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NILES — A local AAU track team is asking the community for help to get to the 2025 Junior Olympics in Humble, Texas.

The Team Love Track team is raising funds to compete in the 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games, which will take place July 26 to August 2 at Humble High School. 14 members of the Team Love Track club team qualified for the 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games, which will feature thousands of athletes and an estimated 40,000 spectators competing in a variety of sports, including track and field, swimming, martial arts, and more.

The names of qualifiers and the events qualified for are as follows:

Boys 9-10 400-meter relay: Andrew Love, Joseph Latone, Danyel Nelson Jr., Carter Brann

9 high jump – Andrew Love

10 high jump – Joseph Latone

10 high jump, 10 long jump – Danyel Nelson Jr. 

8-under long jump – Demetric Haynes

17-18 110 hurdles – Aydan McCary 

17-18 1,500 and 3,000 – Owen Saylor

15-16 high jump – Nadia Poorman 

14 high jump – Lira Myers

14 shot-put, 14 discus – Harmonie Loniello

17-18 3,000 race walk – Kalviona Mason 

15-16 3,000 race walk – Jamyla Bonds

15-16 3,000 race walk – Gianna Ball

Founded four years ago by former Niles track standout Andre Love, the program has grown to more than two dozen athletes ranging from 5 to 18 years of age from throughout Southwest Michigan who compete in indoor and outdoor meets across the state. 

Love, who is also a pastor, said he created the program to prepare athletes to compete at the AAU Junior Olympic Games and is proud of his team’s efforts. Last year, 15 members of the team qualified for the Junior Olympic Games.

“We talked about taking advantage of the moment,” Love said. “This is an opportunity that God provides for them to get some exposure.”

McCarey competed in the Junior Olympics last year and is looking forward to returning.

“It’s nice to be able to go out there again and represent Niles and Team Love and show how much I’ve worked to get there,” he said. 

Love, who is an assistant coach for the Dowagiac track team and will be coaching for Southwestern Michigan College’s rebooted track team, said he is happy to see southwest Michigan represented on a national level.

“Every time we’ve gone to meets, we have not come with less than 15 medals,” “We have ribbons, medals and accolades for everything and I’m grateful for that. These kids put the work in to be successful.”

Love said the team plans to host carwashes to raise funds for the excursion. Those interested in supporting the team can donate to Love’s Cash App $loveministries or make a check payable to PO Box 924 Niles MI 49120. For more information about Team Love Track and how to get involved, contact Love at icarechhurchniles@gmail.com.