Stories
These are the stories of undiscovered stars, high school standouts, college athletes, and coaches from across all sports who dream of reaching the highest level – only a select few underdogs can defy the odds to emerge as legends.
Ultimately, these are universal stories of passion and possibility, overcoming hardship and fueling quests to be the best, whether that’s defined by skill, self-actualization, fame, fortune, and faith.
Ep. 1 – Qwan’tez Stiggers
No college. All heart.
Our debut season’s pilot episode of our “Finding The Underdog” docuseries kicks-off with the improbable, history-making journey to the NFL Draft and selection by the New York Jets of a talented, young player with absolutely no college snaps.
Within one year, he’s gone from washing trucks to supporting his young and growing family, to making it on the roster of an NFL team.
Ep. 3 – Ashely Shaw
Young and Black is No Handicap.
Ashley Shaw, 15, one of the best young golfers in the country, recently qualified and played in her first LPGA tournament.
At 13, she won the inaugural Curry Cup, a tournament created by NBA’s Steph Curry to promote and inspire young golfers of color. Shaw’s ranked in the top five in junior golf in the state. She drives the ball an impressive 320+ yards.
Ep. 5 – Logan Rager
The Longsnapper Defeating Long Odds.
Logan Rager is a Princeton University student and a member of its Tigers football team. Logan, at first glance isn’t your typical underdog, but as a long snapper who’s had a series of unfortunate injuries, he’s had to prove himself almost every year since high school to earn the sole spot on his teams’ rosters.
For example, he once tore a tendon in his right wrist, his dominant hand, and willed himself into ambidexterity. This adaptation ended up improving his game.
Ep. 7 – Morelle McCane
Out the Kitchen and Into the Ring.
Morelle McCane found her path to boxing in the kitchen. It was in her family’s kitchen in Cleveland, OH where she and her brother often shadow boxed and, surprisingly, she loved it.
At 17, she decided to make the playful pastime a real focus but, with such a late start, the odds were stacked high against her. Undeterred, she not only succeeded but became a champion and member of Team USA. Being an Olympian is a testament to her fortitude and adds to the long legacy of Cleveland boxers who’ve competed in the Games.
Ep. 9 – Farkhunda Muhtaj.
She Gave The Taliban an “L”.
Farkhunda’s family escaped the oppressive, fundamentalist Islamic regime before she was born and after several stops, made their way to Canada when she was two years old. However, she always was raised with a deep sense of Afghan pride and was deeply honored when invited in 2016 to represent the Afghan National team.
Now a professional soccer player and outspoken activist for female rights in Afghanistan, she has become, against all odds, a national hero and icon for young Afghani girls.
Ep. 2 – Keatin Lyons
This kid’s a Man on the Tracks.
Next up are profiles of a broad array of talented up-and-comers, e.g., 10-year-old Keatin “Max Flash” Lyons. This kid competes with equal success on all levels of dirt racing against both children and adults.
He has bold ambitions, precocious talent combined with a boundless commitment to making it to the big-time NASCAR circuit.
Ep. 4 – Laila Edwards
Soul on Ice.
Edwards made history last fall when she became the first Black woman to play for Team USA hockey, which will earn her a sport on the USA Olympic team. Edwards is, in fact, reclaiming history because it was Black residents of Nova Scotia, Canada who actually invented the game in 1815.
Edwards led Wisconsin last year to an NCAA women’s hockey title.
Ep. 6 – Adriana Peret
First She’ll Hurt You, Then She’ll Nurse You.
Usually, nurses nurture and care of patients. And while Adriana Peret totally exemplifies that “do no harm” ethos during work hours, her afterhours pursuits as a burgeoning MMA fighter have her intent on creating new patients to attend to.
From early on, Adriana knew she wanted to be a pro fighter. So, when the family immigrated from Romania and she had a free opportunity to learn, she was all over it. As an amateur, Adriana was undefeated now she’s joined the professional ranks, and is determined to make her mark there.
Ep. 8 – Mikayla Moore
Boss Girl on a Bike.
Mikayla Moore is a 20-year-old accomplished professional motorcycle racer. Let that sink in because you won’t see it every day.
Mikayla’s love for motor bikes began at the tender age of 6, entering her first race just one year later. She’s truly a “Boss Girl” rider comfortable on either an asphalt track or a dirt moto. Following in her father’s footsteps, she’s been serving as a mentor and coach to other young, aspiring racers.
Ep. 1 – Qwan’tez Stiggers
No college. All heart.
