Pahrump youth athletics program gains traction with steady weekly turnout

A steady Sunday turnout of eight to 15 children has made Pahrump Valley Junior Athletics more than a new program on the calendar. For David Wilson, it is becoming a local option for families who want structured training, mentoring and a place for young athletes to build skills close to home at the Pahrump Valley High School track and field facility.

Wilson introduced the program publicly on January 8 and started weekly Sunday sessions on January 25. He said the season runs through May 10, with workouts scheduled once a week on Sunday mornings from 8 to 11 a.m. and individual sessions lasting about 60 to 75 minutes. The program initially was designed for boys and girls ages 5 to 18, giving younger athletes a place to start before they reach the high school level.

The early response has been steady. Wilson said the group meets every Sunday and typically draws about eight to 15 kids. Earlier sessions brought 17 children the first week and 13 the second, a sign that the idea has taken hold with families looking for a repeatable routine rather than a one-time clinic. Wilson charges $20 per session or about $100 for the season.

The program’s structure is also broader than a single practice field. Pahrump Valley Junior Athletics is part of Over the Mountain Athletics, Wilson’s larger umbrella brand that also includes Pahrump Valley Junior Golf and his personal training services in Mountain Falls. Wilson has said the program focuses on six development areas: speed, agility, strength, jumping, endurance and flexibility. He also wants younger athletes to play more than one sport instead of specializing too early.

That approach has drawn support from local coaches who see youth development as a long-term investment. Pahrump Valley High School football and basketball coach Toby Henry said, “strong programs begin long before a player puts on a varsity jersey.” PVHS defense and strength-and-conditioning coach Mike Colucci is helping with the summer strength and conditioning sessions planned for students in grades 6 through 8.

The timing matters in a community like Pahrump, where families often have to decide whether to send children to programs outside town or keep them in a local pipeline. Pahrump Valley High School enrolls 1,333 students in grades 9 through 12, and the Nye County School District serves 5,742 students across 23 schools. Against that backdrop, a small program drawing repeat participation is starting to function as part of the town’s youth infrastructure, not just another sports option.