Crimber Claims Crown: Teenage Phenom Stuns Jacksonville in PBR Unleash the Beast
February 24, 2024
Staff,
FIRST COAST SPORTS MEDIA
Vystar Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, erupted in a frenzy on Saturday, February 24th, 2024, as teenage bull riding phenom John Crimber walked away from the U.S. Border Patrol PBR Jacksonville, the youngest-ever Unleash the Beast event winner. Crimber, a mere 18 years old, displayed nerves of steel throughout the competition.
On Friday night, he delivered a solid 8.75-second ride, setting the stage for a remarkable Saturday night showdown.
As the clock ticked down in the final round, Crimber faced off against the monstrous bull "Doze You Down." As the last man to leave the chutes inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Crimber needed a score in excess of 86.25 points to earn his first premier series win. In a display of remarkable skill and composure, he clung on for a jaw-dropping 90-point ride, the highest score of the event, and secured his place in PBR history.
This wasn't just a victory; it was a coronation. Crimber, nicknamed "The Next Big Thing," lived up to his moniker, surpassing expectations and thrilling the Jacksonville crowd. Fans roared his name, celebrating not just his talent but the promise of a bright future for the sport.
The Jacksonville event wasn't a one-man show. Other riders like Dalton Kasel and João Ricardo Vieira
Photo: Nino Rakichevic
showcased their own exceptional talent, pushing Crimber to his limits and delivering high-octane rides that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.However, the weekend belonged to Crimber. His victory served as an inspiration, a testament to the power of dedication and perseverance. He challenged the existing narrative, proving that age is just a number in the unforgiving world of bull riding
As a result of his first place finish, Crimber garnered 148 Unleash The Beast points. While he arrived in Florida ranked No. 3 in the 2024 PBR World Championship race, he will leave No. 2, having pulled within 295 points of No. 1 Cassio Dias.
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Dias went 1-for-2 in Jacksonville to finish 26th and earned 8 Unleash The Beast points. After bucking off Big Worm in a swift 1.46 seconds in Round 1, Dias rebounded in Round 2, topping Hunted Down for 82.5 points.
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As the only other rider to go a perfect 3-for-3, Dalton Kasel, who rides for the Austin Gamblers in the separate PBR Teams league, was second.
John Crimber, No. 2 in the PBR World Championship Race
Photo: Nino Rakichevic
The PBR Unleash The Beast next travels to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the Ariat PBR Indianapolis. The event is on Saturday, March 2, at 6:45 p.m. EST, and Sunday, March 3, at 1:45 p.m. EST.
Preparing For Success; Jacksonville 95ers Go All In On Their Professional Staff
February 14, 2024
By Mary Valenta
FIRST COAST SPORTS MEDIA
Preparing players for the area's new professional basketball team, the Jacksonville 95ers, requires an experienced professional staff. Nikki Hatton is the team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach. A native of Jacksonville, Hatton ran track in school. The past 13 years she has trained many athletes in multiple sports as a Certified Personal Trainer.
With the Jax 95ers, Hatton is looking at players’ weaknesses, stamina, and endurance to customize each player’s warmups, stretching and strengthening exercises. “The best part of my job is to see the players grow, excel, and strengthen. I’m proud to be part of getting great results from the players."
Female coaches in professional basketball teams are rare. There are currently only six in the NBA. When asked how the male players and staff treat her, Hatton responded “Like a queen. The guys are respectful and appreciative. They are great to work with.”
While excelling in the world of basketball requires mastering the art of shooting, dribbling, and teamwork, that is just one of the prerequisites to fielding a winning team. Another important aspect that can make all the difference is a well-structured strength and conditioning program. Finesse and skill are vital, but the physical prowess and endurance of a basketball player can be the game-changer on the court. With Coach Hatton, the 95ers have an experienced professional who can leverage her expertise in personal training, nutrition, and motivation to elevate the team's performance.
Nikki Hatton, Strength & Conditioning Coach, Jacksonville 95ers
On the marketing side, Dr. Shaun Holland-Powell is the team’s VP of Branding and Sponsorship. Working closely with managing owner Kevin Waters, Powell is responsible for getting the team up and going. With a strength in time management, she keeps the staff and events on schedule.
