DME Academy to Host Back to School Bash
***This event has been postponed due to Covid-19. We are hoping to reschedule for late 2021***
Youth Sports Academy to Partner with Boys & Girls Club, Local Police and Sheriff’s Departments, and Daytona Businesses to Host End-of-Summer Party for Local Youth
Daytona, FL, August 6th, 2021- DME Academy, one of the nation’s leading youth athletics and academic preparatory schools, will partner with local charity powerhouse- Jeep Beach, the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD), Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the local Boys and Girls Club of Volusia and Flagler Counties to host basketball games and contests unlike any other. On September 11th, from 10am-1pm, members of the DBPD and sheriff’s office will partner with some of DME Academy’s student-athletes to take on local youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Volusia and Flagler Counties. In addition, officers will lead a discussion with the kids on the significance of the event’s date.
“When DME Academy got started, we did it because we wanted to make an impact on student-athletes everywhere,” said Dan Panaggio, co-owner of DME Academy. “That said, our home is Daytona Beach, and we’re proud members of this community and always look for ways we can make an impact here at home. We’re looking forward to bringing everyone together for a great day of basketball and fun.”
To fuel the players in the variety of basketball games & contests, Buffalo Wild Wings will provide lunch for everyone at the event. Additionally, as part of their Driven to Give initiative, Gary Yeomans Ford of Daytona Beach will be donating up to $8,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Volusia and Flagler Counties for anyone who test drives a Lincoln or Ford that weekend in person or virtually.
“This is going to be a special day for everyone involved,” said Laura Stegall, Athletic Director of DME Academy. “It’s been really inspiring to see how our partners in the community have stepped up, and everyone at DME Academy has responded just as enthusiastically. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone’s effort in supporting these great causes.”
For additional information visit: https://dmeacademy.com/back-to-school-bash/ Please contact Laura Stegall with questions and inquiries at laura.stegall@dmesports.com
Senior, Daytona State College Commit, Brooke Kornegay was awarded the Doing More Everyday "DME Player Of the Year" last week! Being the first year to give this award out, this was a special moment the whole volleyball staff and program witnessed. We talked with Brooke and Coach Lilly, Brooke's coach, to see what an honor this meant to them as well. Check out some of their thoughts.
In your eyes, what is the Doing More Everyday DME Player Of The Year?
Brooke: In my eyes, doing more every day means being selfless and being willing to put your team, coaches, and club before you. You train hard, require your teammates to train hard and get 1% better every day while giving 1% more every day.
What were your expectations going into the "Doing More Everyday" DME Player Of The Year Awards?
Brooke: I had no idea that this award even existed and when I heard Coach Dawn listing all of the qualities about the selected player I got excited but I honestly did not think that it would be me out of the hundreds of athletes at DME. I felt super honored.
How do you think younger players look up to you and this reward?
Brooke: I think the younger players see me as someone who lets their passion for the sport determine my attitude and effort. I sacrifice so much of myself, physically and mentally, for this sport, but I am happy to do it because I love to play this sport.
What does the Doing More Everyday "DME Player of the Year Award mean to you?
Brooke: This award means the world to me, because I have always been the player that walks the whole gym to make sure there’s no trash or who picks up any loose balls, but I never did any of those things expecting a reward or any recognition from anyone; I was just doing it for the better of my club but the fact that Coach Dawn did recognize my actions feels really good.
For someone striving to get this award next year, what would your advice be to them?
Brooke: I feel like it is easy to do more every day if your heart is in the right spot. If you are just looking for your name on a plaque, then you aren’t doing more every day for the right reasons. Let your love for the sport and club guide you.
If you can put it into words, who all would you thank for helping you, molding you into the player you are that received this award?
Brooke:I have to thank my mom, dad, and sister, along with Coach Dawn and Coach Alvaro, and all of my other past coaches. They have all affected me in different ways and made me the type of player that I am today, a player that does more every day.
How proud were you when Brooke was announced as DME Player of The Year and why?
Coach Lilly: When Brooke was announced as the player of the year I was super proud! I wasn’t really surprised that she was selected given her hard work and dedication this club season as well as all her past club seasons. Brooke is an amazing athlete and person in general.
How is she a leader on and off the court?
Coach Lilly: She leads on and off the court just by being Brooke. She shows up to every practice ready to work, she speaks up when necessary, she holds herself and her teammates accountable and when it comes to volleyball; she has a winning mentality. Brooke is the kind of person every coach wishes they had a whole team of.
We want to wish Brooke the best of luck on her new journey at Daytona State College next year. If you’d like to learn more about the DME volleyball programs click here.
This summer, DME Volleyball will make history.
For the first time in their storied history, DME will send two volleyball teams to the Girls’ Junior National Championships, held in Las Vegas, after DME’s 12 Black Team and 15 Black Team qualified for nationals.
“I am so proud of our Girls volleyball players, coaches, and staff,” said Dan Panaggio, owner of DME Academy. “When you look at what those girls fought through to get to this point, it really speaks to the grit, focus, and determination of everyone involved.”
15 Black Team suffered a major blow when their setter went down in the semifinal, but head coach Alvaro Sanchez had faith in his team.
“Our performance wavered a few times, but their resilience did not,” Sanchez said. “I would say we emptied the tank every game. After our setter went down in the semifinal, they could’ve chosen to pout, but these girls kept fighting.”
Dawn Moses, DME’s Director of Indoor Volleyball and head coach of 12 DME Black Team, similarly praised her girls’ performance to reach nationals, highlighting their fight.
“Our team had to battle all weekend to get this bid,” Moses said. “We had to beat a good team after losing a game 8-25, then we dug a hole against another good team and had to battle back. The confidence this team gains each time they must work together and fight together for the victory has molded them into a great team.”
Next up for the girls is a trip to the Girls Junior National Championship at the Las Vegas Convention Center. And while there’s plenty of work to do between now and then, Moses is grateful for everyone involved who put in the work to get to this point.
“Without the complete and total support of everyone who contributes, [these teams] would not, could not, be the excellent functioning winning teams we have been privileged to see this year.”
No one can say for sure how things will play out in Las Vegas, but there’s no doubt that both teams will make the fans, friends, and families proud.