Hoover Sun June 2025

THE NEW PLAYBOOK

The college sports market has changed — and high school athletes are paying the price. As NIL money and transfer culture reshape recruiting, Sports Editor Kyle Parmley examines how even the best local players are dealing with new challenges.

Alabama’s new Teacher of Year wants kids to grow, play

By JON ANDERSON

Katie Collins, Alabama’s new Teacher of the Year from Bluff Park Elementary, has spent 20 years in the classroom — and says today’s kids face a new kind of challenge.

“The kids in our classrooms don’t know how to solve problems,” Collins said.

Collins said parents today have become overly protective because they fear their children getting hurt, and that fear may be limiting key growth opportunities.

For example, parents may hear about a

child being abducted while playing outside their home in North Dakota and, as a result, think they can’t let their child play outside anymore, Collins said.

“We’re very anxious in parenting,” she said. “We as a society are overprotecting our children in the real world — and underprotecting them in the virtual one,” she said.

The result is crippling for kids, who most of the time can do a whole lot more than their parents think they can, Collins said. And the kids become anxious and fearful because their parents are

anxious, she said.

“The data is telling us that kids walking around in our schools are the most anxious generation. They are the most fragile generation,” Collins said. “It’s a national mental health crisis.”

Collins, who will be taking this next school year off to travel the state and motivate other teachers, hopes to spend a lot of her time encouraging teachers to be catalysts for change.

See TEACHER | page 30

For athletes like Spain Park’s Brock Bradley, the changing landscape of college sports puts recruiting in different light. Photo by Todd Lester.

Katie Collins, a first grade teacher from Bluff Park Elementary, in May was named the 2025-26 Alabama Teacher of the Year.

Photo courtesy of Hoover City Schools.

ABOUT US

Editor’s Note By Jon Anderson

The Hoover school system in May added to its distinguished list of educators named Alabama Teacher of the Year with the selection of Bluff Park Elementary’s Katie Collins.

In this edition, we share more about Collins and what makes her so respected and admired by students and peers at Bluff Park — and the qualities that ultimately made her stand out to the state Teacher of the Year selection committee.

We’re also reacquainting you with Jeremy Vice, who is leaving the Hoover Parks and Recreation Board to take on a new challenge with the Hoover Board of Education.

And we’re introducing you to Sally Blalock, a Hoover resident serving as the

current Ms. Senior Hoover and competing in the Ms. Senior Alabama competition in June, and Scarlett Swiney, a Hoover resident competing as Miss Lake Martin in the Miss Alabama pageant in June.

In a recent edition, we introduced readers to Emma Terry, a Leeds resident and Miss Hoover 2025 who also is competing in Miss Alabama again this year. She was first runner-up last year.

We wish all of these remarkable ladies the best as they represent Hoover on stage.

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Hoover gets $100,000 federal grant to fight kudzu, invasive species

By JON ANDERSON

The city of Hoover has received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service to remove invasive plant species and reforest about 8.5 acres along Interstate 459 near Municipal Drive. The effort, fully funded through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, targets areas federally designated as disadvantaged — including Hoover’s Lorna Road district.

The affected parcel sits between U.S. 31 and Lorna Road, nestled in a wooded right of way owned by the Alabama Department of Transportation. While strategically located near key city buildings such as Hoover City Hall, the Hoover Public Library and the Hoover Recreation Center, the land has become overrun by aggressive invasive species.

“Kudzu has taken over, callery pears are all in there, and it’s just a big mess,” said Colin Conner, the city’s forester. “There’s a lot of invasive species in there, but mostly it’s callery pear, kudzu, and privet.”

Mayor Frank Brocato proposed the project with the dual goal of environmental rehabilitation and aesthetic improvement.

“The mayor wanted to improve that whole area for visibility of those buildings,” Conner said. “When you come down the interstate, it’s just completely covered up right now.”

The reforestation will eventually include about 1,500 native trees, grown from 3-gallon to 7-gallon containers. These trees will include oaks, maples and pines, based on guidance from the Alabama Forestry Commission.

“We’ll be using native trees — oaks, maples, pines — based on a list from the Forestry Commission,” Conner said.

The city expects to begin removing invasive species between now and September, with planting scheduled for fall or winter 2026.

During the May 1 Hoover City Council work session, city staff presented Resolution 8453-25 as a fully funded $100,000 grant accompanied by a budget amendment. The resolution also authorized city officials to execute an agreement with the Alabama Forestry Commission and adjust the budget to receive and spend the funds.

Conner offered additional context during

that meeting:

“Got a plus or minus 8-acre parcel that separates Municipal Drive from I-459 and gives us an opportunity to reforest that land — that just improves aesthetics, environmental quality, and probably recreational experience.”

City leaders emphasized that the project’s eligibility was tied to the federal government’s disadvantaged area mapping system.

“Money was allocated for disadvantaged areas and the Lorna Road district happens to fall into one of those. So we were eligible for

that funding,” Conner said.

The city of Hoover has been approved for a $100,000 federal grant to remove kudzu and other invasive plant species from this 8.5-acre piece of property between Interstate 459 and Municipal Drive, and U.S. 31 and Lorna Road. Photo by Jon Anderson.

No city matching funds are required. The Alabama Forestry Commission is administering the grant and will continue to coordinate on tree species, planting timelines and final implementation.

The work may be visible in phases over the next three years, with a projected completion date in 2028.

“Once we get all those invasives out and the natives in, it should really change the way that whole section looks,” Conner said.

Mayor’s Minute

By Frank V. Brocato

Regional cooperation has been a focus of mine since I first took office in 2016. It refers to neighboring cities working together to address shared challenges or pursue common goals.

Over the years, our city has taken part in these opportunities in various ways, including in 2022, when we welcomed several teams to our city for the World Games. That included hosting the softball competition and serving as home field when the USA Women’s National Team won the gold medal. It was a thrilling time, and I am excited that we will have another opportunity to participate in a similar event starting later this month.

several of the competitions, including flag football, soccer, tennis and baseball, just to name a few. They’ll be held throughout our city at Spain Park High School, Veterans Park, the Inverness Disc Golf Park and the Hoover Met. We are thrilled to partner with Hoover City Schools, the city of Birmingham and other surrounding municipalities to represent the state of Alabama and to make this the best session of the World Police and Fire Games yet!

From June 27 to July 6, more than 8,500 competitors from more than 70 countries will descend upon Birmingham to take part in the World Police and Fire Games. This Olympic-style competition is dedicated to first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, corrections officers and emergency dispatchers — both active and retired.

There will be a wide range of competitions — from traditional sports like basketball, softball and golf to others more specific to first responders, such as police motorcycle riding, the Ultimate Firefighter challenge and K-9 sports.

Here in Hoover, we are excited to host

Here's where you can help — I ask that you come out and support these men and women as they give their all. The events are free, and with a few exceptions, most are open to the public. They’ll take place in family-friendly atmospheres and showcase teamwork, perseverance and inspiration. Most of all, it is a chance to honor those who do so much for us every day as they protect and serve us in their respective professional capacities. You can find much more information by going to bhm2025.com.

Our city continues to grow in the area of sports tourism, and this is yet another chance to share our Hoover hospitality. So, mark your calendars for June 27 when the events kick off and join us in welcoming the world to Hoover!

John Ambrose has a ‘passion’ for building great kitchens and baths

John Ambrose is a Birmingham cabinet expert with years of experience in top-quality remodels and new construction. In this Q&A, John discusses what sets Ambrose Kitchen & Bath apart.

Why do you focus on kitchens and baths? Having worked on ground-up construction and full home remodels, I realized that kitchens and bathrooms are my passion. These are the most used and most challenging design features of the home—and as the youngest of four brothers, I like nothing more than to win a challenge! Getting the lighting, plumbing, tile, countertops, cabinets, hardware, appliances and paint to work together is like conducting a symphony. Every element has to be in harmony to achieve our clients’ vision.

Do you have a showroom to visit? Absolutely. In our showroom clients can get a hands-on look at working kitchens showcasing two of our top cabinet brands, Kith Kitchens and Mouser Custom Cabinetry. We also have lots of other samples to show. We see clients by appointment only because we believe that each client deserves our undivided attention. What sets Ambrose Kitchen & Bath apart? We are committed to listening and collaborating with our clients to build spaces that work for them. Most customers come to us to solve problems in their existing space. We listen and create designs that ensure their new kitchen or bath will work for the way they live. We’re also a tight team of highly skilled professionals who have a passion for design and an eye toward the tiniest detail. We think through every aspect of our clients’ space and plan each component in advance.

Can you accommodate my busy schedule? Of course! Whether you’re a busy working parent, constantly on the road or retired and living your best life, we can work with you. We understand that not everyone can get to the design table during retail hours. In fact, we schedule most of our appointments after 4 p.m. on weekdays or on weekends. What if I’ve never remodeled before and I’m feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. We’ll walk you through your entire project hand-in-hand. Before we ever started focusing solely on kitchens and baths, we did full remodels and built homes from the ground up. We understand every stage of the remodeling process and how to staff it, so we can guide you and answer all your questions. We’ll help make sure your project goes smoothly from rough-in to fluff-out.

I have no idea what a kitchen costs these days. What if my budget and dreams don’t align? We get it. We can break down costs in an easy-to-understand way and work with you to design the ideal kitchen or bath for your budget. We’ve hand-picked beautiful cabinet lines at every price point. Come take a look!

For more information, call us at 205-510-6961 or visit AmbroseKitchenandBath.com.

SCHOOLHOUSE

Riverchase’s Jeremy Vice to join Hoover school board

By JON ANDERSON

Riverchase resident Jeremy Vice has lived in Hoover for 27 years and served five years on the city’s Parks and Recreation Board. Now, he’s preparing for a new role — Hoover school board member. Vice on June 1 will take the place of Kermit Kendrick, who is rolling off the school board after eight years of service there.

Vice, 51, has worked for Prime Therapeutics since 2010. For the past four years, he has been an assistant vice president at the pharmacy benefit management company. He also spent 11 years with CVS Caremark, giving him a total of 26 years in health care and pharmacy management.

He said his experience in budgeting, financial planning, and managing customer needs will benefit the board. At Prime Therapeutics, Vice leads a team managing more than $21 billion in spending, according to his school board application.

He said he aims to work collaboratively with other board members to meet the school system’s needs.

Vice said the most important issue he sees facing the school system is making sure it stays well-positioned to continue to attract and hire talented people and providing the resources and training that employees need, whether they are teachers, administrators or support personnel.

When asked what he thought about building a third high school, Vice said school officials should make sure they are maximizing the existing capacity they have in schools before building a third high school.

Vice also said the school board needs to do all it possibly can to make progress on the

issues identified in the decades-old desegregation lawsuit and demonstrate that progress to the federal court.

During his interview with the City Council, Councilman John Lyda asked Vice if he believes the school system has adequate funding and is meeting the needs of Hoover students, and if not, where would he advise the school board turn for additional funding.

