Long-awaited upgrades are being made to one of the branch’s youth sports fields and the parking lot over the summer. YMCA staff, board members, donors and community supporters celebrated the start of renovations at a groundbreaking ceremony on June 8. The Caine Halter Family YMCA is located at 721 Cleveland St. in Greenville. 

The facility’s youth sports fields sit at the lowest elevation on the 26-acre campus, often becoming waterlogged from stormwater runoff after heavy rain. Jaime Johnson, executive director of the Caine Halter Family YMCA, said water can sit on the fields for up to two weeks, resulting in canceled practices and postponed games. 

The renovation project will solve this problem by raising the sports fields, creating an underground stormwater retention pond and adding new artificial turf. This will ensure the field can be used year-round. The parking lot will also be extended next to the sports field, creating 110 additional parking spaces for families and spectators. 

With the field upgrades, it will also be able to serve more children through its youth sports program. Sam Franklin, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greenville, said the nonprofit organization has doubled the size of its youth sports programming since 2017. Approximately 13,000 children were served in the YMCA’s youth sports program in the past year, with ongoing waitlists.

“Since COVID, we’ve had 200 plus kids on the waitlist for spring and fall soccer, probably another 100 in flag football,” Franklin said. “It was because of the field, we just didn’t have the space.”

The enhanced sports field will allow for six new youth soccer teams for the age group with the greatest demand: children ages three to seven. More than 120 additional boys and girls will be able to participate in the branch’s sports programming. Johnson said the improvements would also allow the branch to potentially add new adult sports programs. 

The youth sports field and parking lot renovations represent the latest project of the Caine Halter Family YMCA’s $8.5 million “Building a Brighter Tomorrow” capital campaign. The public phase of the capital campaign kicked off in October 2023. Since then, the campaign has raised $6.7 million and supported several other improvement projects at the 66-year-old branch, including:

• Installing a retractable enclosure system over the branch’s outdoor pool
• Renovating the branch’s original gymnasium 
• Upgrading the branch’s tennis center to add three pickleball courts

Field 1 will be closed over the next few months while renovations are underway. The branch’s three remaining fields will still be accessible. According to the YMCA, a portion of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail behind the sports field will be temporarily closed in mid-June for the project. Renovations are expected to be completed in August. 

The final phase of the “Building a Brighter Tomorrow” capital campaign will be installing a new community pavilion next to the youth sports field. The pavilion would feature restrooms, gathering space, a picnic area and storage. Franklin said they also hope to raise more funding down the road to re-turf the other three youth sports fields. 

For more information, visit ymcagreenville.org/caine-halter-capital-campaign. 

History and Facts

The YMCA of Greenville was founded in 1876 in downtown Greenville. The Caine Halter Family YMCA, previously the Cleveland Street YMCA, was constructed in 1960. Today, the YMCA of Greenville serves more than 85,000 people across its branches and programs.

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The event, which features both a celebrity tournament and a Korn Ferry Tour event, is held annually and benefits Upstate nonprofits. Since 2001, the event has contributed more than $17 million to local charities.

Kohles shot an even-par final round to finish 15-under, good for a four-stroke victory over Logan McAllister. It was his fifth Korn Ferry Tour win and his first this year. The Korn Ferry Tour is the developmental circuit for the PGA Tour.

Greenville native William Jennings, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, finished 12th and earned a spot in the next Korn Ferry Tour event – the OccuNet Classic June 11-14 in Amarillo, Texas. Jennings, who plays for Alabama, also finished second in the NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship on June 1.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am is presented by TD Synnex. This year’s celebrity lineup included movie star Bill Murray, U.S. and Furman soccer legend Clint Dempsey, and many more. The event will again be a stop on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2027.

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Seven new celebrities were also announced to be joining the 2026 tournament. The celebrity participants will rotate playing at Thornblade Club in Greer and The Country Club of Spartanburg in Spartanburg over two days.