Our debut season’s pilot episode of our “Finding The Underdog” docuseries kicks-off with the improbable, history-making journey to the NFL Draft and selection by the New York Jets of a talented, young player with absolutely no college snaps.
Within one year, he’s gone from washing trucks to supporting his young and growing family, to making it on the roster of an NFL team.
Ep. 2 – Keatin Lyons
This kid’s a Man on the Tracks.
Next up are profiles of a broad array of talented up-and-comers, e.g., 10-year-old Keatin “Max Flash” Lyons. This kid competes with equal success on all levels of dirt racing against both children and adults.
He has bold ambitions, precocious talent combined with a boundless commitment to making it to the big-time NASCAR circuit.
Ep. 3 – Ashely Shaw
Young and Black is No Handicap.
Ashley Shaw, 15, one of the best young golfers in the country, recently qualified and played in her first LPGA tournament.
At 13, she won the inaugural Curry Cup, a tournament created by NBA’s Steph Curry to promote and inspire young golfers of color. Shaw’s ranked in the top five in junior golf in the state. She drives the ball an impressive 320+ yards.
Ep. 4 – Laila Edwards
Soul on Ice.
Edwards made history last fall when she became the first Black woman to play for Team USA hockey, which will earn her a sport on the USA Olympic team. Edwards is, in fact, reclaiming history because it was Black residents of Nova Scotia, Canada who actually invented the game in 1815.
Edwards led Wisconsin last year to an NCAA women’s hockey title.
Ep. 5 – Logan Rager
The Longsnapper Defeating Long Odds.
Logan Rager is a Princeton University student and a member of its Tigers football team. Logan, at first glance isn’t your typical underdog, but as a long snapper who’s had a series of unfortunate injuries, he’s had to prove himself almost every year since high school to earn the sole spot on his teams’ rosters.
For example, he once tore a tendon in his right wrist, his dominant hand, and willed himself into ambidexterity. This adaptation ended up improving his game.
Ep. 6 – Adriana Peret
First She’ll Hurt You, Then She’ll Nurse You.
Usually, nurses nurture and care of patients. And while Adriana Peret totally exemplifies that “do no harm” ethos during work hours, her afterhours pursuits as a burgeoning MMA fighter have her intent on creating new patients to attend to.
From early on, Adriana knew she wanted to be a pro fighter. So, when the family immigrated from Romania and she had a free opportunity to learn, she was all over it. As an amateur, Adriana was undefeated now she’s joined the professional ranks, and is determined to make her mark there.
Ep. 7 – Morelle McCane
Out the Kitchen and Into the Ring.
Morelle McCane found her path to boxing in the kitchen. It was in her family’s kitchen in Cleveland, OH where she and her brother often shadow boxed and, surprisingly, she loved it.
At 17, she decided to make the playful pastime a real focus but, with such a late start, the odds were stacked high against her. Undeterred, she not only succeeded but became a champion and member of Team USA. Being an Olympian is a testament to her fortitude and adds to the long legacy of Cleveland boxers who’ve competed in the Games.
Ep. 8 – Mikayla Moore
Boss Girl on a Bike.
Mikayla Moore is a 20-year-old accomplished professional motorcycle racer. Let that sink in because you won’t see it every day.
Mikayla’s love for motor bikes began at the tender age of 6, entering her first race just one year later. She’s truly a “Boss Girl” rider comfortable on either an asphalt track or a dirt moto. Following in her father’s footsteps, she’s been serving as a mentor and coach to other young, aspiring racers.
Ep. 9 – Farkhunda Muhtaj.
She Gave The Taliban an “L”.
Farkhunda’s family escaped the oppressive, fundamentalist Islamic regime before she was born and after several stops, made their way to Canada when she was two years old. However, she always was raised with a deep sense of Afghan pride and was deeply honored when invited in 2016 to represent the Afghan National team.
Now a professional soccer player and outspoken activist for female rights in Afghanistan, she has become, against all odds, a national hero and icon for young Afghani girls.
Stories That Stir Your Soul
The series is a well-crafted, smartly produced, unvarnished look at all levels of athletics.
Despite the challenges we reveal, these are positive, uplifting stories of introspection, reassessment, and re-invention.
This series will be a source of captivating inspiration for aspiring coaches and athletes of all generations. These positive messages help to humanize people too often judged solely by numbers and stats, as they rise above expectations to find their individual paths in sports (and life) regardless of their personal circumstances.