Vice said his experience has been that Hoover is meeting the needs of students, but the school system also is facing increasing pressure on its budget due to special education

needs and other areas of programming and curriculum. The school system does have a partnership with the city of Hoover in regard to funding, but there might be other opportunities for private partnerships the school system could explore for funding, he said.

Vice also is a board member for the Riverchase Residential Association and member of the Leadership Hoover Class of 2024. He has one son who graduated from Spain Park High School and is now at Troy University and two more sons currently at Spain Park. That means four of the five board members now

have ties to Spain Park.

Vice said he’s proud of the accomplishments of the school system to this point and all the people who have worked to make it what it is today, and he looks at this as his opportunity to give back to the community he loves, he said. “This is home. This is where we work. This is where we play. This is where we shop. This is the center of our universe as a family,” he said. “There’s no better place to plug in and serve. I’m absolutely committed to being true to the values and the mission statement of the school board.”

Jeremy Vice, a Riverchase resient and assistant vice president for Prime Therapeutics, is joining the Hoover Board of Education on June 1. Photo by Jon Anderson

In the Classroom

GET TO KNOW

College, Career Specialist Tracy Prater

By STAFF

Tracy Prater is a college and career specialist at Spain Park High School.

Q: What inspired you to work in education?

A: I kind of fell in love with it when I was on the postsecondary side of college admissions. I worked as a student worker in the admissions office at my university when I was an undergrad and kind of fell in love with that work. I worked at three different public universities, and the opportunity came to help students on what we call the other side of the desk, so I jumped at that. And I just love helping people.

Q: What’s something great about your school?

A: I love the sense of community at Spain Park High School. Faculty and staff feel like family, and it just kind of trickles down to the kids. Everybody’s so supportive, and you instantly feel that community the second you start working here or going to school here. I love it.

Q: Tell us something about you that people might not know.

A: I have done a brief stint as an amateur stand-up comedian — very amateur, open mic amateur. I’m also a musician, and I actually spent some time in the ministry before I went into education.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: There’s a type of person that I don’t think gets any fulfillment from anything other than a service profession, I think, and that’s just being able to serve others and be a help to others is, you know, that’s, that’s what I’m all about. I consider myself lucky to come to work every day.

ACCOLADES

Spain Park students win Community Impact Award

By STAFF

Students from Spain Park High School were recently named finalists for the Youth in Service Awards by YouthServe, a youth leadership organization serving the Birmingham metro area.

Spain Park High School students Ocean Chen, Sofia Contreras and Rahul Karthik earned the Community Impact Award and the Community Vote Award for their Green Earth Society project.

The Green Earth Society is a student-led initiative focused on making Alabama a cleaner state. The club combines environmental science and service by organizing efforts to clean up the local environment, remove invasive plants and conduct water testing. In just two years, the group has removed one ton of trash across five cities and more than 500 pounds of invasive species from Hoover.

Their work, in partnership with the Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeepers, is making a real difference in protecting local biodiversity and improving the health of the Cahaba River ecosystem, according to a statement from YouthServe.

Since 2022, YouthServe’s Youth in Service Awards have highlighted and celebrated the civic and service contributions of youth across the Birmingham area who are building community, connecting with others and leading

positive change.

Youth Action Council participants include Silisa Cruz from Spain Park and AnnMarie McDaniel, Cacie Freeman, Ellie Blanchard, Emma Seltz, Lamon Jarmon and Joshua Hicks from Hoover.

Youth Philanthropy Council participants include Laila Sibley and Rahul Karthik from Spain Park and Angel Nguyen, Cecilia Harvey, Chelsea Williams, Harrison Morton, Lauren Rauworth and Riddhima Manandhar from Hoover.

I’ve had the honor of representing the best city in Alabama, a city regularly recognized as one of the best places to live in the United States - that doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of hard work and a testament to the dedication of our city employees.

I am committed to ensuring the City Council represents the people of Hoover, holding our government accountable, and ensuring citizens know exactly what is being done in their name with their hard-earned tax dollars. Transparency and trust are the foundations of effective governance.

For Hoover to continue thriving, we need leaders who are unafraid to make tough decisions and do what’s right for its citizens. It is my hope that the citizens of Hoover recognize my actions and dedication over the years, and I humbly ask for your support as I seek your vote once again.

Spain Park High School students who were named finalists for the Youth In Service Awards by YouthServe are, from left, Sofia Contreras, Rahul Karthik and Ocean Chen.

Photo courtesy of Hoover City Schools.

Prater

Business Buzz

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

NOW OPEN

Dr. Brittany Rich held the grand opening for her new Knox Square Dental practice at 5848 Elise Road in the Knox Square community across from Hoover Metropolitan Stadium on May 8. Rich and her team have experience in multiple facets of dentistry, from routine checkups to advanced treatment, cosmetic enhancements, restorative dentistry, dental implant services, periodontic services, orthodontic services, endodontic services, oral surgery and sedation dentistry. 205-202-9445, knoxsquaredental.com

Lindsey Ward started a baking company called Something Sweet Baking Co. from her Hoover home, baking cookies and cookie cakes. Her flavors are lemon white chocolate chip, birthday cake, cookies and cream, double chocolate M&M, chocolate chip and key lime pie. The cookies cost $25 for six and $45 for a dozen. Discounts are given for larger catering orders. 205-542-3898, somethingsweetbakingco.com

Braiden Ward started a personal training business called Peak Fitness & Health. He offers one-on-one workouts and programs customized for each client, taking a comprehensive approach to training that goes beyond the gym to help clients build habits that support their long-term health. Ward is a certified personal trainer, certified sports nutrition coach and certified strength and conditioning specialist. 205-260-4973, peakfitnessandhealth.org

Trader Joe’s opened a specialty grocery store on May 14 in the Riverchase Crossing shopping center at 1769 Montgomery Highway, across U.S. 31 from the Riverchase Galleria. Trader Joe’s is taking up 16,000 square feet of the former Bed Bath & Beyond store, which leaves 22,000 square feet of that space for another retailer.

205-202-7715, locations.traderjoes.com/al/ hoover/838/

COMING SOON

Kirstie and Brandon Martin plan to open Starting Strength, a personal training business using barbell lifts, in the former location of Marco’s Pizza in the Publix shopping center at 1960 Braddock Drive, Suite 120, in the Green Valley community.

They will offer clients 90-minute sessions three times a week, doing lifts such as squats, deadlifts, barbell press, overhead press and power clean lifts, Kirstie Martin said. While they get the 1,200-square-foot space ready, they are meeting with potential clients on weekends at Wheelhouse Academy in downtown Birmingham to do free form checks and introduce people to what they have to offer.

205-905-8304, startingstrengthgyms.com/ Birmingham

Abby Allen plans to open a new gym called SDG Fitness & Health at 767 Shades Mountain Plaza in a 2,500-square-foot spot between Benchmark Physical Therapy and Sampson Dentistry. For the past two years, Allen has been leading cardio, strength and high-intensity interval training at the Shades Crest Baptist Church Family Life Center, but she has outgrown the space

available there. She plans to offer classes Monday-Saturday and has memberships for 2-3 days a week or 4-6 days a week. The target opening date is by the end of June.

205-617-9609, solideogloriafitness.com

Hoover resident Jessica Maldonado plans to soon open a coffee truck called Something Simple Coffee. She plans to offer hot and cold brewed coffee, latte, macchiato, mocha and white chocolate mocha, espresso, cappuccino, hot chocolate, chai tea, lemonade, hot tea, fresh lemonade and Redbull Lemonade refreshers. The coffee truck will be available for weddings, birthdays, celebrations, corporate events, farmers markets, school events, church events and other activities.

205-563-5960, somethingsimplecoffee.com

Ashley Mac’s Kitchen plans to open a new location in the Knox Square retail development across from Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The eatery offers homemade Southern-style casseroles, sides, salads, dips and entrees such as poppy seed chicken and chicken salad trio, as well as a dine-in menu consisting of healthy sandwiches, salads, entrees, soups and more.

205-822-4142, ashleymacs.com

A new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is coming to the Inverness area, replacing the former Burger King location at 517 Cahaba Park Circle. The restaurant, known for its Southern-style menu, including fried chicken, biscuits, and red beans and rice, will now have its first location along the U.S. 280 corridor in the Birmingham metro area. popeyes.com

RENOVATIONS AND RELOCATIONS

The Jim ‘N Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q restaurant in Riverchase reopened after a 12-day closure for remodeling. This location, which opened at 1810 Montgomery Highway in 1993, has brand new booths and a fresh Jim ‘N Nick’s mural and “is now representative of the next generation of Jim ‘N Nick’s while still embracing its roots,” the company said in a news release. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 205-733-1300, jimnnicks.com

NEW OWNERSHIP

RCG Ventures, a privately funded real estate investment group based in Atlanta, has acquired the Patton Creek shopping center from the New York-based Global Net Lease for $9.2 million. The transaction closed March 25 and was part of RCG Ventures’ $1.8 billion acquisition of a multi-tenant retail portfolio from Global Net Lease. The shopping center includes the AMC Patton Creek 15 movie theater, Dick’s Sporting Goods, DSW, Ross Dress For Less, World Market, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, Firebird’s Woodfired Grill and Cajun Steamer. 404-816-5454, rcgventures.com

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Hoover resident JT Nysewander won the Alabama Broadcasters Association’s 2025 ABBY award for best large market radio talk show for work done in 2024 with his “Alabama’s Morning News with JT” show on WERC 105.5 FM. 205-439-9600, wercfm.iheart.com

McLeod Software has expanded its partnership with Parade, a leader

Do you have news to share about a business in Hoover or the greater Birmingham area? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings

Hoover Sun is spotlighting local businesses in print and online. Submit your business for consideration here: go.starnesmedia.com/business-spotlight

in AI-powered capacity management, by integrating Voice AI capabilities into its PowerBroker TMS platform. The new technology automates inbound carrier phone calls by capturing, qualifying and processing offers in real time. The update builds on Parade’s Capacity CoDriver, which already streamlines email communications for freight brokers. 205-823-5100, mcleodsoftware.com

PERSONNEL MOVES

The YMCA of Greater Birmingham has named Chad Zaucha its new president and CEO. Zaucha brings more than 20 years of YMCA leadership experience and most recently served as CEO of the YMCA of Muncie, Indiana. He will succeed Dan Pile, who retired earlier this month. 205-324-4563, ymcabham.org

Gabrielle “Gabe” Fuller, a Hoover resident for at least 20 years, has been promoted to senior vice president for architecture at Davis Architects in Birmingham. Since joining Davis Architects in 2003, Fuller has played a key role in a wide range of projects across the Southeast, from K-12 schools to signature university spaces. She has contributed to notable work at The University of Alabama, including the Walk of Champions at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and has led renovation efforts at Auburn University and Samford University. Davis Architects is now pursuing certification as a women’s business enterprise, a milestone that is meaningful to Davis because his late mother, Helen Sellers Davis, was Alabama’s first licensed female architect in 1936. 205-332-7482, dadot.com

Farrelly’s Southern Bar & Kitchen at 5532 Grove Blvd. in The Grove shopping center has brought in Jonathan Brasher as a new operating partner and hired Chad Schofield as the restaurant’s new chef. Brasher previously served as the front-of-house manager for Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen and Tre Luna Catering. 205-968-1408, farrellyskitchen.com

ANNIVERSARIES

The Shades Mountain Mercantile antique store celebrated its third anniversary at 700 Shades Mountain Plaza on April 19. 205-936-2822

CLOSINGS

Apricot Lane Boutique, a women’s clothing store that opened in the Chace Landing shopping center at 4730 Chace Circle, Suite 108, in August 2023, planned to close its doors permanently at the end of May.