The celebrities playing at the Country Club of Spartanburg on Thursday and the Thornblade Club include:

• Bill Murray, Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor
• Ross Butler, television and film actor
• Phoebe Carles, golf content creator
• Roger Clemens, Cy Young award-winning pitcher
• Clint Dempsey, retired professional soccer player, CBS Sports analyst and Furman University Athletics Hall of Fame member
• Chris Fletcher, vice president, master distiller and director of distillery operations at Jack Daniel Distillery 
• Grant Horvat, Youtube golf star
• OG Lott, social media personality
• Sean Malto, professional street skateboarder
• Joel Murray, television and film actor 
• Jimmy Roberts, Emmy award-winning sports journalist and broadcaster
• J.R. Smith, two-time NBA champion 
• Steve Smith Sr., sportscaster and former wide receiver 
• Roger Steele, master of ceremonies for TGL
• Carter Vynckier, golf content creator

The celebrities playing at the Thornblade Club on Thursday and The Country Club of Spartanburg on Friday include:

• Brian Baumgartner, television and film actor
• Alexis Belton, professional golfer and golf content creator
• Capt. Danny Brown with the Richland County Sheriffs Department and “On Patrol Live”
• Andy Buckley, television and film actor (new)
• Michael Collins, golf analyst and host of “America’s Caddie” (new)
• Seth Curry, NBA player with the Golden State Warriors (new)
• Dell Curry, former NBA player and Charlotte Hornets TV color commentator (new)
• Dustin Hadley, social media influencer and comedian (new)
• Aaron Hicks, MLB All-Star and Gold Glove award winner 
• Ryan Leaf, college and NFL analyst and CEO of Ram Consultant Inc. 
• Will Lowery, golf personality and broadcaster (new)
• Connor Shaw, former NFL and University of South Carolina quarterback
• Shawn Thornton, former NHL player and Stanley Cup champion
• Patrick Warburton, television and film actor
• Justin Wheelon, Emmy award-winning actor and director (new)
• Dorrell Wright, former NBA player, champion and first-round draft pick  

Read more about the 2026 BMW Charity Pro-Am 

The celebrity participants will play one round of golf on each course. On Friday, a cut will be made for amateurs, celebrities and Korn Ferry Tour professionals.

A trophy presentation for the amateur and celebrity tournament champions will take place on Saturday, June 6. The final round of the Korn Ferry Tour completion will take place on Sunday.

For more information, visit https://www.bmwgroup-werke.com/spartanburg/en/charity-golf.html/.

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Sixteen-year-old Mathis Albert made his debut for Borussia Dortmund April 26, against SC Freiburg. He plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for the club. Dortmund is currently second place in the league. It has been the breakthrough club for other standout U.S. players in recent years, including Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna.

Albert spent his early childhood in Greenville and played soccer at the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy. He was part of CESA’s Center of Excellence Program, designed for athletically advanced young soccer players. Program Director Matt Rogers coached Albert when he played on the Under-8 boys team. 

“Even then, he was a spectacular player,” Rogers said. “He had just amazing, natural technical ability on the ball. He could always stay active in the game. His acceleration over small distances was exceptional for being so young, and he had a resilience to him.” 

Albert moved up to play in CESA’s Junior Academy Program in 2017. He played for the Under-9 boys team, coached by Brandon Lee and Roberto Hernandez. Lee said Albert was the best player he ever coached. 

“He saw the game, you know, better than some 18- and 19-year-olds, to be honest. But then, just the moves and skills that he had at that age, and the confidence was just next level,” Lee said. 

Albert and his family moved to Southern California in 2018. He started playing for the San Diego Surf youth club and later joined the LA Galaxy youth program. In 2024, Albert moved to Germany and joined Dortmund’s youth academy.

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Tournament week begins June 1 with play running June 4-5 at the Country Club of Spartanburg and June 4-7 at Thornblade Club in Greer.

