Canfield Cardinal Classic hosts 50 soccer teams
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A member of the Canfield High School boys soccer team fought for the ball during a game at the Fifth Annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament sponsored by the Canfield Soccer Boosters July 13.
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the Canfield High School boys soccer team participated in the Fifth Annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament sponsored by the Canfield Soccer Boosters July 13.
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A member of the Canfield High School boys soccer team put his foot skills to the test during the Fifth Annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament sponsored by the Canfield Soccer Boosters July 13.
BY ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield High School Soccer Boosters hosted its Fifth Annual Canfield Cardinal Classic Soccer Tournament July 13 with an all-time high of 50 teams participating in the all-day event. Five fields were in simultaneous use, all located on the high school grounds and including the stadium, with each team playing three 40-minute games.
Teams from Ohio and Pennsylvania participated in the boys’ and girls’ divisions and included Canfield, Poland, Warren G. Harding, Niles, Crestview, Austintown Fitch, Salem, Joseph Badger, Warren JFK, Howland, Lakeview, East Liverpool, Boardman and Alliance along with numerous teams from the Akron, Cleveland and Columbus areas.
The Cardinal Classic is a major fundraiser for the Canfield High School boys and girls soccer program, and was organized by the parent members of the Canfield Soccer Boosters. Proceeds from the tournament are used to buy new uniforms, fund scholarships for players and entrance fees for tournaments.
The idea for the tournament came from Phil Simone, the CHS boys’ and girls’ head soccer coach.
“We participate in tournaments all over northeastern Ohio, and I thought it would be great to be able to host one here in the Youngstown area. We have had a great response for the tournament from day one, and it continues to grow each year,” Simone said.
The goal of the tournament was to give the coaches a chance to view the players pre-season and to prepare for the fall season. Coaches used this opportunity to see the players with the ball and to learn what the team needs to work on for the upcoming fall season. It also gave the coaches a chance to watch the players and get a sense of which players to select for the junior varsity and varsity teams.
The tournament also had community support and corporate sponsors, which included Perfecta Products Max-Freeze, Comprehensive Logistics, Eagle Rentals, Davis International, Dicks Sporting Goods, WRP Investments, Valley Care Health Systems, Physicians Motivators, Komara Jewelers, Mill Creek Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, Atway & Cochran Attorneys at Law, Title Works Agency, Simon Roofing, Petrallo Chiropractic, Valley Home Health Care, Larry Gessner D.D.S., Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Superior Auto Body, Silva’s Lebanese Deli, Lane Funeral Home, Avalon Oaks Ballroom, Kambrook Seal Coat, Northwood Realty, McCamon-Hunt Insurance Agency, KRK Associates, All Ohio Title & Escrow, Hunter Stevens Land Title Agency, Pinnacle Health Concepts, Massage Caf , Mark J. Squicquero D.D.S., Austintown Podiatry and R & J Trucking Inc.
Canfield Soccer Boosters parents volunteered at the tournament in every aspect from the concession stand to selling T-shirts to helping set up the tournament the day before. Members of the Canfield High School National Honor Society were also able to earn service hours by helping at the tournament.