As the holidays approach, the team at Memphis Youth Athletics is humbled to look back on the year we’ve had and our history as an organization working to develop youth in Memphis through the power of activity, community, and fitness. We couldn’t be more grateful to the people who help make it possible, and we couldn’t be more encouraged than by looking back on all our amazing success stories. We love Memphis!
The Coaches Who Go the Extra Mile
Every great athlete starts somewhere, and more often than not, they start with a coach who believes in them. At Memphis Youth Athletics, our coaches are the heartbeat of what we do. They’re the ones on the sidelines early in the morning, setting up cones and cheering through the finish line. They’re the ones who remind kids that effort matters more than placement, that running is as much about self-discovery as it is about speed. For so many of our programs across Memphis, Collierville, and the Mid-South, coaching isn’t just a hobby. It’s a calling.
Tammy & David Townsend — From Beginners to Believers
When Tammy and David Townsend first took over the Collierville Middle cross-country program, they had no prior coaching experience. What they did have was a shared love for working with kids and a willingness to learn alongside them. Twelve years later, they’ve coached more than 500 student-athletes, helping shape not just stronger runners but stronger people.
Their story perfectly captures the MYA spirit. What started as an after-school activity quickly turned into a family tradition, a foundation of mentorship and community that’s changed countless lives. In their own words,
As coaches, we can proudly boast of two individual cross country state champions and one state champion team. These triumphs are not just about the titles but about the perseverance, dedication, and spirit of the athletes we’ve had the privilege to coach. As we reflect on these 12 years, it’s clear that our journey extends far beyond coaching cross country.
It’s a story of passion, unity, and the enduring impact of sport on the lives of countless young athletes. The extra mile we’ve run as coaches has been well worth it, and the journey continues, one stride at a time.
Under their guidance, Collierville’s teams have developed not only as competitors but as leaders, teammates, and friends. The Townsends see every practice and meet as a chance to build character by teaching kids how to set goals, face setbacks, and celebrate each other’s success.
Building Teams That Feel Like Family
What’s remarkable about the Collierville program isn’t just its success. Another major factor in what makes it special is the sense of belonging that defines it. Over time, the coaches have built an environment where athletes train together across middle and high school, with returning runners coming back to mentor the younger ones. The Collierville and West Collierville teams even share practices and meets, operating as one big extended family instead of rivals.
That spirit of unity reflects what makes Memphis Youth Athletics unique. It’s not just about building runners; it’s about building relationships that endure. Older athletes come back to encourage the younger ones, families volunteer at meets, and entire teams support each other both on and off the course. That sense of connection is what keeps coaches, parents, and runners coming back season after season, and it’s a reminder of why they started in the first place.
From the first warm-up lap to the final race of the season, that sense of connection is what fuels MYA’s success. The Townsends’ story is one of hundreds of examples, each proof that the real finish line isn’t the tape at the end of the race, but the shared journey that gets everyone there together.
Athletes Growing Up Through MYA
Every season at Memphis Youth Athletics brings new faces, new goals, and new stories of determination. But what makes MYA truly special is how those stories connect, how the kids who start running in elementary school come back years later as high school standouts, mentors, and volunteers. The spirit of the program doesn’t end when the season does; it continues to grow, one runner at a time.
From Campus School to the State Championships
The story of University Middle School’s success in recent years is a perfect example of MYA’s long-term impact. Coaches such as Colton Cockrum point to the foundation established through MYA’s youth programs as a key factor in their athletes’ growth. Many of the runners who now compete at the middle and high school levels first discovered their passion for the sport through MYA, developing the habits of discipline and perseverance that continue to carry them forward.
That early exposure paid off. University Middle has sent athletes to compete at the state level, joining programs like Lausanne, MUS, Crosstown, and Hutchison in representing Memphis on a larger stage. But beyond medals and rankings, the real victory is in the confidence and resilience these athletes carry with them. They learn to push through challenges, to encourage their teammates, and to take pride in their growth, and those are values that stretch far beyond the track.
What Early Exposure Really Means
When kids join MYA, they’re not just learning how to run; they’re learning how to love movement. The organization’s youth programs emphasize inclusion and fun as much as performance, helping children see fitness as something to enjoy, not endure. For many families, that early experience changes everything, as it sets the tone for a lifetime of active, healthy living.
Through every stride, stumble, and sprint, these young athletes show what Memphis Youth Athletics is all about: not perfection, but progress. And that’s a success story worth celebrating.