In addition to Murray, the 2026 celebrity lineup includes:

• Roger Clemens, Cy Young award-winning pitcher
• Clint Dempsey, retired professional soccer player, CBS Sports analyst and Furman University Athletics Hall of Fame member
• Joel Murray, actor
• Chris Fletcher, vice president and master distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery
• Patrick Warburton, actor
• J.R. Smith, NBA champion
• Steve Smith Sr., sportscaster and former NFL wide receiver
• Sean Malto, X Games medalist and professional street skateboarder
• Brian Baumgartner, actor

Look Back: 2025 BMW Charity Pro-Am

Tournament week will also feature a number of special events throughout the area, including:

• ParTee on Trade, May 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., downtown Greer
• Neighborhood Cancer Connection Ladies Charity Golf Tournament, June 1, 3’s Golf & Grubhouse
• Concert featuring KC & The Sunshine Band, June 4, 7:30 p.m., Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
• Military and first responders day, June 6, 9:30 a.m., Thornblade Club
• Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers concert, June 6, 7:30 p.m., 3’s Golf & Grubhouse

For more information, volunteer opportunities or to purchase tickets, visit bmwcharitygolf.com.

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The 10K and 5K had a combined 1,888 finishers.

Photos by Moore Gems of You Photography for The Greenville Track Club.

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According to the park, Kolak brings extensive experience in venue management, event operations, and sports facility development and will oversee stadium operations and lead guest experience initiatives as the park prepares for its June 3 opening.

GE Vernova Park is a state-of-the-art sports and events complex being developed at Mauldin’s BridgeWay Station. The park will be the new home of the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty soccer teams.

Among his roles as acting general manager, Kolak will help ensure the park’s operational readiness and will help develop venue partnerships and a fan experience strategy.

“It is an incredible honor to step into this role and help bring GE Vernova Park to life,” Kolak said in a statement about his new role. “This venue represents more than just a stadium; it is a community gathering place built to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans, families, and partners throughout the Upstate.”

GE Vernova Park is being developed as a multiuse venue capable of hosting sporting events — particularly professional soccer matches — concerts, corporate functions, festivals and other community events. The stadium will open with a capacity of 6,300 for sport-related events but is designed to accommodate up to 15,000 visitors for non-sport events through on-field activation.

Having strong venue leadership in place ahead of the stadium’s opening is an important step in ensuring the park’s successful launch, according to Wallace Cheves, chairman and governor of Greenville Pro Soccer, which owns and operates the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty soccer clubs.

“Trey’s leadership, experience, and understanding of venue operations make him the ideal person to guide GE Vernova Park through this important milestone,” Cheves said. “As we prepare to welcome fans for the first time this June, we are confident Trey will ensure GE Vernova Park delivers a best-in-class experience that reflects the vision of Greenville Pro Soccer and our partners.” 

Additional announcements related to opening events, partnerships, and programming will be released in the coming weeks as GE Vernova Park prepares to welcome fans for the inaugural season.

For more information, visit gevernovapark.com.

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The road cycling race will return for its third year on Thursday, April 30. The free event, presented by Prisma Health, is part of USA CRITS, an eight-race series of criteriums across the Southeast. 

“This event not only showcases the incredible talent of professional cyclists; it highlights Greenville’s commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Tim Brookshire, CEO of Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital. 

The Greenville Cycling Classic will be held on a short, closed circuit winding through downtown. The start and finish line for the 0.6-mile course will be located at the intersection of North Main and Coffee streets at ONE City Plaza. 

Related: Photos from the 2025 Greenville Cycling Classic

Eight races will be held on April 30, starting at 3 p.m. The full schedule of events include:

• 3 p.m. – Men’s Category 4/5 race
• 3:35 p.m. – Collegiate Men
• 4:10 p.m. – Collegiate Women
• 4:45 p.m. – Masters 45 plus
• 5:30 p.m. – Ride with the Tour de France Legends
• 6 p.m. – Men’s Category 2/3 race
• 7 p.m. – Women’s Pro 1/2/3 Category race
• 8:10 p.m. – Men’s Pro 1/2 Category race

The Tour de France Legends event allows community members over the age of 12 to ride with former Tour de France competitors George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde and Bobby Julich. The event is free and open to the public. 

