Rallying Together: Richardson Women Secure 5th Place at USTA Nationals
Discover the incredible journey of the Canyon Creek Country Club women’s tennis team as they represented the Texas Section and finished 5th in the nation at the USTA 55+ Championships.
From Richardson to the Bruins: Ashlee Sullivan’s Path to Elite Gymnastics and UCLA
By Patti Otte Remember the name Ashlee Sullivan. This talented young woman, who spent her childhood in east Richardson, has embarked on a new adventure as a freshman at UCLA. After years of rigorous training and building her elite gymnastics career at Metroplex Gymnastics in Allen, Ashlee is stepping into a fresh chapter as a Bruin. She is an outstanding athlete with a personality built for competition: outgoing, driven, and kind. The Drive of an Elite Athlete and Scholar Ashlee was drawn to gymnastics because its dynamic nature matches her own vibrant personality. Beyond the gym, Ashlee is also a self-proclaimed book nerd who loves to read. Her favorite read is Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and she has devoured everything author Rick Riordan has created. Born into a close-knit family, Ashlee remains devoted to her parents, Lori and Jim, and her sister, Emilee, a first-year medical student at UT Southwestern in Dallas. A Career Shaped by Mentorship and Resilience Ashlee’s path began as a little girl at ASI Gymnastics in Garland, ultimately leading her to full-time training at Metroplex Gymnastics by age 11 or 12. She gives tremendous credit to her parents for their sacrifices. However, she credits coach Marni Futch at Metroplex Gymnastics with being her biggest influence. Futch’s philosophy—love for life first, sport second—shaped Ashlee’s mindset, resilience, and enjoyment of the sport. Her teammates were her home base, helping her balance full-time training (up to eight hours a day) with “normal” high school activities like prom and football games, despite attending Texas Connections Academy online. Elite Achievements and Powerful Comebacks Ashlee’s elite resume is impressive: Winter Cup champion Multi-year U.S. Senior National Team member International competitor in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany She is one of just 15 American women competing at an active senior level for the US National team. Her strongest event is floor, and she thrives on big performance energy, reframing nerves as excitement—a mental strategy learned from Coach Futch. Her ascent has required great grit, including coming back from two slow-developing stress fractures in her back and a dislocated elbow suffered in Italy in 2022. This required nine months to return to full strength. Ashlee affirms that gymnastics is “definitely a mental game” that requires fighting your way back. UCLA: Combining Elite Academics and Athletics When choosing a college, Ashlee sought a school that combined elite academics and elite athletics. UCLA offered that duality and the team culture she sought. Now, Ashlee balances a demanding student-athlete routine: Mornings: Daily wellness checks, three hours of practice, plus an hour of weightlifting and cardio. Afternoons: Reserved for online classes and schoolwork. She emphasizes that UCLA takes care of the whole person—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ashlee also hopes to continue pursuing elite gymnastics while competing for the Bruins—a rare and difficult challenge she embraces. A Future Full of Big Ambitions Ashlee’s goals are set high: Help lead UCLA to a national championship Score a perfect 10 on one or all of her events Consistently maintain a 4.0 GPA Set her sights on the 2028 Summer Olympics Beyond gymnastics, she plans to major in communications and then go to law school. Through it all, her attitude remains focused on gratitude, knowing that “Peace and joy follow gratitude”. Ashlee Sullivan is clearly just at the beginning of a very exciting life story. For more content like this check out Richardson life magazine.
Still in The Game
What to do when you’ve retired from working and don’t want to just sit around watching TV? It’s a question many retired people have and it’s not so easy to find something worthwhile and enjoyable. That is, unless you are a softball player and know about senior softball leagues.
The Richardson Gobble Hobble
For the past 19 years, a Richardson pre-Thanksgiving race known as the Gobble Hobble has welcomed runners donning turkey hats or turkey attire, dressed as pilgrims, pushing strollers, walking dogs, or wearing balloons on their heads. A festive blend of competitive runners and casual walkers of all ages and abilities come out to enjoy this beloved annual tradition.
The Richardson Gobble Hobble
For the past 19 years, a Richardson pre-Thanksgiving race known as the Gobble Hobble has welcomed runners donning turkey hats or turkey attire, dressed as pilgrims, pushing strollers, walking dogs, or wearing balloons on their heads. A festive blend of competitive runners and casual walkers of all ages and abilities come out to enjoy this beloved annual tradition.