Zaucha

Fuller

We’ll Do It owner Blaine Wilson

By STAFF

Q: Tell us briefly about your business.

A: In 2020, WDI Enterprises/We’ll Do It started as a personal concierge business to make people’s lives easier. After serving the Over the Mountain area for two years, WDI, or We’ll Do It, found its niche in construction and home renovations. Currently, with an active home builders license, they specialize in decks, screened-in porches, roof replacement, kitchen and bathroom renovations, interior and exterior painting, additions and more.

Q: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch.

A: WDI Enterprises is a local, family-owned company that specializes in residential and commercial construction and renovations. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. When the details matter, we’ll do it!

Q: What sets you apart from your competitors?

A: WDI is a local, family-owned and operated business that strives to build lasting relationships with our customers. Whether it’s a big project or a small repair, WDI wants to be the company you call for any home or commercial need. We are a small office, so you won’t spend time waiting on hold or dealing with automated systems. We treat our clients like family to provide them with the best service possible.

Q: What would your customers say they like about you?

A : WDI always keeps an open line of communication from the initial estimate appointment to the completion of the project. Our customers depend on our honesty and openness to deliver quality workmanship.

SPOTLIGHT

High Point Climbing hits new heights

By STAFF

High Point Climbing and Fitness, located at 4766 U.S. 280, offers indoor rock climbing with more than 25,000 square feet of climbing walls. The facility includes 52-foot climbing walls, more than 100 bouldering problems, 25 auto belays and a dedicated Kid Zone designed for climbers as young as 3 years old.

Beyond climbing, High Point offers a full suite of fitness amenities including yoga and weight training classes, which are included with day passes and memberships. The gym also provides top rope and lead belay classes for climbers of all skill levels along with outdoor guiding led by American Mountain Guides Association-certified instructors.

Children and teens can join climbing clubs, development teams and competitive squads that train for USA Climbing events through the gym. The gym also hosts homeschool physical education programs and seasonal camps for ages 5 to 14.

Day passes start at $24 for adults and $22 for children 10 and under, with gear rentals available. Memberships include unlimited access to all climbing, fitness and yoga classes as well as members-only events and discounts.

High Point is open seven days a week, with hours ranging from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit highpointclimbing.com/birmingham.

A climber traverses the wall as she focuses on her footwork during a class at High Point Birmingham, an indoor rock climbing facility on U.S. 280. Staff photo.

Blaine Wilson

Sips and Bites

SPOTLIGHT

Assem Al-Ashkar, owner of Jim ‘N Nick’s Greystone

By STAFF

Assem Al-Ashkar owns the Jim ‘N Nick’s on U.S. 280.

Q: What is your favorite item on the menu and why?

A: My favorite menu item is our brisket. Jim ‘N Nick’s uses original rubs and hickory smoke to ensure that every bite is packed with flavor that melts in your mouth after being smoked around the clock. Pair it with our house-made barbecue sauces and classic sides like creamy mac and cheese, and you’ve got a meal that truly captures the heart of Southern barbecue.

Q: Anything new or upcoming that we should know?

A: We recently launched Carolina Mustard Sauce across all of our locations. The sauce strikes the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, with a hint of mild spice and a smooth, thick consistency. A true Southern barbecue staple, it adds just the right kick to elevate all of our meats.

Q: What is your favorite part about working in the industry?

A: I have always enjoyed the hospitality business, particularly the connections and relationships you get to build with your team members and guests — old and new. I like to live by the motto “every guest leaves happy.” It ensures that we are always serving

the best quality food and offering over-the-top hospitality.

Q: How’d you get started in the industry?

A: I took a break from college and started in the industry as a cook. From there, I worked every position in the restaurant, becoming manager within six months. It felt like a natural progression and truly part of my journey.

Hoover Sun is spotlighting local restaurants in print and online. Submit your restaurant for consideration here: go.starnesmedia.com/restaurant-spotlight

Taqueria Los Primos serves authentic Mexican food

By JON ANDERSON

Taqueria Los Primos has been in the Lorna Town Square shopping center off Lorna Road for about 10 years, but current owner Felix Vicente has only had it about four.

And for him, it has been a learning curve. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican food, but Vicente is not Mexican. He’s from Guatemala, so he has learned a lot since taking over the franchise after the previous owner left, he said.

Vicente does have a good bit of restaurant experience. He’s been in the industry since he was 16 or 17, he said. He got his start busing tables at the Chili’s in Wildwood. Then he got into serving and cooking.

After he worked at Chili’s five or six years, he moved on to Jim ‘N Nick’s BarB-Que in Hoover for about seven years and then spent nine years with Steak ‘n Shake, including as manager at locations in Riverchase, Inverness and Alabaster, before the opportunity opened with Taqueria Los Primos.

At first, Vicente thought Mexican food would be a lot like Tex-Mex, but it’s really different, he said. A lot of Tex-Mex places use ground beef, but at Taqueria Los Primos they use birria, which is a shredded beef that takes 12 to 15 hours to cook, he said.

The bestselling dishes are beef tripe, pozole (a Mexican spicy soup), beef quesabirria, fish mojarra, steak and chicken tenders, and sopes (a fried corn tortilla with beans, meat, lettuce, tomatoes, Mexican cheese and sour cream).

Taqueria Los Primos is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 205-396-6662.

Felix Vicente makes beef quesabirrias at Taqueria Los Primos in the Lorna Town Square shopping center in Hoover. Photo by Jon Anderson.

Al-Ashkar

Recently sold homes in Hoover

► ADDRESS: 1249 Lake Trace Cove

► BED/BATH: 5/5.5

►

► ADDRESS: 2111 Baneberry Drive

► BED/BATH: 4/4.5

► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,591 sq. ft.

► NEIGHBORHOOD: Riverchase

► LIST PRICE: $599,000 ► SALE PRICE: $587,000

EVENTS

Splash into summer

Explore ways to have fun and stay cool in Hoover

By EMILY REED

Now that school is out and kids are home, the day-to-day question remains: “What are we going to do today?”

Luckily, Hoover is packed with many low-effort ways to beat the summer lull — no registration, no packed schedule and no long drive required. Whether you are looking to cool off, burn energy or simply leave the house, here are some simple ways to make the most of summer right here in town.

MAKE A SPLASH

When the heat settles in for good, nothing saves a summer afternoon faster than water. Whether you're chasing a full pool day or just need 30 minutes of splash time before dinner, these Hoover spots deliver.

► The City of Hoover has a splash pad that is fun for all ages. The Hoover Met’s Explore Playground and Splash Pad (1060 RV Trace) is nestled within the Hoover Met Complex. The Splash Pad is connected to a playground, where visitors can enjoy both water fun and a playground area. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit hoovermetcomplex. com/a-walk-through-the-exploreplayground-splash-pad.

► The Hoover YMCA (2250 John Hawkins Parkway) offers both a year-round outdoor recreational/lap pool and a seasonal children’s splash pad area. A membership is required for access to the pool at the Hoover YMCA. For more details and pool hours, visit ymcabham.org.

► Moss Rock Preserve is a great place to wade in cool water during the summer. There are several areas perfect for wading. For more information, visit hooveral.org/214/ Moss-Rock-Preserve.

INDOOR ESCAPES

When the sun gets too strong or the rain rolls in, these air-conditioned spots offer cool relief and easy entertainment.

► Summer reading: Whether you are a kid, a teen or an adult, the options for activities this summer at the Hoover Public Library are endless. This year’s theme is “Color Our World” and wraps up July 31. Participants in the summer reading program will have the opportunity to log books in exchange for prizes. For a complete list of activities and events happening at the Hoover Library this summer, visit hooverlibrary.org/ events.

► Arcade fun: Dave and Buster’s at the Riverchase Galleria is a great place to visit to play arcade games. For more information, visit daveandbusters.com.

EXPLORE

THE OUTDOORS

Hoover is rich in green spaces that

make it easy to stretch your legs, burn off some kid energy or take a morning walk before the heat rolls in.

► Take a hike: Moss Rock Preserve is a great place for a hike with roughly 349 acres of covered trees, a waterfall, rocks and nature. There are 12 miles of trails for those wanting to hike. After hiking, be sure to visit Vecchia Pizzeria (610 Preserve Parkway Suite 100) or Moss Rock Tacos and Tequila (616 Preserve Parkway). For more information about Moss Rock Preserve, visit hooveral. org/214/moss-rock-preserve.

► More parks and trails: Veterans Park, the Inverness Nature Park, Fleming Park on the Cahaba in Trace Crossings, Wildflower Park in Riverchase, Georgetown Park, the Hoover Lake House on Municipal Drive, Loch Haven Park and the Ross Bridge neighborhood in west Hoover all offer options for getting outdoors.

► Go golfing: The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge (4000 Grand Ave.) has been called one of the top golf resorts in North America. For more information, visit rtgolf.com/rossbridge. Additional places to enjoy the game, but do require a membership include Hoover Country Club (3140 Club Drive), Riverchase Country Club (2000 Club Road) or Greystone Golf and Country Club (4100 Greystone Drive).

► Find the star: Nestled adjacent to the Hoover Country Club and Golf Course is Star Lake (3167 Starlake Drive). This is a great spot to take the whole family for a picnic or to see turtles, fish and even ducks in the lake. Star Lake has a large picnic area; public parking; a walking trail; and a four-acre lake. For more information about Star Lake, visit hooveralabama.gov/675/star-lake.

► Shoot some arrows: The Hoover Archery Park (3308 Afton Circle) is home to the Hoover Archery Team. The 2.5-acre park has an accessible covered shooting area, permanent targets at staggered distances and space to bring your own target. The paved parking lot funnels directly to the shooting shed. Restrooms are available. The park is open during daylight hours only. Users ages 16-64 need a valid hunting, heritage, fishing or Wildlife Management Area license to shoot. For more information, visit hooveralabama.gov/1099/ hoover-archery-park.

LOCAL FLAIR

Need a place to find fresh produce or goods locally grown? These spots will provide entertainment and offer up things only found in Alabama.

► Ross Bridge Farmers Market will be held each Friday from June 6 to July 25. The final market will conclude with a back-to-school bash. Held 4–8 p.m. at 2101 Grand Ave. For more information, visit rossbridgefarmersmarket.com.