“I’m thrilled to bring high-speed crit racing back to Greenville for its third year,” Hincapie said. “This event is a fantastic spring highlight for the entire community to enjoy, further enriching our blossoming cycling culture here in the Upstate.”

The course for the Greenville Cycling Classic will be blocked off from traffic starting at 10 a.m. on April 30. This will include portions of North Main Street, East North Street, Brown Street, McBee Avenue, South Laurens Street and West Washington Street. 

The registration deadline for the Greenville Cycling Classic is April 29. For more information, visit https://greenvillecyclingclassic.com/.

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The national tour will stop at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Tuesday, April 21. Among the performers will be Olympic team event gold medalists Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea. O’Shea said the tour will be a new experience for both of them. 

“It’s going to be a ton of fun being around people that we were around at the Olympics for another basically two months and get to hang out with some of our best friends and do what we love most in skating,” O’Shea said. 

The pair skaters described their tour programs as “high-energy” with “gravity-defying” elements. Kam said the Stars on Ice tour allows the skaters to “let their hair down” and perform elements that are typically illegal in competition. 

“We can just like do programs that we want to do and let our artistry flow more than in competition because we’re not getting judged,” Kam said. “We’re just … having fun and trying to interact more with the audience and focus a little bit less on trying to be perfect and let the elements speak for themselves.”

Olympic Champion Alysa Liu will headline the Stars on Ice tour. Other members of the 2026 Team USA going on tour include Amber Glenn, Ilia Malinin, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Emily Chan, Spencer Howe and Andrew Torgashev. The tour lineup will also feature World silver medalist Isabeau Levito and Olympic team bronze medalist Jason Brown. 

Tickets for the 2026 Stifel Stars on Ice tour are available online. Fans can also purchase passes to the pre-show warmup and Q&A on the tour’s official website. 

For tickets and more information, visit bonsecoursarena.com/events/detail/stars-on-ice-greenville-sc-tickets. 

Quotes

“Stars on Ice does an amazing job of being able to bring the elite level skating all around the country, and we’re super excited to be part of the Stars on Ice family.” – Olympic team gold medalist Danny O’Shea

“When we got the offer to be a part of it, it was kind of like a no-brainer that we wanted to join, you know, the rest of Team USA, and to be a part of bringing skating around the states.” – Olympic team gold medalist Ellie Kam

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Minihan has 14 years of collegiate coaching experience and was head coach of the USC Upstate women’s team from 2012 to  ’16. After stepping away from coaching, she earned a masters degree in human resource development. She has worked as an athletic consultant and is a certified CoreClarity facilitator.

The Liberty were founded in 2021. The club is owned by Greenville Pro Soccer along with the Greenville Triumph, a men’s professional team which plays in USL League One.

The team will play at the under-construction GE Vernova Park at BridgeWay Station in Mauldin. The stadium is expected to open in June.

“When I think about the history of this team, the past few years have been spent building a team. … There is this wonderful foundation to launch from,” Minihan said.

“I want to win but also want to play well, and I want to develop these young ladies to be outstanding human beings and great citizens.”

The Liberty have competed for the past four seasons in the pre-professional USL W League, but this season will play a six-game, under-20 schedule in June and July. Future league plans for the Liberty have not been announced.

As a player, Minihan was a four-year starter at Michigan from 1999 to 2003 and was named to the all-Big Ten conference first team three times. She was drafted by Atlanta in the now-defunct WUSA and went on to play professionally in Charlotte and Boston.

Minihan, a Greenville County resident, returned to youth coaching in 2022.

“I stepped away in 2016 from coaching collegiately after having my kids, and just really spent a lot of time away from the game but was developing in other areas,” Minihan said.

“But everything I was working on kept coming back to coaching.”

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As opening day for the minor league season approaches on April 2, several new amenities and services for Drive fans have been unveiled at the park.

Fans who don’t want to wait in the concession line can now use the new Shortstop Self-Serve Market behind home plate. The self-checkout market is designed for quick “grab-and-go” food or drink, with a wide selection of hot and cold food, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. This is also a direct-to-seat delivery option.

