By NB3 Foundation

NB3FIT Soccer Mid-Season Update: Community, Coaches and Connection

We’re halfway through another incredible NB3FIT Soccer season, and we’re proud to report 113 youth registered across multiple sites: learning, growing and having fun on and off the field!

This season, we’re supported by an amazing team of 10 volunteer coaches, some returning and some new to NB3FIT:

  • Jared Lesansee – North Domingo Baca Park (Returning)

  • Aleia Aguilar – Santo Domingo School (New)

  • Shantael Booqua – Native American Community Academy (Returning)

  • Tymera Booqua – Native American Community Academy (Returning)

  • Lloyd Padilla – Bernalillo High School (New)

  • Alex Quiver – Pueblo of Laguna (Returning)

  • Adelbert Quiver – North Domingo Baca Park (Returning)

  • Brenda Herrera – Santo Domingo School (New)

  • Andrew Garcia – Santo Domingo & North Domingo Baca (New)

  • Carley Tafoya – Dulce (New)

All coaches have completed required trainings, including U.S. Center for SafeSport, U.S. Soccer Grassroots Coaching, and NB3 Foundation’s in-person Youth Soccer Coach Training. These volunteers generously give their time to create safe, fun, and empowering environments for our youth — and we are truly grateful for each of them!

Special Shoutouts

We want to highlight a few coaches who have gone above and beyond by organizing practices and forming teams in their own communities and schools:

  • Shantael and Tymera Booqua – Native American Community Academy

  • Alex Quiver – Pueblo of Laguna

  • Carley Tafoya – Dulce, NM

Your dedication is bringing soccer directly to Native youth in meaningful and lasting ways. Thank you for your commitment!

What’s up with the new format?

This season introduced a new academy-style layout — and parents are loving it! This format ensures every child plays multiple games every Saturday, even if some teammates can’t make it. It also allows youth to meet peers from other communities, build friendships and create lasting memories.

Thank You to Our Partners

Big thanks to Bernalillo High School for allowing us to use their fields for games and to Santo Domingo School for providing practice space. Your support makes it all possible.

As we look ahead to the rest of the season, we’re excited to keep seeing these players grow, connect and thrive through the game!

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By NB3 Foundation

NB3FIT Girls Basketball Teams: Competing, Growing and Uplifting Each Other

We are proud to share an exciting update from our NB3FIT Girls Basketball program. What started with tryouts for an 8th grade team has grown into a dynamic  collaboration with two additional Native-led teams — creating space for young female athletes to compete, grow and thrive both on and off the court.

Building the Teams

We kicked off the season by forming an NB3FIT 8th grade girls team, solidifying a strong 10-player roster. Shortly after, we expanded our program by partnering with two Native-led teams:

  • 505 Thunder (JV/Varsity) – Coached by Darin Begay

  • NB3F-Starz (6th grade) – Coached by Chris Sandoval and Reyes Roberts

Each team incorporates NB3 Foundation’s teachings and embraces our four core areas during practices. The players represent a wide range of communities including Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and the Pueblos of Sandia, San Felipe, Jemez, Laguna, Isleta, San Juan, Tesuque, Acoma, and Taos. We’re also proud to have representation from the Navajo Nation, Yu’Pik, Tohono O’odham, Wailacki, Akimel O’odham, and Lakota Nations.

More Than Basketball: Teaching Life Skills

Basketball practice is more than drills and plays — it’s about shaping leaders and teammates. So far, our teachings have included:

  • Positive self-talk and visualization

  • Teamwork and problem-solving

  • Fueling our bodies with fruits, veggies, and water

  • Learning how to be a good teammate and community member

Tournament Play and Big Wins

All three teams made their tournament debut at the 10th Annual Coronado Classic (April 3–6), competing against teams from Albuquerque, Bernalillo, and Santa Fe. The results:

 NB3F-Starz (6th grade) – Champions
505 Thunder Varsity – Second Place
Team NB3F Black – Showed heart and effort in their first bracket play game

Most recently, the Varsity team traveled to Mescalero, NM to play in the Glenn Yellowcloud Memorial Tournament. They faced teams from Magdalena, Tularosa, Ruidoso, and Mescalero, and finished as runners-up, with Alanna Barton named to the All-Tournament Team. Meanwhile, the 6th and 8th grade teams held it down locally in the East/West Tournament, playing hard and continuing to learn and grow.

Player Highlight: Penny Helgeland’s Redemption Moment

The 6th grade team made it to the championship game, the score was tied with a few seconds left in regular time. Penny Helgeland had the ball, attempting a shot. She was fouled; regular time ended. She went to the line to shoot her two free throws. If she made one, they would win the game. She missed both and  she was visibly upset. As she walked to her team, they all stood up clapped for her and hyped her up for overtime. Later, with the last 8 sec of overtime, the Starz were up and needed to inbound the ball in the back court, under the other team’s basket. If the other team stole the ball, they had a chance to win the game.  The ball was passed to Penny . She grabbed the ball, ripped through defense confidently and took care of the ball to secure their win. Throughout that whole game the team picked each other up and won the championship game.

Looking Ahead

This summer, our teams will continue to compete in local and select out-of-state tournaments. Though the partnerships are still new, it’s been powerful to see how the teachings are being put into action — through resilience, teamwork, and leadership.

The NB3 Foundation is proud to support these incredible athletes and looks forward to what’s next. Together, we’re building more than basketball teams — we’re nurturing future leaders.

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