Help Our Junior Olympians Get to Nationals!

Hi everyone! We’re Casey and Ashleigh — proud parents, loudest cheerleaders, and now first-time GoFundMe users on a mission to support our two amazing kids, Ryker and Cadence, on the adventure of a lifetime: the 2025 USATF Junior Olympics!

This past weekend, both of our kids competed at the United States Track and Field Junior Olympic Qualifier Meet, and… they did it!! Out of HUNDREDS of young athletes, only the top 8 in each event qualify — and both Ryker and Cadence made the cut!

Ryker crushed his 4x100m relay and hit his own personal best (hitting a 10.3 split...IYKYK), showing the incredible growth and grit he’s developed this season. His High School Junior track year ended with a team 2nd place and a personal record naming him as the 2nd fastest 100m runner in the district.

And know, his success does not end on the track:

He’s on the path to earn a TOPS-level ACT scholarship and is currently dually enrolled in high school and college. By 2026, he’ll graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree, all while holding a scholarship to LSU through the LSU STEM Pathways program. As if that weren’t enough, he’s also working toward his Aviation Pilot’s License, building on the Drone Pilot Certification he’s set to complete next year.

Cadence, in her very first year competing in the event, qualified in the 100m hurdles — with a personal record and a big smile across the finish line.

But her success has been boundless this trip around the sun:

She served as Captain of her Middle School Track Team, who won 1st Place in the District Championships. Academically, she received the 2025 Principal’s Award, made Highest Honors Honor Roll, was selected as a School Ambassador, served as Yearbook Editor and had Perfect Attendance all year!

We are bursting with pride — and honestly still in shock. Their hard work, dedication, and heart and pursuit of purpose and passion have gotten them here, and we are so excited to see where this opportunity takes them.

The only thing we didn’t plan for? The costs that come with qualifying for MULTIPLE national-level track meets. Travel, lodging, registration, meals… it adds up fast, and we weren’t expecting this beautiful curveball in our family budget.

We’ve never done anything like this before, but as parents, we can’t let them miss out on something they’ve earned. We’re humbly asking for your help to get Cadence and Ryker to the Junior Olympics. Whether it’s $5, $50, or just a message of encouragement, it means the world to us and reminds our kids that their village is cheering them on.

More than anything, we’re a family that believes in celebrating the good things. In a world full of challenges and often negativity, this moment feels like a bright, beautiful win for our children and for us as a family. We want to give them every chance to chase their dreams and to remember this moment for the rest of their lives.

Thank you for supporting our family and believing in these two young athletes. We’ll be sharing updates, pictures, and hopefully some medals along the way. Let’s get Team Ryker & Cadence to the next level of the Junior Olympics!

With gratitude,

Casey, Ashleigh, Ryker & Cadence