“The grab-and-go, fresh market concept has become more and more popular over the last couple of years,” said Jeff Brown, president of the Greenville Drive. “We still have our traditional concession stands with unexpected offerings in different areas of the ballpark. But now, if you want something simple, you can get in and out.”

New Fluor Field executive chef

Fluor Field also has a new executive chef. Austyn McGroarty, a Woodside Bistro founder and recent “Chopped” competitor on the Food Network, is planning to transform the ballpark’s culinary identity.

“Austyn is from the community,” Brown said. “He knows the Drive and Fluor Field well. He’s been coming here his whole life. So not only is he a world-class chef, but he takes our reputation as the best minor league baseball organization in the country very seriously.”

The park’s luxury suites have been completely renovated with floor-to-ceiling glass facing the field. Each suite is equipped with a 75-inch television, new cabinets and countertops, and new induction cooking surfaces.

“The suites have always been the more premium spaces in the ballpark,” Brown said. “And now they’ve been totally transformed.”

Fans will also notice new flair on the field and new items at the merchandise stands this season. The team has a new line of hats and jerseys with exclusive designs.

“We’ve brought in new brands and new styles for the players,” Brown said. “And when you come through our team store, you’ll find a lot of those designs that you can’t get anywhere else.”

The Drive, a High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, compete in the South Atlantic League. The team and Fluor Field are coming off a season-long 20th anniversary celebration in 2025. Brown said the organization will continue to push for new ways to connect to the community.

“The community’s belief in us is something we never take for granted,” Brown said.

Greenville Drive 2026 opening weekend schedule

What: Opening weekend, Greensboro Grasshoppers at Greenville Drive

Where: Fluor Field, 945 S. Main St., Greenville

When: April 2-4, 6:45 p.m.

Tickets and info: milb.com/greenville

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The fourth annual gymnastics invitational will be held on Jan. 9-10, 2027. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale in the fall. 

“We are excited to see the energy and support that Greenville is known for when it comes to hosting women’s sporting events and look forward to launching the season with two highly competitive quad meets featuring the top-ranked programs in gymnastics,” said Kristen Shaver, director of ESPN Events, in a statement.

Eight collegiate teams will compete in the 2027 Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad, including: 

• No. 1 University of Oklahoma 
• No. 2 Louisiana State University 
• No. 3 University of Florida
• No. 5 University of California, Los Angeles
• No. 6 University of Georgia
• No. 12 University of Utah
• No. 15 Clemson University
• No. 22 University of North Carolina

The first quad meet of the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad will air live on ABC on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027. The second quad meet will air on ESPN on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027. Full details on the gymnastics invitational, including quad matchups and times, will be announced at a later date. 

“We’re proud to welcome the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad to Greenville and to continue building the kind of premier sports calendar that elevates our destination,” said Heath Dillard, president and CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC, in a statement. “Events like this create visibility for Greenville, support our visitor economy, and showcase elite collegiate competition. Greenville has proven that women’s sports matter here and that our community will show up.”

The Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad is owned and operated by ESPN Events. The gymnastics invitational was previously held in Utah and Oklahoma. For more information, visit collegiatequad.com.

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The name debuts as part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión initiative, a season-long series that celebrates Latino culture and community. According to the team, the name is inspired by the “smoky spirit of mezcal and the legendary gusano — the agave worm that’s become a symbol of strength, tradition, and flavor.”

Hub City will debut the Gusanos de Mezcal Del ‘Burg jersey on Cinco De Mayo. The Gusanos identity will reappear multiple times throughout the 2026 season. Each appearance will be accompanied by authentic Latin American live music, dancing, and family-friendly programming.

Ingles is the presenting sponsor of Hub City’s Copa de la Diversión games and Hispanic Heritage night.

For more information, visit milb.com/hub-city.

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City leaders, community members and baseball fans gathered to celebrate the new Little League baseball field opening on Aug. 28, 2025. It is located near Unity Park’s Auro Bridge and the Thomas and Vivian A. Wong Honor Tower.

Related: Mayberry Park opens in Greenville’s Unity Park 

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