Sports Spotlight
BEN & SKIN Radio Celebrities with Richardson Roots By Patti Otte Most folks don’t get to earn a living chatting and laughing with their best friend. But that’s exactly what Ben Rogers and Jeff “Skin” Wade have done every day since 2008 on their wildly popular radio show “Ben & Skin.” Says Ben, “The best part of being a radio personality is that I make a living goofing off with my best friend. Our conversations aren’t entirely different from the ones we had way back in high school — only now we make a living having those same ridiculously immature conversations. If you’re a sports fan, you’ll have heard of Ben & Skin. They’ve etched their names into the annals of sports talk radio, bringing a dynamic and entertaining flair to the airwaves. Based in Dallas, this dynamic duo has cultivated a devoted fan base with their unique blend of sports analysis, humor and genuine camaraderie. But what folks may not know is that the radio hosts both grew up in Richardson. I first met Ben working on RLM’s story about Coach Mark Malcolm as both Ben &Skin played on Apollo Junior High School’s championship football team under Coach Malcolm. Ben has so many fond memories of growing up in Richardson. He recalls, “We had the amazing playground with the giant monster at Huffhines Park. We had Huffhines Recreation Center. We had that big, beautiful creek where you could go on any number of adventures. And, of course, I loved Richardson Square Mall, which featured a movie theater, an arcade and the first Chick-fil-A. And who can forget about the greatness of Twin Rivers’ arcade games and batting cages!” For other locals, Ben’s memory of being a kid at a time when Richardson police officers carried around Dallas Cowboys trading cards and gave them to kids who knew to ask for them will bring back fond memories. And, says Ben, “It created a cool relationship with the po-lice department as the Dallas Cowboys were obviously everything to us.” One of the key elements of Ben &Skin’s success is their ability to seamlessly blend sports commentary with humor. While many sports talk shows focus solely on the game, Ben & Skin inject a healthy dose of laughter into their broadcasts. Listeners are not only treated to insightful analysis but also toa lively banter that reflects the hosts’ genuine friendship. Ben calls Skin the most talented person he has ever known, stating, “Skin’s incredibly intelligent with a razor sharp wit…but also a beautiful, kind person who cares a great deal about people. On top of how utterly hilarious this man is, he’s the first person I go to for real life advice, or to talk about things that are heavy.” In addition to their on-air chemistry, Ben & Skin have successfully adapted to the changing media landscape. They’ve embraced digital platforms, connecting with their audience through social media, podcasts and live streaming, multi-platform approach has allowed them to reach a broader audience and stay relevant in an era where traditional radio alone might not suffice. As if the time they spend working together isn’t enough fun, Ben & Skin are now the proud owners of the brewery Rollertown Beerworks in Celina. It’s so successful that the team (Ben & Skin and their partners) are breaking ground on a new brewery headquarters in Frisco at the end of March. Despite their success, Ben & Skin remain humble and grateful for the support of their fans, both on the radio and at Rollertown. This down-to-earth attitude has endeared them to listeners and patrons alike, fostering a sense of fun and camaraderie wherever the duo goes. If you haven’t already discovered Ben & Skin, now’s the time. You don’t know what you’re missing!
Preston Stout
Tiger Woods appeared on The Mike Douglas Show at age 2, putting with Bob Hope. He shot 48 for nine holes at age three and was featured in Golf Digest at age five. Rory McIlroy started golfing at age 7. Preston Stout, on the other hand, grew up playing baseball, football, soccer and basketball. But in the summer after fifth grade, his parents enrolled him in a golf and tennis camp at Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson. He fell in love with golf and, within a few months, played in his first tournament. Fast-forward just seven years and Preston Stout is now ranked #1 in the state of Texas on Golfweek and #4 on the AJGA Junior Golf Scoreboard. At eleven years old, Stout knew that golf was going to be a long-term passion: “The challenge and pressure was something I loved and quickly found very addicting.” From a young age, his dad taught Stout the value of a solid work ethic and the importance of passion and dedication. Stout credits his work ethic for setting him apart from other players his age. He states, “I love practicing and the satisfaction that it gives me after a long day of grinding on the golf course. I think a lot of kids get bored or distracted while practicing and that is something that has never been an issue for me.” Stout tries to emulate what he sees in successful pro golfers, noting that “All successful tour pros have very strong mental toughness and grit when competing. I believe I have this same mindset when on the golf course.” During his high school years, Stout typically practiced for two to three hours every day after school. That practice schedule changed, in between traveling to tournaments, to six to seven hours a day during the summertime. And in a fortuitous twist of fate, the pandemic provided Stout the chance to “live on the golf course, thanks to online school and limited class time.” He credits that time with improving his game significantly and catapulting him to success. JJ Pearce golf coach Steven Buchanan was Stout’s mentor and coach for four years. When asked to explain what he thinks makes Stout so special, he replies, “Preston brings a level of competitiveness to every event that makes him unique. Because golf is an individual sport, many players have a hard time learning what it means to compete. Preston played many sports growing up and I feel like he has transferred traits and qualities that he acquired from those sports into his overall golf game.” He continues, “He doesn’t just want to win the event; he wants to win leaving no doubt who the best player was. Selfishly, I have enjoyed knowing that, wherever we show up to play, I have the best player in the field.” Stout recently graduated from JJ Pearce High School and heads to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK, this fall. This summer, he will transition from junior golf to amateur golf. In between tournaments and practice, Stout plans to soak in as much time on the lake fishing and hanging out with his buddies and family as he can. He also plans to be at the beach as much as possible. Just a few weeks ago, Stout received the prestigious Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award, which “recognizes the achievements of junior golfers around the world who distinguish themselves with a high level of junior tournament play as well as excellence in academics, exceptional character and a commitment to community service.” When asked to reflect on his successes to date, Stout says, “God has definitely been the most influential thing in my life the past year. I have come to understand that I’m not just playing golf for myself or my family but playing to glorify God. He is the reason I have been blessed with the opportunities I have received today.” Stout’s mantra for living is “Never give up on your dreams.” He states, “I believe to get where you want to be in life, you will be tested and put through adversity. You have to overcome these challenges to be successful.” We’re rooting for you, Preston. You’re on your way. Preston and Mrs. Byron Nelson Preston with his parents Kelly and Chris USGA Tournament USGA Tournament Preston, Hailey Ashcraft, and JJ Pearce Coach Steven Buchanan