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Poland youth soccer league celebrates 30 years
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During the PYSA's parade of teams, the Kickin' Queens wore special tiaras as they waved to the crowds.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .After Soccer Day's parade of teams ended, the groups split up for a soccer skill-a-thon. Burgundy Tornadoes team member Alyvia Hughes (center) tried for the best distance in the overhead throw.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The girls of the Burgundy Tornadoes smiled during the skill-a-thon held at Poland Youth Soccer Association's Aug. 20 Soccer Day.
By SARAH FOOR
For the last 30 years, young athletes throughout Poland have flocked to the Poland Youth Soccer Association to share fun, fitness and teamwork. To celebrate its three decades of success, the PYSA took over Poland Seminary High School on Aug. 20 for an all-day soccer extravaganza.
“We’ll be enjoying the great sport of soccer from 8:30 in the morning to 10 this evening,” shared PYSA president Ken Conzett. “We’re celebrating this sport in the Poland community today and in the future as well. All funds raised will go toward the girls and boys soccer scholarship here at the high school.”
The day-long party began with early scrimmages for the high school junior varsity and varsity teams. Bounce Around provided inflatable activity areas for guests of all ages to enjoy.
Midday, the athletes in the league participated in a parade of teams, where every team circled the high school track and waved to the crowds. Girls teams like “The Kickin’ Queens” donned tiaras and waved, as boys teams like the “The Mean Green Machines” flexed their biceps. Soon after, the Poland Seminary High School marching band played their first performance of the season.
Soccer youth participated in a soccer skill-a-thon, until the night closed with a Poland alumni soccer game.
With 30 years of soccer behind the PYSA, Conzett nonetheless said not much has changed.
“We teach 800 players each year. As an organization, we’ve grown, but we’ve kept the foundation of our original goal — to keep soccer fun and enjoyable for the kids,” Conzett said.