► The Market at Brock’s Gap will run on Saturdays through summer in the parking lot of Brock’s Gap Brewing Company. It includes local produce, meats, honey, baked goods and artisan items. For more information, visit brocksgapmarket.com.

► Mr. P’s Butcher and Deli (813 Shades Crest Road) has been a Hoover staple since 1975. It offers deli sandwiches, fresh-cut meats and an oldschool butcher counter. For more information, call (205) 823-6136 or

visit mrpdeli.com.

TASTY BREAKS

Need an easy win to cool down or sweeten the day? These treats and local stops hit the spot.

► A scoop…or two: The Whole Scoop (1021 Brocks Gap Parkway) serves up hand-dipped ice cream in more than 44 flavors. Customers are greeted by walls filled with painted spoons and photos of friends and family. For more information, visit thewholescoopicecream.com.

► Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe (815 Shades Crest Road) offers premium ice cream shipped in from Wisconsin’s Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company. Flavor lists rotate weekly. For more information,

visit bluffparkicecreamshop.com.

JUST BEYOND

If you've tapped out local options, these nearby spots offer quick-hit day trips.

► Bear Mountain Blueberry Farm: Located near Clay, about 30 minutes away. Pick-your-own blueberries. Pesticide-free and cash only.

► Lyon Blueberry Farm: About 45 minutes from Hoover in Wilsonville. Family friendly with generous summer hours.

► Wadsworth Blueberry Farm: Located in Cropwell on Lake Logan Martin. Open dawn to dusk daily. Quiet and scenic — cash or check only.

► McWane Science Center: A perfect spot for hot or rainy days. Multiple floors of hands-on exhibits. Located in downtown Birmingham. Visit mcwane.org for info.

► Birmingham Museum of Art: Features more than 29,000 works, plus a kids' gallery and scavenger hunts. Admission is free. Food and strollers allowed in designated areas. Visit artsbma.org.

► Birmingham Rotary Trail: A downtown walking trail for bikes, scooters, skateboards or a morning stroll. Runs from 20th Street to 24th Street. Visit birminghamrotary.org.

► Peach Park: Located in Clanton. Known for peach ice cream, fried pies, and a barn playground. Visit the Peach Park Clanton Facebook page for more details.

Explore Moss Rock Preserve. Staff photos.

Take aim at the Hoover Archery Park

Splash around at Hoover Met’s Explore Playground and Splash Pad.

Find local produce at Ross Bridge Farmers Market.

SPONSORED CONTENT

South Dallas Turf & Supply delivers top-quality sod to Birmingham

South Dallas Turf, founded in Selma in 1990, is a proud, family-owned enterprise that offers a great selection of top-quality sod and turf grass for every possible use – single-family homes, townhouses, apartment complexes, businesses of all sizes, high-end golf courses and athletic fields.

Our commercial clients include Red Diamond Tea, Barber Motorsports Park, Wind Creek Casino and the City of Hoover. We’ve provided the grass for such prestigious golf courses as Shoal Creek Country Club, Bent Brook Golf Course and Greystone Golf & Country Club, as well as three courses on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Our athletic fields include Regions Field in Birmingham, Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, the New Orleans Saints practice facility, and facilities at Auburn University and The University of Alabama.

South Dallas Turf & Supply can handle any job, be it large or small, including your home. We can transform your lawn into the green oasis you’ve always imagined, and our wide range of sod options ensure that you can find the perfect match for your needs.

“We have a true commitment to quality, and we offer exceptional customer service that is unheard of in today's world,” said the company’s co-owner and president, James S. “Tres” Wilkinson III.

In great news for local customers, South Dallas Turf & Supply recently expanded to the Birmingham area. The company first acquired Coshatt Sod & Supply in Hoover, then moved the facility to Irondale in April.

“The new location is much easier to access and much more convenient for our customers, and it allows us to give them even more personal service, Tres said. “We’re able to offer many more products, since we have a bigger location.”

The Irondale facility also allows South Dallas Turf & Supply to be “more centrally located to the new construction in the Birmingham area,” he said.

The company’s portfolio showcases five inspected, registered and certified grass varieties – Emerald Zoysia, Meyer Zoysia, Zeon Zoysia, Tifway 419 Bermuda and TifTuf, All of the sod varieties sold by South Dallas Turf & Supply are free of weeds, insects and disease, and the quality is guaranteed.

“We only produce high-quality, certified varieties,” Tres said.

And the company cultivates its own turf grass at its three well-established farms in Alabama to provide customers with the freshest product possible.

Emerald Zoysia is an ideal lawn grass for showpiece properties, where outstanding appearance and durability are essential. A fine-textured, dense, dark green turf grass, Emerald Zoysia is known as the “Cadillac” of turf and is great for homes, businesses, golf courses and athletic fields. It is an excellent choice for low-maintenance lawns where aesthetics are paramount.

A cold-tolerant grass perfect for Southern winters, Meyer Zoysia spreads to create a dense, beautiful lawn with good traffic control. It’s good for homes, businesses and golf courses. Native to Japan, it features a dark green color with a slightly wider blade than other zoysia species.

Zeon Zoysia is a luxurious grass designed for elite landscapers, commercial installations and golf courses. It’s remarkable shade tolerance and soft texture make it an ideal fine-bladed zoysia grass. The extensive root system produces a thick, compact turf in various soil types. Zeon restricts weed growth and is easy to maintain.

Tifway 419 Bermuda is a dense, durable Bermuda grass with excellent traffic tolerance and quick recovery. It’s a great choice for residential and commercial uses, as well as sports

• Where: 4762 Overton Road, Irondale

• Call: 205-988-3197

• Web: southdallasturfandsupply.com

Reach out to South Dallas Turf & Supply today to arrange for a free estimate.

fields and golf courses.

TifTuf Bermuda is the gold standard for drought-tolerant turfgrass. Its delicate texture and density make it ideal for athletic fields, golf courses and commercial landscapes where durability and wear tolerance are crucial considerations.

TifTuf offers early spring green-up, excellent fall color retention and rapid grow-in.

For commercial applications, the company offers sod and turf grasses that can thrive in full sun or shade and help a business make a great first impression. We offer quick, efficient delivery and installation referrals for busy contractors and property managers. Our experts also have the resources, knowledge and experience to overcome any obstacle to your sod installation, such as challenging terrain or environmentally sensitive areas.

If you’re building or maintaining a golf course, South Dallas Turf & Supply can provide the quality sod and turf grass you need to create a lush, green, beautiful course. The experts at South Dallas Turf & Supply can also help you make sound decisions regarding the design, maintenance and renovation of your tees, bunkers, and fairways.

“We are very proud of the many quality, highend golf courses we supply,” Tres said.

South Dallas Turf & Supply can create top-qual-

ity athletic fields for any sport, including football, baseball and soccer, and at any level, from high school to college to the NFL. We offer customized services to meet the needs of each project, and we use the latest methods to manage your job, be it a tricky renovation or an entire sports complex.

In addition to Auburn and Alabama, we have completed projects for other SEC schools, including the football programs at Ole Miss and Vanderbilt as well as the Mississippi State baseball and football facilities.

Tres, who has been with South Dallas Turf for 23 years, represents the third generation of Wilkinsons to run the company. He follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, company founder James S. Wilkinson Sr., and his father, James S Wilkinson Jr.

“We are very proud of this legacy of generational farming,” Tres said.

In addition, the team at South Dallas Turf & Supply really enjoys what they do, and they work hard to ensure that our customers get precisely what they need at a fair price.

“We take great satisfaction in seeing beautiful completed landscapes,” Tres said.

Reach out to South Dallas Turf & Supply today to arrange for a free estimate.

Community events guide

HYDRANGEAS UNDER THE STARS

► Where: Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road

► When: Saturday, June 7; reception and silent auction 6 p.m.; dinner and live auction 7 p.m.

► Web: aldridgegardens.com

► Cost: $300 per person; $2,400 for table for eight

► Details: Live auction items: Savoie Catering dinner for 10 at Aldridge; six-night stay at Pensacola Beach townhome; four-hour rental at Aldridge Gardens; four-hour rental at Hoover-Randle Home and Gardens; two other trips. Silent auction items: Tre Luna catered dinner for 10 delivered; artwork; tickets for Regions Tradition, Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix; jewelry; restaurant gift cards, year of car washes; hotel and beach stays; year of ice cream; R&S Catering lunch for 10; liquor package.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

► Where: Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Drive

► When: Wednesday, June 18, 6 p.m.

► Contact: Email HooverAHEAD@ gmail.com

► Web: hoover-ahead.com/ Juneteenth-celebrate-history

► Cost: Free

► Details: The Hoover-AHEAD nonprofit is inviting people to celebrate Juneteenth with a performance of the Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Celebration Choir in the Hoover Library Theatre and a talk from Gregory Samuels, associate professor of secondary education at the University of Montevallo. At 7 p.m., the Hoover Public Library is putting on a soul food program, inviting people ages 18 and older to sample African-American cuisine with chef Timothy Powell. The soul food program requires a ticket.

JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY COOKOUT

► Where: Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road

► When: Friday, June 20, 4-7 p.m.

► Web: hoover-ahead.com/Juneteenth-community-cookout-2025

► Cost: Free to attend

► Details: The Hoover-AHEAD nonprofit is having an informal cookout to commemorate Juneteenth with food trucks, a disc jockey and other entertainment, including the Sahi On Ko Djony Dancers, a group committed to preserving West African dance, drumming and folklore. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved African Americans were free.

WORLD POLICE & FIRE GAMES

► Where: More than 30 venues across the metro area, including the Hoover Metropolitan Complex, Inverness Nature Park, Spain Park High School and Veterans Park in Hoover

► When: June 27-July 6

► Contact: Email info@bhm2025.com

► Web: bhm2025.com

► Cost: Free for spectators

► Details: More than 8,500 first responders from more than 70 countries will compete in more than 60 sports. In Hoover, there will be competitions in soccer, tennis, baseball, basketball, flag football, motorcycle rodeo, firefighter challenge and ultimate firefighter challenge at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex, K-9 biathlon and cross-country at Veterans Park, K-9 explosive and narcotics detection at Spain Park High School and disc golf at the Inverness Nature Park.

5300 Medford Drive • Hoover, AL 35244 • Located next to Sprouts off of Highway 150

Our brand new state-of-the-art hospital opened in August 2024 and is located in McCalla right off of I-459. For more information about UAB Medical West, our Freestanding Emergency Department in Hoover, and all of our services, scan the QR code or visit us online at medicalwesthospital.org. OPEN 24/7 • IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DIAL 911

SPORTS

Bucs win girls outdoor track and field state title

By KYLE PARMLEY

Hoover High School’s girls track and field team claimed its fifth consecutive Class 7A outdoor state title over the weekend at the state meet in Gulf Shores, continuing a reign of dominance.

