Serving up fun

BY HOLLY LEBEJKO

FAMILY & MWR MARKETING

The Fort Bliss Youth Sports Plex is back with some new and familiar faces!

The program has welcomed Lexly Bledsoe, assistant director, Chasity Jose, fitness specialist and Danielle Quintanar, sports specialist to their team. Let’s not forget the core team Rene Nava, director, Noel Diaz, assistant director and Laura Gillette, administrative assistant, who have also returned. The whole team is excited to bring sports and fitness back to Fort Bliss students!

Let’s get to know some of the new staff members to the Youth Sports Plex.

Lexly Bledsoe is an experienced health and fitness professional with a desire to serve others. Driven by a call to promote health as a lifelong endeavor, she takes pride in helping students discover their own selfdetermination and in helping them to build strong self-esteem. Her goals are to help students build strong foundations for healthy futures and inspire them to believe in themselves without bound.

Chastity Jose is a Michigan native and fitness enthusiast with over 14 years of experience. She started her career in fitness as a Certified Personal Trainer, working with a diverse population of children and adults. She currently holds daily fitness classes that include weightlifting, cross training, speed and agility, cardio boxing and body weight classes.

“My training philosophy is, it’s never too late to realize that one’s body is a temple and that a makeover is possible,” said Chasity. “No matter one’s current health condition.”

Danielle Quintanar, or Coach Dani for short, was born and raised in El Paso. She started her volleyball career at age 14, then graduated from Canutillo High School in 2016 with numerous awards. Since 2018, Quintanar has been coaching camps and clinics part-time in the summers and full time with the 13 Nationals Team. Coach Dani enjoys working with youth, running camps and clinics.

“My motto is, you can’t control the past, you can only control the future,” said Coach Dani. “So take advantage of the present.”

The Youth Sports program is currently offering afternoon fitness classes and sports skills clinics, homeschool P.E. Friday mornings, and limited sports. All activities are currently limited on capacity. Coach Dani is currently running two volleyball clinics; Introduction to Volleyball for ages 10-13 on Mondays and Advanced Volleyball for ages 13-18 on Tuesdays. Both sessions are from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., cost is $6 per week.

If you are a teen or adult interested in volunteering to be a coach, download the most current forms, calendars and packets, by visiting bliss.armymwr.com, search youth sports.

The Youth Sports Plex is located at 195 Chaffee Road. Office hours, including registrations, are Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out their Facebook page Ft. Bliss CYS Youth Sports & Fitness for the most up-to-date information as well as fitness tips.

For more information, call 915-568-2617.