Teens match athletic enthusiasm with entrepreneur mindset to monetize KC sports scene

As young athletes look to monetize their teen sports experiences, incoming Blue Valley North junior Walker Bordegon sees an open lane for connecting aspiring players with positive role models.

Walker Bordegon, Blue Valley North junior; photo by Morgan Yeates

“Giving them someone that they can look up to and really learn important values from for your body and mind is super important to us,” said Walker, who earlier this year launched an interactive coaching business that matches young athletes with fellow high school peers for coaching sessions.

Blue Valley Sport Lessons focuses on skill development, confidence building, fundamentals, fun, and character growth. The business model is fresh, Walker said. With lessons costing $35 an hour, coaches earn $20 — yielding $15 back into the institution.

The innovative idea — which now includes private and group lessons, across 15 sports — sparked when he saw a peer coaching for a family friend, he said.

“I just thought about how I could do this better and on a much larger scale,” Walker recalled. “Connecting good role models with kids through various sports can be really significant.”

The model depends on sourcing high performing teen coaches who play on the high school level. Walker aims to connect one-on-one coaching based on various criteria.

“A lot of these coaches I know personally,” he said. “So I kind of just match the best fit, match dates and times available as well to see what works.”

Click here to learn more about booking.

Footballs from Henry Yim’s conditioning business; photo by Morgan Yeates

Henry Yim took a different approach to capitalizing on his sports interests. The Blue Valley High School senior focuses on servicing a physical product — combined with his knowledge of breaking in new footballs (a tedious process that takes most people days at a time, he said).

Henry Yim, Blue Valley High School senior; photo by Morgan Yeates

“The prepping process takes about a day or two, but actual labor is one hour,” said Yim. “Most of the process is waiting, whether it’s the mud or the conditioner to dry or to break it in.”

With a long process of moisturizing the dry leather with specialized river mud, conditioning the surface, and gently brushing the leather and laces to perfection, Yim’s crafty skills continue past footballs, he said.

Long hours of networking with coaches from around the country has given his service an edge in the market. Instead of buying nameless balls, Yim contacts various team staff members to intertwine sports memorabilia with his quality work.

“I just bought the Louisville bowl from the equipment manager at Louisville, and that’s something you definitely can’t purchase online,” he said.

With tens of other contacts from top tier NCAA universities, Yim sources used game balls — customizing them and selling for much higher margins.

“Sports are something I really cherish and being connected to that will be important in my future,” he said.