The Lady Bucs amassed 99.33 points behind a deep and well-balanced squad that scored in nearly every event group. The boys team finished second to Vestavia Hills, as the Bucs had to settle for the runner-up trophy after winning three straight titles.

Senior Taylor Canada led the sprint contingent, finishing fourth in the 200-meter dash (24.14 seconds) and sixth in the 100 (12.03), and helping Hoover to a runner-up finish in the 4x100-meter relay (47.66). Daisy Luna was fourth in the 400 (57.49), and seventh-grader Khloe Watters added a point by placing eighth in the 400 (59.02).

In the hurdles, eighth-grader Emlyn Green scored with an eighthplace finish in the 300-meter hurdles. Sophomores Abby King (13th) and Marissa Hansen (19th) also competed in the 100-meter hurdles.

Hoover’s distance group was key to the title. Senior Ava Sparks placed second in the 3,200 (11:07.26) and fourth in the 1,600 (5:00.42), while Sarah Hertz added a sixth-place finish in the 800 (2:18.62) and sixth in the 1,600. Catherine Wallace placed seventh in the 1,600 and also ran in the

800. Freshmen Amelia Vann (ninth) and Lila Hunter (11th) contributed strong 3,200 efforts. The girls 4x800 relay team placed second in 9:27.44, and the 4x400 squad clinched the championship with a first-place finish in 3:53.61.

In the field, senior Isabella Maple won the pole vault (12 feet, 0 inches), backed by teammates Becca Guerard (5th) and Lucy Benoit (8th). In the long jump, eighth-grader Morgan Thomas placed third (18-3.25), and sophomore Cassie Richardson added a 15th-place finish. Richardson also

took sixth in the triple jump (35-9), while Jessica Nelson and Reagan Davis finished 14th and 16th, respectively.

In the throws, Sydney Durban placed third in javelin (119-4), and eighth-grader Zoe Mitchell was seventh. Mitchell also took seventh in the discus (109-11), with Kaitlyn Cox 11th and Margot Beukelman 17th. In shot put, Cedney Collier placed fifth (35-9.75), and Cox added a 12th-place finish.

On the boys’ side, sophomore Christopher Lawley had a breakout

meet, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 14.20 seconds and placing second in the 300 hurdles (38.20), scoring 18 individual points. Senior Jameson Coleman was second in the 400 (48.44), and freshman Gideon Newton placed seventh in the 400 and also ran in the 200.

In the sprints, freshmen Jordan Williams and Paxton Weatherly placed 11th and 12th in the 100 prelims. Ninth-grader Gideon Newton and junior Cameron August joined Coleman in the 400, with August finishing 16th. Sophomore KJ Wright

placed 11th in the 300 hurdles, and junior Jeremiah Tabb was 9th in the 110 hurdles.

In distance races, senior Ian Chatterton placed sixth in the 800 (1:56.09), and Benny Schmidt was 15th. Sophomore Sawyer Burgess finished 9th in the 1,600, while Thomas Sheek and Jamie McCarthy ran 14th and 18th in the 3,200. The boys 4x800-meter relay team placed third (7:54.29), and the 4x400 relay finished third as well (3:17.77). The 4x100 relay did not finish in prelims. In field events, sophomore Nigel Thomas set a new 7A state meet record in the shot put with a throw of 59-5. He also finished fifth in the discus (147-10). Grant Weighall placed second in the javelin (1798) and third in discus (153-4), while Langston Smith was fourth in discus and 14th in shot. John Arnold added an eighth-place finish in shot put. Freshman Christian August contributed points across multiple disciplines, finishing sixth in the high jump, 10th in the long jump, and competing in javelin (24th). Hunter Purdue was sixth in both the long and triple jump. Evan Cox placed 11th in long jump and 14th in triple, and Jeremiah Tabb took 12th in triple. Dylan Redmond placed 18th in the high jump. In pole vault, senior Omari Bryant cleared 14 feet to take third. In adaptive events, junior Owen Chatterton swept the 100, 200, 400, shot put, discus and javelin, winning all six.

The Hoover High School girls track and field team won the Class 7A state outdoor meet on May 3 in Gulf Shores. Photo courtesy of Hoover Athletics.

Experienced bariatric surgeons now offering non-invasive weight loss surgery

Millions of Americans struggle each day with obesity. In fact, nearly 40% of adults are obese, according to the CDC. This struggle affects not only their health but also their self-image and quality of life.

In addition, diets are tough to stick to, and some of the newer weight-loss medications, such as GLP-1 injections, may be too expensive for some patients.

Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective ways for people living with obesity to lose weight successfully for the long term. These procedures typically involve removing parts of the gastrointestinal tract so patients can eat less and still feel full.

However, even the least invasive of the current bariatric surgeries — a sleeve gastrectomy — may require up to a month for the patient to fully recover.

But there’s now a new, far less invasive procedure — the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. The ESG configures the stomach into a smaller shape without making external incisions or removing organ tissue, and patients can recover in a few days.

The experienced physicians at Advanced Surgeons PC at Grandview Medical Center, including Dr. Andrew Frey, will soon offer the ESG procedure to patients in Birmingham. The surgeries will be done at Birmingham Surgery Center (BSC) in Homewood beginning in mid-April.

Advanced Surgeons has partnered with BSC to “allow patients more convenient scheduling, easier accessibility and a more cost-effective alternative to inpatient care,” Dr. Frey says.

The ESG is an “innovative procedure due to the minimally invasive, non-surgical approach,” Dr. Frey says.

Using a sewing device attached to a flexible tube called an endoscope, surgeons can sew the stomach from the inside to reduce its capacity by 70% to 80%.

“The capacity of the stomach is reduced similar to a traditional sleeve gastrectomy, but without scars, without pain,” Dr. Frey says. “This provides a lower risk and very quick recovery.”

Clinical evidence shows that ESG can result in significant, lasting weight loss when used in conjunction with a prescribed diet and exercise program.

Advanced Surgeons P.C.

• Where: 3686 Grandview Parkway, Suite 400

• Call: 205-595-8985

• Web: advancedsurgeonspc.com

The ESG is a perfect choice for several types of patients, Dr. Frey says. “Primarily, we see patients who have had some success with medical weight loss, but either the side effects of a medication or high financial costs of the medication limit prolonged use,” Dr. Frey says. “Other patients have concerns with their weight but are not candidates for traditional bariatric surgery either due to a BMI under 35 or lack of additional medical problems. Then there are some patients who are

just not ready to undergo surgery but recognize the importance of addressing their health.”

Dr. Frey says that it’s gratifying to help people get control of their weight, but that the weight loss itself “is just scratching the surface.”

He says he also hears from patients about their “increased energy levels, decreased joint pain, no longer requiring blood pressure medications, no longer requiring daily insulin injections, the smiles of patients revealing before and after photos, chasing kids around. Those are the rewards — knowing you have helped reshape a patient’s life for the better.”

Advanced Surgeons PC holds monthly in-person and online seminars so that prospective patients can learn more about the procedures. For details, call 205-595-8985 or go to advancedsurgeonspc.com.

Spain Park boys take second at state golf tournament

By KYLE PARMLEY

Spain Park High School’s boys golf team capped off a strong season with a second-place finish at the Class 6A state golf tournament May 12–13, posting a two-day total of 580 at RTJ Oxmoor Valley’s Ridge Course.

The Jaguars opened the tournament the first day with a solid team round of 287, led by senior Chase Kyes, who fired a bogey-free 66 to set the early pace for Spain Park. Adam Russell contributed a 70, while Luke Philley carded a 75 and Rocco Saia added a 76 to round out the scoring.

Landon Crane’s 80 was not included in the team total. Spain Park’s consistent scores kept the team in contention heading into the final round, as the Jags trailed Homewood by two strokes.

On the second day, the Jaguars returned with a 293, highlighted again by Kyes’ stellar play, matching his opening round with another 66. Russell posted a 72, Philley added a 73 and Crane stepped up with an 82. Saia’s 83 was not counted in the final score.

Kyes, a University of Tennessee signee, was the standout for Spain Park, finishing with a two-day total of 132 and winning low medalist honors by a single stroke for the third straight year. Russell followed with a combined score of 142, while Philley added a 148 over the two rounds.

Spain Park finished second at 4-over, 18 strokes behind Homewood. Homewood’s second-day performance turned a two-stroke lead into an 18-stroke blowout. Athens was third at 586 and Spanish Fort was fourth at 592.

In Class 7A, Hoover High School’s boys golf team posted two solid rounds to earn a thirdplace finish. The Buccaneers posted a two-day total of 589, finishing at 13-over-par for the tournament.

Hoover opened with a team score of 292 on the first day, paced by Grayden Robinson’s 71. Cameron Rockett followed with a 73, and both Jacob Lee and Tyler Stephens added rounds of 74. Griffin Hart’s 76 did not factor into the team total. The Buccaneers rallied on the back nine, where Robinson shot a 32 to close his round under par and give the team momentum heading into the final day.

On the second day, Hoover posted a 297 to close out the tournament. Lee led the way with an even-par 72, while Stephens shot 73 and Robinson added a 74. Rockett again contributed to the scoring with a 78, while Hart matched that number but was not included in the team total.

Robinson finished with a two-day total of 145,

THE GUIDE MODEL

Hoover finished behind state champion Vestavia Hills, which pulled away from the field at 25-under, and runner-up UMS-Wright at 7-over. The Bucs were six shots back of second place and six strokes ahead of fourthplace Enterprise.

while Lee posted 146. Stephens finished at 147. Rockett finished at 151.

Spain Park’s Chase Kyes tee off at the AHSAA Golf State Championship on May 13 at the Oxmoor Valley Golf Course in Birmingham.

Photo by David Leong.

TriaVision

Offering smart solutions for cataracts and glaucoma

At TriaVision, we’re proud to have the largest team of fellowship-trained glaucoma surgeons in Alabama, and we’re leading the way for advanced surgical solutions for combined cataracts and glaucoma, right here in Hoover. Although TriaVision may be a new name, Dr. Swanner and the TriaVision team have been seeing patients in Birmingham for 20-plus years.

Dr. Jason Swanner – one of Alabama’s most referred to cataract surgeons – possesses unmatched experience, having completed over 25,000 cataract surgeries throughout his career. His commitment to precise, compassionate, personalized care has helped these thousands of patients regain clear vision and reclaim their independence.

“Cataract surgery is truly life-changing,” Dr. Swanner says. “Most procedures take less than 15 minutes, and patients often notice an improvement in their vision within days.” Cataracts, which develop naturally with age, cloud your vision and make everyday tasks like driving at night time more difficult.

For some patients, cataracts aren’t their only concern. Those who also suffer from glaucoma, another eye disease that progresses slowly throughout a patient’s life and can ultimately cause blindness, can now receive additional treatment during their cataract surgery that can help mitigate the effects of their glaucoma.

This is where Dr. Blythe Monheit steps in. One of TriaVision’s fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists, she offers Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) – a state-of-the-art solution that can be performed during cataract surgery to reduce eye pressure and protect long-term vision.