A doctor in Christian counseling, Powell is founder and CEO of Powellful Productions. She is used to directing major productions and working with all tyoes of people. With the Jax95ers, she helps instill the family culture. As Powell puts it, “We’re all about unity. One man, one sound.”
Powell is helping the team with a multi-step marketing plan to engage the community. She declares, “The fans are most important! Management always keeps the fans in mind when deciding ticket prices, merchandise and customer service.” The team hopes to attract audiences of families, sports connoisseurs and even those on a date night.
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You can watch the Jax95ers first exhibition game live on February 18th at 3:00 pm at Jacksonville University’s Swisher Gymnasium. Tickets can be purchased here.
The first regular season game is on March 7th against the Rocket City Flight in Huntsville, Alabama. The season home opener is March 15 at Swisher Gymnasium against the Raleigh Firebirds in Jacksonville. Tickets will be available online soon. For tickets and further information, go to Jacksonville95ers.com.​
Follow First Coast Sports Media for the next article in our series of interviews with Jacksonville 95ers staff.
Dr. Shaun Holland-Powell, Vice President, Branding and Sponsorship, Jacksonville 95ers
PickUp USA Fitness, Home of the Jacksonville 95ers
Practice Facility
February 5, 2024
By Mary Valenta
FIRST COAST SPORTS MEDIA
As previously reported, the Jacksonville 95ers begin their first season of play next month as the newest team in The Basketball League, a professional basketball organization with teams from coast to coast. As the 95ers move closer to the start of their inaugural season, we've introduced you to the team's managing owner, Kevin Waters, and its head coach, Jerrod Tucker. In this next article in the series we take a look at the 95ers' practice facility, PickUp USA Fitness, a new state-of-the-art basketball-focused fitness club in the Baymeadows section of Jacksonville.
The facility's owners, Will and Savanna Massey, opened the franchised club in 2022 to provide a safe, clean environment for adults and children to work out and play ball in a family-friendly environment. Will Massey, a retired Marine, says the club has court officials at pickup games to eliminate bullying, excessive trash talking and fighting, as typically occurs at other facilities. The Massey’s want the club to be inclusive and open to all ages, races, genders, and playing levels. In addition to providing basketball training and officiated pickup games, the club has full weight and cardio rooms, retail merchandise and lounges with vending machines.
Will Massey said they are pleased to provide the practice facility for the Jax 95ers and he and his wife are excited to help the team grow. The facility's full complement of fitness equipment and multiple basketball courts enable the team's coaching staff to prepare the team to compete at the highest level. The Massy's are proud to be part of building community relations between the team and the community. Will Massey partners with Jax 95ers owner, Kevin Waters, on many youth camps, while PickUp USA-Jacksonville, in which Waters also owns an interest, provides a youth development league for nurturing aspiring young basketball players.
PickUp USA Fitness membership is on a month-to-month basis (no long-term contract like other gyms) and day passes are available. The facility is available for birthday parties and court rentals. The club is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information go to PickUpUSAFitness.com/jacksonville-fl) or click here for video footage of members of the club in action.
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The Jacksonville 95ers home games this season are played in Jacksonville University’s Swisher Gymnasium. The season tips off on March 7 against the Rocket City Flight in Huntsville AL. The first home game is March 15 against the Raleigh Firebirds.
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Tickets will be available online soon. For tickets and further information, go to Jacksonville95ers.com.
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Follow First Coast Sports Media for the next article in our series of interviews with Jax 95ers staff.
Hoopla Returns: Jacksonville 95ers Bring Professional Basketball Back to the First Coast
Above: Players trying out at the Jacksonville 95ers final free agent camp held at PIckUpUSA Fitness
January 17, 2024
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By Mary Valenta
FIRST COAST SPORTS MEDIA
Jacksonville sports enthusiasts are pumped to have the Jacksonville 95ers as the latest professional franchise team as they get ready to compete in The Basketball League (TBL). The 95ers' arrival marks the latest chapter in the city's longstanding relationship with professional basketball. The team, named after the main thoroughfare that leads in and out of Jacksonville, is the newest member of TBL, a professional basketball league with forty-nine teams in cities from coast to coast. The 95ers' aim is to provide affordable, quality family entertainment to First Coast sports fans while playing an active role in the community.
