat athletic director Ken Abbott. “The kids look up to him, and for good reason. He teaches more than shooting and dribbling drills. He teaches character and respect.”
Sure the jump shots and spin dribbles are aplenty. Ask the kids who’ve mastered the drills they’ve done so many times it’s video game automatic.
Also ask them what makes a good leader and how to make an impact in their community. They’ll know those answers, too.
That’s because Mason makes sure to teach them. Sure, he can refine an already polished college basketball player into a better basketball player. But with Triple Threat, he can help mold a troubled young man into the pride and joy of the neighborhood.
That’s why he’s here, at this small gym.
“I’ve seen the kids go by the wayside. I’ve seen great kids and great talent,” Mason said, before taking a long pause. “That’s why I’m playing basketball and doing anything I can to help Triple Threat’s cause.”
In the short six weeks of the program, he’s already seen the fruits of his sometimes-strenuous labor. Campers are more respectful. More knowledgeable. Better at making decisions.
“They’ve been growing constantly,” Mason said. “That’s what I enjoy most”
It couldn’t be easier to help Triple Threat Mentoring.
Simply shop at the JC Penny in North Aurora between August 4th and August 14th. When you check out, you’ll be asked if you’d like to round up your purchase to the nearest dollar, with that change going to Triple Threat.
So if you have some back-to-school shopping to do, make sure to head over to the JC Penny right off of Interstate 88 at Orchard Road. Your contribution will go a long way in helping us empower under-resourced youth.
The words “flat” and “land” usually don’t incite much excitement. Throw them together and sprinkle in a little Matt Wilhelm, and you’ve got all the excitement you need.
Matt is an international champ when it comes to flatline BMX, which is basically the art of performing tricks on a bike while the bike is still on the ground.
Known the world over as the “King of Spin,” Matt put his moniker to the test recently in a private ride with youth from Triple Threat Mentoring’s Soopah Team. Wilhelm rewarded the youth who completed a bicycle repair program that fixed and donated bikes to an Aurora women’s shelter. Wilhelm has won medals at a number of international competitions, including the X-Games and the World Championships.
Check back soon for a video of his awesome tricks. And by awesome, we mean … awesome!
You only need two hands to count the number of days until one of Triple Threat’s biggest celebrations of the year.
On Saturday, August 14th, from 12 – 4pm, Triple Threat will team up with the City of Aurora, area churches, non-profits and volunteers to offer the annual urban festival for youth called Celebrate our Children. Last year, about 2,000 people filed into East Aurora’s McCarty Park to enjoy the free event that features live entertainment and special attractions, rides, carnival games, prizes, community booths and more. Plan now to volunteer and join the fun.
Here’s a schedule of performances:
12 p.m. — Welcome and Opening Ceremony
12:15 p.m. — Singer Mark Leatham
12:45 p.m. — Hip Hop ConnXion Dance Group
1:30 p.m. — Merry Hearts Clowns
2 p.m. — Magician David Shareef
2:45 p.m. — Sal Escobedo’s Tae Kwon Do
3:00 p.m. — Hoola hoop contest
3:15 p.m — Triple Threat drum circle
3:45 p.m. — Jump rope contest
Stay connected to our Facebook and Twitter accounts for more details and we hope to see you there!
Four of the biggest names in BMX sat atop a stage at Nike Town in Chicago.
Close by, youth from Triple Threat programs watched and asked questions. How close? We’re talking inches.
Triple Threat and about 30 youth from its basketball and biking programs took to the Windy City recently for Nike 6.0 Dew Tour pre-show. Our good friends at Nike hooked us up with a special section reserved for us at the front of the stage. Nike riders Garrett Reynolds, Dennis Enarson, Nigel Sylvester and Mike Spinner answered questions from Triple Threat youth and others the day before the tour kicked off.
The kids had a blast, rubbing elbows with the same international biking stars they watch on TV. Except they weren’t on TV. The foursome was hanging out with 3T youth, signing posters and joking around.
Nike also gave away a number of items, including a Flip video camera and tickets to the actual Dew Tour the next day. Thanks to Nike for creating this fantastic experience for some well-deserving kids!
Check out the rest of the photos in the gallery and on our Facebook!
Triple Threat was proud to present Fox Valley United Way an original “Live United” piece of art created by students in the Triple Threat Arts program. The final piece — a 6-foot by 3-foot cornucopia of colors – was unveiled at the 2010 Fox Valley United Way Annual Breakfast in May. It was presented to United Way in appreciation of its service and partnership with Aurora non-profits to serve the under-resourced.
The painting was created by fourth grade students at Krug Elementary and Triple Threat volunteers. The artwork expressed the United Way theme, “Live United” by using a variety of colors and shapes. Students and volunteers received a square section of the final piece and put their own artistic expression on each piece. Then, all of the colors and styles were put together for one piece, further illustrating the “Live United” theme.
Take a drive around Aurora on any given summer day, and you’ll find hoards of youngsters fine-tuning their basketball skills at various parks and playgrounds.
Take a drive to the Fred Rogers Community Center in Aurora, and you’ll find a select group of youngsters working on becoming better individuals through the game of basketball. Triple Threat has teamed up with former West Aurora High School standout and current professional player Dameon Mason to offer a highly advanced-level basketball camp for 12 Aurora youth. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill summer basketball camp, though.
Triple Threat is concerned about more than just basketball skills. Every day, Triple Threat, Dameon and other area coaches provide players with the advice and guidance to help them develop as leaders off the court. During each day of the nine-week camp, youth encounter more than intensive basketball training. One hour is spent on other areas such as leadership, diet and nutrition.
After an hour of off-the-court training, campers hit the court for drills with Dameon.
Check out our gallery for some more photos of the camp.
From Bollingbrook to Plano. From Plainfield to Aurora and everywhere in between.
Thirty teams from across the area put their basketball skills to the test Saturday for the Hoops on Fire 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. Triple Threat partnered with the city of Aurora, CIS and others to put on the 6th annual tournament.
The tournament filled 5 full basketball courts /10 half courts, as teams honed their skills on the court, ages ranging from 4th grade through High School. The West Aurora High School gym and field house were filled with intense young athletes and cheering families as game competition and 3pt shoot-outs heated things up.
The tournament was a “Double Elimination” which means a team can’t be bumped from the tournament without losing 2 times. We had 2 teams that went undefeated: Fireballs (from Bolingbrook) in Boys 4th-5th grade, and IBA (from Wheaton, Aurora & Plano) in Boys 6th-8th grade! And 1st place Aurora Elite won out of the loser bracket to take the championship in the High School bracket!
As the indoor temperature continued to rise throughout the day, no doubt the most popular vendor was Oberweis Dairy, giving out free ice cream samples. Concessions hummed along under the management of volunteer Angi Abbott. And Jason Switt just seemed to be everywhere, coordinating scorekeepers and helping to manage brackets and game tracking. And a special thanks to Doug Lambert who ended up being the referee of the day, with at least 6-8 games under his belt by the time everything was done!
But smiling faces of kids, team high fives to each other, and a building filled with kids having a great time told the final story. Special thanks to CIS, the City of Aurora, Nike, PowerBar, Pepsi and Gatorade for their contributions.
TOURNAMENT RECAP
The Fireballs from Bolingbrook took first in the boys 4th-5th grade division, with the Lakers from East Aurora coming in second.
IBA — which was composed of players from Wheaton, Aurora and Plano — took the title for boys 6th-8th grade. Storm from St. Charles took second place honors.
In the boys high school division, Aurora Elite from West Aurora took the championship. To do so, they had to beat second-place team Marley Cuts from West Auorra twice. They did so to claim first place.
