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Jaylen Raynor and members of the kids at Levitt Club break down a huddle with, "Cyclones!" | Jared Larson
DES MOINES – Carver Elementary School’s gymnasium was recently transformed into a field of mentorship and athletic development as Iowa State football players spent Monday afternoon leading drills and building relationships at the Boys & Girls Club. The event held at the Ellis I. Levitt Club, was supported by T-Mobile, aimed to provide local youth with a memorable experience while reinforcing the university’s deep ties to the Ames community.
“Healthy Lifestyles and Character and Leadership are two of our core pillars incorporated into daily programming at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa,” Kim Peter, Corporate and Donor Engagement Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa said. “On Monday, Club kids at Levitt Club enjoyed participating in a football clinic led by members of the Iowa State Football team. The seven stations offered kids the chance to practice drills and skills while interacting with local athletes who are role models for their sport. We’re grateful to T-Mobile for facilitating this three-way partnership and enriching our Summer Club experience!”
Zaimir Hawk, a redshirt junior defensive lineman, reflected on how the club shaped his childhood and he felt compelled to return as a mentor.
“Honestly it means a lot because I’m a former Boys & Girls Club member so just to be able to be a part of this just means a lot to me because I always wanted to be a part of something like this when I was younger,” Hawk said. “So just to be able to give back to the community and everybody else that supports us is a wonderful thing. Honestly, that was the first time I ever went outdoors and camping—it put me outside of my comfort zone. I think that that’s what a lot of kids need nowadays is to be put out of their comfort zone to be able to know what they’re capable of because that’s what every human needs especially at a young age.”
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Regarding the talent he saw on the field today, Hawk added:
“Watching the kids do the D-line drill, watching the confusion then the ‘Ah OK I get it.’ Watching them work hard and just finishing through no matter how it looked… They were just happy at the end of the day. If I’m being honest, a lot of these kids had a lot of potential. We need to recruit at the Boys & Girls Club.”
Several transfers were in attendance, including Jaylen Raynor (formerly of Arkansas State), Braden Smith (Tarleton State), Tristan Exlin (UT Permian Basin), Evan Boyd (Michigan State), and Trevor Fortenberry (Copiah-Lincoln CC). Their involvement with the 60 young participants likely turned those children into the newest members of the Cyclone fanbase.
“It’s a lot of fun to come out here, get involved with the community with some of my teammates just to have some fun and get some kids active and moving around… Trying to continue to pour into the community. They pour so much into us with the support on every Saturday. [The fans] are super passionate. They’re loving. They’re consistent. They always show up and show out. I’m excited to get into the stadium this fall and play in front of them.”
“I’m looking forward to being on the home side of Jack Trice when they do the Juicy Wiggle,” Raynor adds. “It wasn’t too fun on the opposite sideline when everybody’s doing the same dance and you’re down. Right now we’re just focused on improving each day… we’re going to continue to try to focus day by day and stack those days to the point where we’re ready for the season.”
For Aiden Flora, who played high school football 30 minutes west of Carver Elementary, the camp was truly close to home.
“It’s awesome, these kids look up to us,” Flora said. “When we were little, we looked up to football players, like us too. It’s awesome giving back to them. Hopefully we can spread some happiness in their lives.”
Jerry Brantley, board president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, a college football player himself at Coe from 1999 to 2003, highlighted how the seamless interaction between the players and the children created a unique environment for teaching skills and fostering confidence.
“This is a special day for these kids. Being able to have your local college athletes come—these athletes that have dedicated time, resources and energy to developing their skills, but not only that, their leadership and their character. Those are tenets that we like to teach here at the Boys & Girls Club. Just having the opportunity… knowing that there are adults who care… I saw one kid almost knock the player down hitting the bag and man, she had some power. It was just a day I think they will remember forever.”
“The interactions I saw from the players, I felt like they were part of the Boys & Girls Club staff, like they’ve been doing this their whole life,” Brantley adds.
The partnership was facilitated by T-Mobile, which is continuing the legacy of community involvement previously established by US Cellular. Jenae Bradley, a regional manager for T-Mobile, explained that the goal was to help children build confidence and create a lasting bond with the athletes.
“Hopefully when they see those Iowa State Cyclones on the field this fall, they’ll feel really connected and remember this day,” Bradley said.
The day concluded with a shared sense of pride, as Zaimir summed up the spirit with five words:
“Go Iowa State. Go Cyclones.”
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