Experienced Leadership
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The managing owner and President of the 95ers, Kevin Waters, is leveraging his 30 years of basketball coaching and general manager experience to spice up Jacksonville’s pro sports offerings. Fans will get to see high energy, high caliber basketball played by professional players, some with NBA experience.​
Waters was previously general manager and head coach for the Jacksonville Giants, seven-time national champions in the American Basketball Association. The Giants ceased operations in 2022. When Waters scouted for a new franchise, he knew Jacksonville was the community to be in. He secured the support of city leaders and corporate sponsors to maximize the new team’s opportunity for success.
“Being in a different league and with new ownership generates a new paradigm. The 95ers bring a lot more to the table besides basketball,” says Waters. Owners, players and staff aim to bring everyone in the community together to provide family fun in a safe environment. Waters expects excellence from the players and staff on and off the court. The team will positively impact city residents through community events, youth programs and other off-court activities. Fans should expect to see the players and coaches serving at non-profit organizations throughout the area.
Waters created an A-team of staff, many of whom he worked with at the Giants. General Manager Dwane Joshua played with the Giants and has years of coaching experience, including for the Nassau Pride in the American Basketball Association. Head Coach Jerrod Tucker
Kevin Waters, Owner and President, Jacksonville 95ers
brings a winning record as player, team captain and coach of the Giants. The 95ers roster includes several Jacksonville natives, including Aaron Bowen, a 6-foot-6 forward with big-time college basketball experience, having played five years at Georgetown University.
Jerrod Tucker, Head Coach, Jacksonville 95ers, giving instructions at the team's final tryout session
A Tradition of Excellence
Jacksonville's newest professional sports team is eager to fill the city with the magic of the game of basketball. The 95ers are well positioned to add another chapter to the city's legacy of basketball excellence. Jacksonville, one of only two markets with an NFL team as its sole major league franchise (the other being Green Bay), is poised for a second team to join the Jaguars in big time athletics.
Practice Facility
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Team practices, as well as the team's tryout sessions, are held at PickUp USA Fitness, a state of the art basketball-focused fitness club in the Baymeadows section of Jacksonville. The facility is owned by Waters together with Will and Savanna Massey. Last Saturday, the day of the final tryout session, PickUp USA was filled with youngsters playing pick-up games, until giving way to Coach Tucker and his team as the afternoon try-out session got underway. Some of the young players stayed around to watch the action while others continued to shoot around on one of the side baskets. The facility, with a full complement of fitness equipment in addition to multiple basketball courts, provides a world-class venue for Coach Tucker to prepare his team to compete at the highest level.
Upcoming Season
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The 95ers, having just concluded their final free agent tryout session, are ready to put on a show. This inaugural season, home games will be played at Swisher Gymnasium at Jacksonville University, a school with its own rich tradition of athletic excellence. (Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore, a 7-foot-2 center, led the Jacksonville Dolphins to the NCAA Championship game in 1970.) The 95ers hope to be in VyStar Veterans Arena next season and, looking further ahead, to join the NBA's G league, the official minor league of the NBA.
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The season tips off March 7 against the Rocket City Flight in Huntsville, Alabama. The first home game is March 15, against the Raleigh Firebirds. The 95ers play ten home and ten away games, all against Rocket City, the Firebirds and the Coastal Georgia Buccaneers (Savannah), in the Eastern Conference of the TBL. Tickets will be available online soon. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to watch exciting pro basketball, support your community and get ready for an exciting game day experience.
For tickets and further information, go to Jacksonville95ers.com.
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Follow First Coast Sports Media for an upcoming series of interviews with Jax 95ers staff.
Meet Jerrod Tucker, Head Coach of the Jacksonville 95ers
January 24, 2024
By Mary Valenta
FIRST COAST SPORTS MEDIA
Jacksonville’s newest professional sports team, the Jacksonville 95ers, is preparing for its inaugural season of play in The Basketball League. The 95ers’ managing owner and President, Kevin Waters, brought in a first-class group of seasoned professionals who are poised to help the team achieve success from the outset, on and off the court. This is the first in a series of articles profiling the 95ers’ professional staff and begins with the team’s head coach, Jerrod Tucker.