“MIGS has been revolutionary,” Dr. Monheit explains. “It allows us to treat two conditions at once – restoring clarity from cataracts and managing glaucoma pressure.”

Working as a team, Dr. Swanner and Dr. Monheit offer a seamless experience for patients needing cataract surgery and glaucoma care. They ensure that each patient receives a treatment plan tailored to their specific needs.

Dr. Swanner earned a B.S. in biology at Samford University and a medical

• Where: 2010 Patton Chapel Road, Suite 101, Hoover

• Call: 833-SEE-TRIA

• Web: triavision.com

degree at The University of South Alabama, then completed an ophthalmology residency at UAB and a prestigious glaucoma fellowship at Harvard University.

A board-certified surgical ophthalmologist, Dr. Monheit earned her medical degree and completed glaucoma residency and fellowship training at UAB. She practiced in Austin, Texas, for 17 years, and later worked at The Eye Foundation.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cataracts or glaucoma, TriaVision is here to help. Visit us online at triavision.com or call or text 833-SEETRIA to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options for clearer, healthier vision.

TriaVision Hoover is located at 2010 Patton Chapel Road, Suite 101, Hoover, AL 35216.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Dr. Jason Swanner

Dr. Blythe Monheit

Ms. Senior Hoover to vie for state title

By EMILY REED

For Ms. Senior Hoover Sally Blalock, age is just a number.

“When I think of myself, I don’t picture someone who is a senior,” Blalock, 67, said. “I try to stay active and involved and that is just how I live life. I feel very young at heart.”

Blalock first delved into the pageant scene within the last year after her daughter convinced her to consider participating in a pageant.

“My daughter called me and said she was going to sign me up for a pageant,” Blalock said. “I laughed at first because I didn’t really think that was something I would do, but she told me they focused on volunteering, and I love to volunteer, so that persuaded me.”

Blalock competed and won Ms. Senior Hoover on Feb. 13 in Fairhope and will compete for the title of Ms. Senior Alabama on June 7 at the Daphne Civic Center.

Ms. Senior Alabama Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enriching the lives of senior women, while offering opportunities for them to share their experiences, wisdom and interests with others.

The organization first started in 1987 with the goal of encouraging women ages 60–79 to pursue their interests and dreams, focusing on the idea that “you are never too late, and you always have a purpose.”

One of Blalock’s many purposes and passions is focusing on animal rescue, specifically with dogs.

“I have three dogs and have volunteered a lot of my time in rescuing animals and helping improve the dog parks where I take them,” Blalock said. “I think it was very eye opening for me when I was in the process of rescuing one of my dogs just to the world of animal

abuse and how many people really do not take care of their animals. So I am very passionate about that and bringing awareness to the importance of rescuing animals from bad situations.”

She is also passionate about mental health and raising awareness for those who struggle with mental health issues.

Blalock, who has lived in Hoover since 1994, said she has loved her time as Ms. Senior Hoover and considers it a blessing to represent the area she calls home.

“Hoover has been so good to me and is really an incredible place to live,” Blalock said. “When I competed for the title of Ms. Senior Hoover I loved getting to meet so many incredible people in the pageant part of things. It really has become like a sisterhood and getting to meet so many incredible women who are doing incredible things has been such a gift for me.”

Blalock, who was a former flight attendant for 30 years and sold real estate for 40 years, said she enjoys spending her time now finding new interests including pickleball and paddle boarding. She also spends time gardening and working on fixing up various rental properties.

“I love a good power tool, but I also enjoy getting dressed up in a fancy dress,” Blalock said. “I think for me it is really important to focus on staying active and finding new things that I love in this season of life.”

She is spending the final few weeks leading up to Ms. Senior Alabama practicing all of the components of the pageant so she can be ready to compete.

“I am just really excited to participate and can’t wait to experience it all,” Blalock said.

For more information about the pageant or to follow the results live, visit misssenioralabama.com.

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Ms. Senior Hoover Sally Blalock, 67, says staying active keeps her feeling young. Encouraged by her daughter to compete, she won the title in February and will represent Hoover at the Ms. Senior Alabama pageant June 7. Photo courtesy of Sally Blalock.

Spain Park grad to compete in Miss Alabama as Miss Lake Martin

By EMILY REED

Hoover resident Scarlett Swiney is preparing to compete in the Miss Alabama pageant this June, representing Miss Lake Martin.

“I am really looking forward to the whole process and being with all of the other competitors,” Swiney, 19, said. “The camaraderie of a pageant is so much fun and you really get to know everyone and support each other during the whole process.”

Swiney, a 2024 graduate of Spain Park High School, is a biomedical sciences major at Auburn University on a premedical track.

She recently balanced college coursework with pageant preparation, competing in a Miss Alabama preliminary and earning the title of Miss Lake Martin.

“I was so excited to win the preliminary,” Swiney said. “I have always loved Lake Martin, and it has been a great experience because I have gotten to know more about the community and just really had a great time representing them.”

Contestants vying for the title of Miss Alabama can participate in various preliminary pageants held throughout the state. Some are “open” preliminaries where anyone can compete regardless of where they live, and some are considered “closed” preliminaries where you have to live in the area you are competing to qualify.

The Miss Lake Martin competition was considered an open preliminary.

“I have also gotten the opportunity to go and read to students in various elementary schools and try to help raise awareness for good dental health and prevention.

”Alabama Dental Association called

compete for the title of Miss Alabama.

“I am going to spend the next couple of weeks just focusing on making sure I have everything ready for Miss Alabama,” Swiney said. “I just wrapped up finals at school, and I am back home in Hoover so I feel like I can really devote time to it now that I am not focusing so much on school.”

Swiney’s talent will be a jazz dance to the song, “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” from the Broadway musical “Sweet Charity.”

Her evening gown she selected was something that makes her feel confident and comfortable.

“When I am wearing the evening gown I feel very beautiful and I think it will be something that represents me really well,” Swiney said.

The Miss Alabama competition will be held June 25–28 at Samford University’s Wright Center.

Swiney said the week of competition will be packed full of activities for contestants.

“I am really looking forward to the entire experience,” Swiney said.

Swiney’s community service initiative she is working to raise awareness on is Smiles are Worthwhile, where she seeks to help improve access to good dental care, supporting free and low-cost dental care.

“The state of Alabama is experiencing a dental crisis,” Swiney said. “Nearly half of Alabama’s kindergarten through third-grade students

suffer from tooth decay, and rural areas often lack access to dental care.”

Through her initiative, she has worked to collect dental hygiene products for Cahaba Valley Health Care, which helps provide free dental care for uninsured adults in financial need.

Swiney is also helping with a statewide campaign organized by the

“More for Your Smile Alabama.”

“I have also gotten the opportunity to go and read to students in various elementary schools and try to help raise awareness for good dental health and prevention,” Swiney said. “It has been really fun for me because I do feel like it is making a difference.”

This will be Swiney’s first time to

“I think getting to know all of the girls and just finding out more about them will be an amazing experience.”

“I already go to school with a few of them and just really can’t wait.”

Miss Hoover Emma Terry will also be competing for the title of Miss Alabama.

For more information about the pageant, or to follow the results, visit missalabama.com.

Hoover resident Scarlett Swiney is preparing to compete in the Miss Alabama pageant this June. Swiney, a 2024 graduate of Spain Park High School, is a biomedical sciences major at Auburn University on a premedical track. She recently balanced college coursework with pageant preparation, competing in a Miss Alabama preliminary and earning the title of Miss Lake Martin. Photos courtesy of Scarlett Swiney.

SCARLETT SWINEY

On the Mainstage

SPOTLIGHT

By STAFF

the Alabama Dance

She had performed professionally with companies including the Alabama Ballet, Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Hartford Ballet and Connecticut Ballet Theatre and was ready to start her own studio. She picked Hoover because there was a void in the market and set up shop across from Green Valley Elementary.

She started with about 75 students in one studio and by 2000 had bought the entire building and expanded twice. She now has three studios covering more than 3,400 square feet of dance space.

The Alabama Dance Academy offers pre-ballet, tap, classical ballet, jazz, pointe, contemporary dance, hip hop and acro classes for 225 to 250 students, including a few adults in a tap class. When she started, she was the sole instructor; today, the academy has 10 teachers.

“I always knew from a young age I wanted to teach,” Merkel said. “Once I got started, there was no going back.”

Annual performances include a jazz and contemporary showcase in October, The Nutcracker in December, a classical showcase in February, a full-length ballet and jazz feature in April and

a year-end recital in May.

Some of her students have gone on to perform professionally with groups such as the St. Louis Dance Theater, Robert Moses’ Kin Dance Co. in San Francisco and the Ajkun Ballet in New York. This year, she has students going to the Roanoke Ballet in Virginia, the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and three students becoming dance majors at the University of Alabama.

“I love working with these kids and seeing what they can achieve,” Merkel said. “I believe in setting the bar high, and they always rise to it.”

GET TO KNOW

Get to Know Svetlana Belotserkovskaya

By JON ANDERSON

Svetlana Belotserkovskaya is an art instructor at The Art Zone, a studio she owns at 736A Shades Mountain Plaza in Hoover. She also taught for about 17 years at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center and more recently has taught at the Hoover Senior Center, Hoover Recreation Center and Riverchase United Methodist Church.

Q: How long have you been doing art?

A: All my life. I have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Russia, a bachelor’s degree in studio arts from UAB, and a master’s degree in art education from the University of Florida.

Q: What type of art would you say you specialize in?

A: I’m trained academically, so when people come, they can work on anything they want. They can work on drawings, watercolor, acrylic or collages.

Q: Why do you enjoy teaching art?

A: Watching them grow, improve and gain confidence in their abilities brings me great joy. Many of my students have won art competitions, earned scholarships and been accepted into prestigious schools and colleges. In June of this year, one of my high schoolers will have a personal art exhibition at the Vestavia Hills Library. And in August, I will have my children’s student art show at the Vestavia library.

Q: Where do your students come from?

A: I have a lot in Vestavia Hills, Hoover and Alabaster. I have some from Trussville and Chelsea. I used to have students from Gardendale and Argo — all around.

Svetlana Belotserkovskaya is an artist and art instructor at the Art Zone studio she owns at 736A Shades Mountain Plaza in Hoover. Photo by Jon Anderson.

Pamela Merkel opened

Academy on Old Columbiana Road in Hoover 30 years ago.

Alabama Dance Academy founder Pamela Merkel works with Angelina Herika. Photo by Jon Anderson.

Life in Hoover

BACK WHEN SPOTLIGHT

By JON ANDERSON

Victor Hill died of sudden cardiac arrest 23 years ago during a 7-on-7 workout with the Hoover High School football team.

But now, Hill’s brother, Cortez Hill, has established a nonprofit that is seeking to raise awareness about the risks of cardiac arrest and to ensure that life-saving solutions are within reach of everyone.

