Telemundo Station Group and SCORES Network Announce Winners of 'Athlete Poets' Ahead of the World Cup
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Telemundo Station Group, part of NBCUniversal Local, and SCORES Network announced on Wednesday the 14 local winners and two national winners of 'Athlete Poets,' a nationwide celebration of youth poetry that blended soccer and spoken word poetry in anticipation of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The initiative aimed to amplify the voices of students from communities across the country. Launched in March, the program invited students participating in SCORES programs to write and perform original poems in Spanish or bilingual formats (Spanish-English), inspired by themes like soccer, unity, and community. Over the past weeks, students participated in local showcases in markets such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Miami, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where 14 local winners were selected to advance to the national stage. The competition was judged by a distinguished panel, including award-winning author and poet Jennifer Maritza McCauley, writer and performer Melania Luisa Marte, and interdisciplinary artist and curator Kenya Bullock. Regional winners included: Emiley and Iriel (New York SCORES), Keisey and Angel (Miami SCORES), Miranda and Gustavo (Boston SCORES), Melany and Avery (DC SCORES), Aaliyah and Jostin (America SCORES Chicago), Eliza and Mateo (LA SCORES), and Heyzell and Santiago (America SCORES Bay Area). From this talented group, two students were selected as national winners: Santiago from America SCORES Bay Area with his poem 'De fútbol,' and Emiley from New York SCORES with her poem 'Cada segundo cuenta.' Santiago, an 11-year-old Mexican-American poet and athlete from Watsonville, California, enjoys soccer, basketball, writing poetry, and spending time with friends. Emiley, a 10-year-old Dominican-American poet and athlete from Inwood in Upper Manhattan, New York City, loves creating art, drawing, coloring, and styling hair with her friends. The national winners will be honored at the Soccer Legacy Gala on May 8 in San Jose, California, as part of the broader celebration leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The event pays tribute to the legacy of the 1994 World Cup and SCORES' ongoing efforts to create opportunities for youth through soccer, poetry, and service. José Cancela, president of Telemundo Station Group, stated, 'As momentum builds toward the FIFA World Cup 2026™, 'Athlete Poets' highlights the voices of a new generation shaped by both sport and storytelling. We are proud to showcase their work and elevate voices that reflect the powerful connection between culture, language, and sport.' Colin Schmidt, a member of the National Board of Directors for SCORES and Executive Director of America SCORES Bay Area, added, 'This next phase of 'Athlete Poets' underscores what SCORES strives to achieve every day: empowering youth to find their voice, build community, and grow as leaders through soccer, poetry, and service. Our partnership with Telemundo amplifies that impact, giving these young people the opportunity to share their stories and connect with audiences nationwide.' Throughout the program, Telemundo-owned stations amplified the voices and stories of participating students via television, streaming, and digital platforms, showcasing the power of storytelling and sports to unite communities. Participating Telemundo-owned stations included: Telemundo 47 New York / WNJU, Telemundo 52 Los Angeles / KVEA, Telemundo 51 Miami / WSCV, Telemundo 48 Bay Area / KSTS, Telemundo Boston / WNEU, Telemundo Chicago / WSNS, and Telemundo 44 Washington, D.C. / WZDC. 'Athlete Poets' builds on SCORES' longstanding mission to empower youth through soccer, poetry, and service, while reinforcing Telemundo's commitment to serving and uplifting local communities as anticipation grows for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.