Jax 95ers Head Coach Jerrod Tucker
Coach Tucker supervising the 95ers' final tryout session at PIckUp USA Fitness in Baymeadows.
As Head Coach, Jerrod Tucker brings with him vast experience in Jacksonville basketball. He played forward with the Jacksonville Giants in the American Basketball Association, became team captain in 2013, and head coach before the team folded in 2022. With a career spanning decades, Tucker has demonstrated his ability to cultivate talent and forge winning teams. He holds degrees in sports management from Bellevue University and in telecommunications from University of Florida. Tucker helped the Giants win 7 national championships.
Coach Tucker was tasked with assembling a brand-new team for the 95ers inaugural season. His players must be “willing to be a part of the team, willing to win a championship, and give up their own personal glory for team glory.” At the direction of managing owner and President, Kevin Waters, Tucker is building a family culture within the team. “Families fight, they go after each other, but they still love each other. This is a winning culture,” says Tucker.
Jerrod Tucker, Head Coach, Jacksonville 95ers
“Jacksonville 95ers are reinventing the way basketball is played in Jacksonville at a higher level,” says Coach Tucker. On the court, fans can expect fast paced, high flying basketball in a family friendly environment. And off the court, the team will be an integral part of the community, helping out in charitable organizations.
Tucker encourages fans to “come out and see us play. You don’t see this stuff on a daily basis.” Games are played in Jacksonville University’s Swisher Gymnasium, with a view towards playing next season in VyStar Arena. The season tips off on March 7 against the Rocket City Flight in Huntsville AL. The first home game is March 15 against the Raleigh Firebirds.
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Tickets will be available online soon. For tickets and further information, go to Jacksonville95ers.com.
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Follow First Coast Sports Media for the next article in our series of interviews with Jax 95ers staff.
Jacksonville: More Than Just Beaches and Sunshine
Jacksonville, Florida is often associated with beautiful beaches and sunny weather. However, this vibrant city also boasts a thriving professional sports scene, offering entertainment for fans of various athletic disciplines.
A City Roaring for the Jaguars
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Jacksonville Jaguars
The most prominent professional team in Jacksonville is undoubtedly the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. Founded in 1995, the Jaguars have captured the hearts of fans with their exciting gameplay and vibrant team spirit. EverBank Stadium, the team's home facility, is a pulsating arena that comes alive on game days, filled with the roar of the passionate Jacksonville crowd.
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Beyond the Gridiron
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Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
While the Jaguars may be the most well-known team, Jacksonville offers many other professional sports options for fans. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Miami Marlins, provides family-friendly entertainment at 121 Financial Ballpark. For ice hockey enthusiasts, the Jacksonville Icemen of the East Coast Hockey League offer fast-paced action on the ice at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
There's indoor football, as well. The Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League offer a unique and thrilling experience. This indoor football team is known for its high-scoring games and electrifying atmosphere. And for those who enjoy a more traditional sport, the Jacksonville Axemen provide a glimpse into the world of rugby league, showcasing their skills and athleticism at Hodges Stadium.
A Diverse Sports Landscape
Beyond these professional teams, Jacksonville also boasts a strong presence in college athletics. Jacksonville University, a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, offers a range of NCAA Division I sports, with football, basketball and soccer being especially popular. Also in the ASUN Conference is the University of North Florida, competing in a wide range of sports, from basketball and baseball to swimming and beach volley ball, and many others. Additionally, the city hosts various annual sporting events, including the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, The Players Championship golf tournament, and the Florida-Georgia football rivalry game, further solidifying Jacksonville's position as a major sports hub in the Southeast.
Sports for Everyone
Whether you're a die-hard fan or simply looking for a fun outing, Jacksonville's professional sports scene has something to offer everyone. From the electrifying atmosphere of an NFL game to the exciting action of indoor football, there's a sports team that will capture your attention and leave you wanting more. So come experience the passion and excitement of professional sports in Jacksonville, Florida, and discover a city that's more than just beaches and sunshine.