Hill’s Hoover-based nonprofit, called Whole Hearts, works to educate the community on the importance of being prepared and able to prevent deaths when cardiac arrest occurs. The nonprofit offers access to defibrillators, CPR training and community outreach for youth sports organizations.

“Our vision is a world where every young athlete feels safe and supported, where communities are equipped with the tools and knowledge to prevent heart-related emergencies, and where the joy of sports competitions is accompanied by a sense of security

and well-being for all involved,” Hill said.

About 2,000 people under the age of 25 die from sudden cardiac arrest each year in the United States, according to Whole Hearts. Among athletes, those participating in high-intensity sports such as basketball, soccer and football are particularly at risk.

Research shows that sports-related sudden cardiac arrest accounts for 39% of cases in people under 18 and 13% for those ages 19 to 25.

Whole Hearts has entered a partnership with Zoll Medical Corp., which sells products such as defibrillators and related medical equipment.

“While many companies simply sell AEDs, we are dedicated to educating our community on the importance of preparedness and prevention,” Hill said. “We’re not just providing AEDs, we’re empowering you to take action and save lives.”

For more information or to donate to Whole Hearts, go to wholeheartsinc.org.

Remembering the Berry High School days

By JON ANDERSON

Tynette Lynch, Hoover’s retired tourism director, recently found this old photo of the Berry Athletic Association board of directors from the former Berry High School in 1988.

On the front row, from left, are Tynette Cerniglia (Lynch), Marlis Kuehnert, Mildred Quick, Jerri Page and Sue Dew. Going up the stairs and across the top, from left, are Mary Sue Fortner, Sandy Jones, (first name unknown) Monroe, Babs Hopping, Janice Langston, Otis Bibb, Don Hohne, Preston Huddleston, Jeff Edwards, Chuck Cuppett and Pete Scott.

Q: Tell me about this particular photo.

A: I believe that photo was taken at the Hoover Lake House (on Municipal Drive). The Athletic Association was basically made up of parents that their kids played sports, and the families were very involved in sports back then.

Q: Did the boosters represent all sports or just football?

A: All the sports. The band had a big booster club, and the sports had a big booster club. Keep in mind — it was one high school at that

point in the city of Hoover. … Hoover had just started a young school system. My oldest son played football at Berry High School when it was a Hoover school, and he graduated in 1989 from Berry. Stan White was in that group, and a lot of men who are now businessmen in Hoover played those couple of years at Berry under Coach Finley.

Q: What was it like working with Coach Finley as a booster?

A: It was fantastic. Coach Finley coached, and he had assistant coaches that really, I would say, disciplined a little more, but Coach Finley was just a straight-up great Christian guy. He taught our kids so much about life.

Cortez Hill, the founder and executive director of the Whole Hearts nonprofit, stands with his mother, Cheryl Hill, at a “Heart Health and Faith” event at Samford University in April. Photo courtesy of Whole Hearts.

The 1988 Berry Athletic Association board of directors. Newspaper clipping courtesy of Tynette Lynch.

COMMUNITY

56-for-56:

By TIM STEPHENS

Let’s get this out of the way: Yes, I titled this one “Time to sprint, Fatboy.”

Because that’s how I used to motivate myself. Loud. Public. Funny, but not really. I’d manufacture pressure, raise the stakes, light the fuse — and take off.

Scan the QR code to watch episode 4 of 56-for-56: A Transformation Project.

That approach powered big sprints: losing 100 pounds, writing a book in 36 hours, salvaging semesters in a weekend. I’ve always been able to dig deep… until I couldn’t. It was powering me ahead in this goal to lose 56 pounds by my 56th birthday, July 12, until I hit the wall.

This month, I finally recognized why.

It wasn’t just fatigue. It wasn’t just burnout. It was ADHD.

I wasn’t diagnosed until 52. Looking back, it explains why I’ve started and stopped this journey so many times. ADHD is more than distraction; it’s dysregulation. For some of us, it shows up in work. For others, it shows up in our bodies. For me, it was both.

THE CYCLE NO ONE SEES

Here’s how it works for me. I’ll get laser-focused on something — a new goal, a new system, a new challenge — and for a while, it’s like a superpower. I’m locked in. All-in. Getting more done in a week than most people do in a month.

And then… it vanishes.

Not the goal. The interest.

The switch flips, and it’s gone. I lose the routines and the drive. I avoid it — then shame creeps in because I replace that energy with things that are not-so-good, such as stress eating and poor sleep.

Time to sprint, Fatboy

So I start avoiding everything — the scale, the tracker, the gym, the mirror, the questions. Until something painful jolts me back into action. And the cycle starts again.

I’ve lived in this loop for 30 years. Fitness. Projects. Work. Without sustainable structure, the pattern wins.

A NEW WAY TO TRAIN

This month, I got back on track physically. I resumed workouts, sauna, tracking and IV infusions.

But the bigger battle is inside my head.

My ADHD-specialized therapist, Dalila Bass, has helped me recognize the mental cost of sprinting through life. We’re using CBT to reframe goals — not as punishment, but as commitments I can build systems around. Instead of chasing the dopamine of short bursts and the adrenaline of big results, we’re chasing consistency.

One of the biggest shifts is in my self-talk. I’ve always had an internal coach yelling at me to grind harder and suffer more. It worked — until it broke me. Now, we’re replacing that voice with something more sustainable — a voice that pushes without destroying and grants grace.

THE STATS NO ONE TALKS ABOUT

Studies have found that adults with ADHD are nearly twice as likely to be obese as those without it. We’re far more prone to binge eating, inconsistent routines and all-or-nothing spirals. Yet most aren’t diagnosed until their 40s or 50s. They assume they’re broken. Or — and this was me — they mask, building intense routines that quietly drain energy.

It works — until they crash.

PROGRESS WORTH KEEPING

This month: show up anyway. Not chasing perfection — just a pattern I can sustain. I’m working to change patterns. I’ve dropped 10 pounds. It’s real. I’m behind pace, but it’s still reachable if I stay consistent and manage the dialogue inside my head.

Starnes Media General Manager

Tim Stephens is learning to balance work, life, workouts and a recent diagnosis that he has ADHD on his way to achieving his goal to lose 56 pounds by his 56th birthday. Staff photo.

Dalila said: “It’s about building something that lasts.”

I didn’t choose ADHD, but I’m responsible for managing it. That’s the real transformation.

JOIN THE MISSION

Know someone making an amazing personal transformation? Nominate them for the Transformation Project here: https://forms. gle/6CCxjcv3Rt7bEsvGA

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CONTINUED from page 1

By KYLE PARMLEY

Spain Park High School rising senior Brock Bradley is thrilled with how his recruitment process played out.

Bradley will head to Clemson University in just over a year to pursue his goal of becoming a big-time college quarterback.

But not long ago, a player of his caliber might have drawn dozens of offers from similar programs. That’s no longer the norm. The shift is tied to the rise of the transfer portal and the surge in player movement across college athletics.

“I have seen the amount of coaches actively working and visiting schools and practices diminish a lot over the last few years, and I feel like it has made the decision about which school you choose to attend even more risky and complicated, since a school could choose to take a portal player over you, even after you’ve committed, or very late in the recruiting process,” Bradley said.

Bradley noted that many colleges now treat the transfer portal as their main recruiting tool, which limits opportunities for incoming high school players.

“There are fewer scholarship spots,” said ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill. “Now instead of divvying up all their scholarships at the high school level, now they’re going to get 12-14 guys out of the portal. The spots have become limited.”

SHIFTING SAND

Coaches are no longer building around potential. They’re buying certainty. Between the rise of the transfer portal, the explosion of Name, Image and Likeness dollars, and the impending House v. NCAA court settlement — which could allow direct revenue-sharing paychecks from schools to athletes — the entire scholarship model has changed.

For high school seniors, that means fewer opportunities. Unless you’re elite, the message is clear: wait your turn — or get left behind.

In place of the old system is a new billion-dollar industry in which high school prospects are still commodities — just ones with less value than they held before the money started flowing.

Not all college programs play on the same field. The Power Four conferences — the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC — have TV deals, booster collectives and NIL opportunities.

Below them are Group of Five schools like UAB, Jacksonville State or Troy — with fewer scholarships, smaller budgets and less exposure. Then come FCS, D2 and junior colleges, where many now land by necessity.

THE PORTAL JAM

For decades, high school football was the bedrock of college recruiting. Talent rose, coaches scouted, scholarships followed and dreams materialized on National Signing Day. That world is gone.

It started with COVID. In 2020, the NCAA granted all athletes an extra year of eligibility. That decision created a massive traffic jam. Fifth-year seniors stayed. Sixth-year players reclassified. Scholarships that would have gone to high school seniors disappeared.

Then came NIL. In July 2021, athletes could finally earn money off their name, image and likeness. But what was meant to reward marketability became a loosely disguised pay-forplay market.

“Monetary compensation is no longer based on results,” Luginbill said. “It’s not about ‘if I produce, schools will want me.’ Now, it’s ‘how much are you going to pay me to play here?’ There’s no accountability from the player’s side, and that’s not what NIL was intended for — certainly not in recruiting.”

At the same time, the transfer portal exploded. The NCAA removed the sit-out rule for first-time transfers, and a flood of player movement followed. A new reality emerged: Why recruit a high school senior you’ll have to develop when you can buy a 22-year-old with experience?

“Unless you’ve been tampered with or have significant production, you’re either transferring down or walking on somewhere,” Luginbill said. “The math doesn’t add up. There just aren’t enough roster spots. There is a false level of value that the kids place on themselves or the people around them place on them. We’re

As one of the top quarterbacks in Alabama, Spain Park rising senior Brock Bradley is committed to Clemson University, a decision he made last year. Bradley certainly had plenty of college options, but they didn’t include as many top-tier programs as a player of his caliber might have garnered in years past. The reason: Teams now focus heavily on recruiting experienced collegiate players via the transfer portal. It is one aspect of an evolving landscape for college sports for high school athletes looking to land at the next level. “While it has been some of the most exciting times of my life,” Bradley said, “it can be stressful as well, and the introduction of NIL, transfer portal and constant visibility of social media has made the process even more stressful and uncertain.” Staff photos.

talking about thousands of kids.”

According to On3 Sports, more than 4,000 FBS football players entered the NCAA transfer portal during this cycle, and more than 1,600 are still looking for a home. In men’s basketball, 2,320 players entered the portal this spring, according to Verbal Commits, a jump of more than 11 percent from last year and nearly 2.5 times more than five years ago.

This isn’t just a revenue-sport issue. Since the NCAA eliminated its one-year sit-out rule in 2021, tens of thousands of athletes across all sports have entered the portal — many doing so two, three or even four times. Each year of the NIL era has accelerated the cycle. In 2024, the NCAA opened the door to unlimited transfers.

Combine that with the backlog of COVID players, and the result is a recruiting funnel that narrows further every season. And it’s about to get even tighter, as schools prepare for revenue sharing and potential roster caps tied to the House settlement.

