Sports are all about passion. Whether it’s getting out there yourself or watching your favorite team, sports bring us together and provide an outlet during difficult times.

From kids, to teens, to adults of all ages, these stories are proof you’re never too old or too young to do what you love. That’s what it’s all about — the love of the game. What better place to share these stories than from the National Children’s Museum, a next-generation children’s museum and science center located in Downtown Washington, D.C.

Some of the stories in this episode include: 

Kicking Down Barriers // Santa Fe, New Mexico

Female soccer players Jazzi Gonzalez and Molly Wissman join the Santa Fe Demons football team as kickers.

Rookie Turned Pro // Albuquerque, New Mexico

Meet Marco Marco Ybarra, a competitive gymnast who is now a running back for St. Pius X football team. Marco is also the student body president.

Coaching Greatness // Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aden Chavez is the quarterback of the Cibola Cougars football team. Coach Rod WIlliams has known   Chavez since he was a baby. 

Zaching Against Cancer // Baltimore, Maryland

After a charity lacrosse tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, Michael McCarthy, head coach of the Mt. The Hebron boys’ lacrosse team reached out to the head coach Ken Senisi, coach of the centennials boys lacrosse team. Mt. Hebron and Centennial have been rivals for over 50 years. The two teams came up with an online challenge to raise money for Zaching Against Cancer. 

Zach Lederer was a 2011 graduate of Centennial High School. Zack passed away in 2014 from brain cancer. Zaching Against Cancer is a nonprofit that was founded to honor Zach and support to cancer patients.

102-Year-Old Tennis Player // Baltimore, Maryland

Meet Evelyn Schroedl, the oldest member of the USTA.  Schroedl survived the Spanish flu and continues to play tennis. Evelyn shares her love of the game by donating money to fund Goucher College’s tennis center.

A Baltimorean, Schroedl has always been active and tennis is her love for sure. But first, to better understand the zest she has for life, she celebrated turning 100 with a rappel of 27 floors for charity. She said she really can’t take credit, she’s just not afraid of heights.

Orioles Vids for Kids // Baltimore, Maryland

Ryan Wagner, announcer for the Orioles baseball team turned to kids to bring some cheer to the COVID-19 lockdown. 

Racing for Gold // Greenville, South Carolina

Today, her passion is sprinting. But as a young girl, she was focused on a different sport. She started gymnastics at age three and quickly excelled. By the time she turned nine, her father JaJa realized his daughter needed a different challenge.

​​As a seventh-grader, she made the varsity track team at Hillcrest High School. From there, the trophies and medals started to pile up. As a sophomore she was named Greenville County’s most valuable track athlete. She won the award again as a junior and was also named a New Balance Outdoor All-American.

But Zarie says she cares more about her team accomplishments than individual accolades. Last year, she helped Hillcrest capture its first overall state title in school history.