Jacksonville has a new local league of Stonewall Sports

Posted on May 5, 2021 By Editor Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, Murray Hill, San Jose, San Marco, St. Nicholas

Stonewall Sports Jax Spring Season 2021: Left to Right - Ashton Mareth, Blake Burdett, Edwin Carvalho, Steven Kyle, Dustin Schulze, Kyle Nix, Adam Beaugh, Cameron Nord, Joe Wolf, Ricky Ostrofsky, Jeremy Dziubek, Ray Berndt, Ryan McBride, John Schmidt.

There’s a new league in the Greater Jacksonville area, Stonewall Sports Jax. This inaugural season’s registration brought in 290 players, divided into 15 teams. The season opener took place on Sunday, April 11 at Willowbranch Park.

Stonewall Sports is an LGBTQ and Ally community-based, non-profit sports organization founded in 2010 that strives to raise funds for charitable organizations. (Ally refers to allies who are in support of the LGBTQ community but do not identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual themselves.) The league is open to all, ages 21+. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to launch our very own Jacksonville chapter,” said Corey J. Brown, the local representative and sports director.

Their Vision: We believe every person should have the ability to feel comfortable being oneself in organized sports. Our league will value each player for who they are and what one brings to the league’s community. We also believe organized communities have the ability and responsibility to support others in need.

Their Mission: To provide an inclusive, low-cost, high FUN sports league that is managed as a non-profit with a philanthropic heart.

Just as Stonewall Sports national is a non-profit organization, so is the local Jacksonville chapter. All income to the league, even from registration, goes to a charitable foundation. Each season, Stonewall Sports Jax will choose a different local charity to support. For spring, it’s JASMYN, which supports and empowers displaced LGBTQ youth, promoting equality and human rights.

Board of Directors of Jacksonville Chapter: Left to Right - Dr. Zachary Neumann (Sports Director), Travis Guthrie (Treasurer), Tonee Cudi (Marketing Director), Angel Santiago (Technical Director), Mateo Rogers (City Commissioner), Corey Brown (Events Director). — Board of Directors of Jacksonville Chapter: Left to Right – Dr. Zachary Neumann (Sports Director), Travis Guthrie (Treasurer), Tonee Cudi (Marketing Director), Angel Santiago (Technical Director), Mateo Rogers (City Commissioner), Corey Brown (Events Director).

Monetary donations are accepted and so is game equipment. Sponsorship levels are available for businesses wishing to print their logo on jerseys, ballcaps, water bottles, and the like. Sponsorship applications and donation packets are available on Stonewall Sports Jax’s Facebook page and website.

This inaugural season, spring 2021, is devoted to kickball. There will be an upcoming summer and a fall season that will focus on different sports of the 16 approved by the national organization. Possibilities include beach volleyball, tennis, bocce ball, and others. Registration for these will open in late May; go to https://StonewallJax.LeagueApps.com/ or StonewallSportsJax on either Facebook or Instagram.

All spectators are welcome. Kickball games are played on the baseball grounds at Willowbranch Park in Riverside every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The spring season runs April 11 to May 23.

By Mary Wanser
Resident Community News