Coach Trent Dilfer came to UAB with a plan to build his program through high school recruiting — but that vision didn’t hold. He watched promising redshirt freshmen get poached, impact players leave mid-development and recruiting calendars shift. Now, he’s saving scholarships for older transfers. Like most coaches, he’s frustrated by the chaos and eager for structure.

“All I need is guardrails; all I need is boundaries; all I need is where it is,” Dilfer told Birmingham’s CBS 42. “I don't care where the goal post is; just keep it stationary… Because right now this goal post is going around 360 degrees because there’s zero leadership; there’s zero boundaries; there’s zero guardrails.”

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about expectations — and the widening gap between what kids believe they’re walking into and what actually waits for them.

For years, high school athletes have been surrounded by talk of NIL money, brand building and recruiting leverage. Highlight reels and camp circuits — all of it reinforcing the same narrative: play well, get noticed, get paid. But most never make it that far.

“High school kids now believe they’re entitled to compensation,” Luginbill said. “But the original intent was that if a college athlete…

How We Got Here

How the recruiting model unraveled in just four years:

► 2020 – COVID Eligibility Freeze: The NCAA grants every college athlete an extra year of eligibility. Result: Rosters balloon with fifth- and sixth-year players. Scholarships that once went to high school seniors stay tied up.

► 2021 – NIL Goes Live: On July 1, athletes can officially profit from their name, image and likeness. What was meant for endorsements quickly turns into donor-funded, booster-driven pay-for-play — especially in football and men’s basketball.

► 2022–23 – The Portal Opens Wide: Legal pressure erodes transfer restrictions. Athletes can now move freely and play immediately — even multiple times. Coaches pivot from projecting potential to buying production.

► 2023–24 – House v. NCAA Settlement Takes Shape: A $2.8 billion class-action deal looms. Schools would be allowed to directly pay athletes. But in return? Scholarship limits go away — and roster caps come in.

► 2025 – The High School Squeeze: With the portal flooded and roster uncertainty ahead, high school recruits — especially in non-revenue sports — are getting left behind. The system they grew up chasing no longer has as many places for them.

became a marketable commodity, they could earn income. That’s light years from what we’re doing.”

Even for players who eventually cash in, the road usually starts somewhere less glamorous — a Group of Five school, a redshirt year, a position change, a climb.

“The transfer portal has made it harder for high schoolers to land spots at Power Four programs,” said Jim Cavale, CEO of Athletes.org. “Starting at a Group of Five school and working your way up may be the best path.”

BACK-END FALLOUT

While these dynamics affect every sport, the epicenter is football and men’s basketball — where the bulk of the money flows and the pressure to win immediately is highest.

According to research on signing day trends, once-powerhouse programs are producing fewer high-major signees and more D2, JUCO and NAIA placements. In other sports — baseball, wrestling, lacrosse, even track — the scholarship slots are already shrinking. If roster caps go into effect, they may vanish altogether.

Whatever happens next — roster limits, direct pay, new NIL rules — the path for high school athletes is narrowing fast.

For players like Bradley, that means more than just navigating offers. It means trying to stay in the game — and managing new layers of an increasingly complicated process driven by dollars.

To handle it, Bradley turned to common sense.

“Being recruited to play college sports is a dream come true,” he said. “I’ve learned that everyone’s journey is unique and different, and that you cannot compare your journey or experience to anyone else’s.

“While it has been some of the most exciting times of my life, it can be stressful as well, and the introduction of NIL, transfer portal and the constant visibility of social media has made the process even more stressful and uncertain.”

Bradley has seen other athletes his age hire representatives to help with their brand or other aspects of public relations. He chose not to do that, wanting to make his high school days simpler.

“I prefer to stay a high school kid and let my play speak for itself at this point,” he said. “There will be time for the other stuff.”

Advice for the Recruits

These are 5 things athletes can still control in a portal-first world.

► Hewitt-Trussville running back Deuce Alston: Be proactive and take ownership of your exposure. Don’t wait around to be discovered — promote yourself through highlights, communication and consistent work.

► Athletes.org CEO Jim Cavale: Prioritize playing time and fit over logos and prestige. With Power Four spots tightening, finding the right place to play early may be the better longterm strategy.

► Spain Park quarterback Brock Bradley: If you get a committable offer, take it seriously. Hesitating for a bigger offer could mean missing your window entirely.

► ESPN Recruiting Analyst Tom Luginbill: Be skeptical of hype and inflated value. Don’t assume attention means opportunity — many players are misled about their true market value.

► Mountain Brook baseball player Caleb Barnett: Some of the smartest athletes are starting lower, proving themselves and transferring up. It’s becoming common for talented players to commit “below their level” just to get on the field.

Look for part two of The New Playbook in next month’s issue: Current college athletes from our communities reflect on navigating NIL transfers and what direct pay from schools could mean next.

At Gradient Dance Theatre & Community in Birmingham, people of all ages and skill levels experience the joys and challenges of dance training in a warm, supportive environment. The teachers at the studio believe deeply that dance is for all bodies and all ages and that everyone has a unique voice to bring to the floor.

Gradient Dance offers a wide variety of adult classes, including ballet and contemporary, as well as workshops with industry professionals, and “accepts all people no matter their background,” co-founder Taylor Ostronic said. “We offer classes for all types of dancers, and we love the mix of levels.”

The students at Gradient Dance are an eclectic mix of beginners, dance professionals and even adults who haven’t danced in years. “We wanted to be a safe place where adult dancers could come back to the dance world and feel loved,” co-founder Joanna Hardy-West told ABC 33/40 News.

In addition to classes, Gradient Dance offers students the chance to get involved in other ways. “We have avenues for dancers to teach, choreograph and perform,” Taylor said.

Taylor and Joanna founded Gradient Dance in 2018, and the studio recently

moved to its new home downtown at 518 19th St. N., Room 200, in First Church Birmingham. “It’s a more central location to serve Birmingham,” Taylor said. “It allows us to offer classes at convenient times, like lunchtime or earlier times in the evening, and allows people downtown to enjoy a quick, midday dance workout.”.

The Gradient Dance “vibe is relaxed,” Taylor said. “Joanna and I don’t subscribe to the scary dance teacher trope. We like challenging dancers to be kind to themselves while working on their technique.”

A rotating team of a half-dozen teachers lead in many different styles. “We have continued to grow and bring in different styles of dance so we can grow

our community of dancers in Birmingham,” Joanna said.

A Missouri native, Taylor earned a BFA in dance performance and choreography at The University of Missouri–Kansas City and has danced professionally. She became an ABT (American Ballet Theatre)-certified teacher in 2016, completed teacher training with the Royal Ballet School in London in 2023 and continues to train in different genres, including modern, hip hop, tap and ballroom.

Born in Georgia, Joanna majored in dance education at The University of South Carolina and worked as a professional dancer in Chicago and Portland, Oregon. Joanna came to Birmingham to dance for Arova Contemporary Ballet

and later created Swallowtail Dance, a precursor to Gradient Dance.

People can gain a lot from dance, which is an art form and an exercise, Taylor said. “Dance is wonderful because it challenges your body and mind. We learn about our strengths and weaknesses through dance, and we challenge ourselves just a touch more and discover what edges we can smooth.”

Taylor and Joanna love what they do. “Between teaching, creating and encouraging others to share their art, we love seeing how the dance community in Birmingham grows,” Taylor said.

TEACHER

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“We have the power as teachers to change the narrative, to flip the script,” she said. “Education is transformative.”

Collins said she will be promoting a curriculum from a nonprofit called Let Grow that she has been using since January. Its primary focus is helping children build independence, she said. It encourages children to be creative and think outside the box about their capabilities, she said. As a teacher, it only takes about five minutes of class time a month, but the results have been astounding, she said.

One of her first-grade students made sweet potato fries in an air fryer by herself. Another asked her parents if she could start doing her own laundry, and a first-grade boy vacuumed his entire house, she said. All it took was a little instruction. Parents quickly started texting her, asking what happened to their children, she said.

Collins also will be pushing another curriculum called Let’s Play, which encourages children to engage in real physical playtime instead of virtual games. Kids are encouraged to form play clubs and given two simple rules: Be safe and solve your own problems, she said.

Collins also hopes to join forces with the Alabama 2025–26 Alternate Teacher of the Year, Aubrey Bennett from George Washington Carver High School in Birmingham, to go around the state in the car she has been provided for a year by Alfa and do a podcast from that car. She wants to interview teachers across the state, much like Jerry Seinfeld did with his show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”

“We just want to get in there and get to know teachers all through the state and interview them and encourage them to keep going,” Collins said. “Bring unity and let teachers know they are seen.”

Collins is at least the eighth teacher from Hoover to win Alabama Teacher of the Year. Others have included Robin Litaker from Trace Crossings Elementary in 1997, Ann Dominick-Hardin from South Shades Crest Elementary in 1999, Tonya Perry from Berry

Middle in 2000, Tammy Dunn from Spain Park High in 2003, Cameron McKinley from Riverchase Elementary in 2006, Pamela Harman from Spain Park High in 2007 and Suzanne Culbreth from Spain Park High in 2012. Collins started her career at Thompson High

School in 2005, teaching French, ACT preparation and computer science, but high school really wasn’t her calling.

After two years, she moved to Hoover City Schools, where she taught first grade at Gwin Elementary and English as a Second Language

and French at Bumpus and Simmons middle schools.

She spent two years teaching preschool at Covenant Day School in Homewood, then came back to Hoover to teach a community family literacy program for adults from other countries at Gwin before moving to Bluff Park Elementary in 2017. She has been at Bluff Park ever since and says she’s found her sweet spot in elementary education.

Geri Evans, a fellow teacher at Bluff Park and former finalist for Alabama Teacher of the Year, wrote in a recommendation letter that Collins is a master teacher with a comprehensive knowledge of curriculum and the ability to engage students.

“She combines subjects seamlessly into meaningful units of study that require in-depth thinking and hands-on learning,” Evans wrote. “Every student in one of Mrs. Collins’ classes has felt loved and genuinely cared for, as she prioritizes relationship building alongside instilling a love for learning.”

Collins is known for her project-based learning units, including a farmers market that has first-grade students grow plants, market them and sell them to the community. The students measure the plants and record observations, do persuasive writing and video recordings to market the plants, and count and track the money as it is received.

Last year, the students raised $4,000, with the proceeds supporting additional projects at the school.

Collins has secured more than $70,000 worth of grants over the years, including funding for Bluff Park Elementary’s greenhouse.

Collins said one of the keys to good teaching is building relationships with students.

“You have to know your students,” she said. “We’re not going to get anywhere if we don’t really care about kids.”

She spends the first few weeks of each year building a culture in her classroom and getting to know the likes, dislikes and personalities of her students.

“They’re all so different,” she said. “If I’m going to teach them, they have to know that I really care about them … and that it’s a safe place to learn and grow and make mistakes.”

Above: Katie Collins reads a book to her first grade class. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.

Left: Collins shows her class the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse provided to her for a year by Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation on May 20. Photo by Jon Anderson.