The inaugural Valentine’s Co-Ed Soccer Tournament held at Williams Lake Secondary School over the weekend was a huge success, say tournament organizers.
Eight local teams laced up their indoor cleats for a fun-filled weekend inside the WLSS gymnasium.
“For our first kick at the can and little planning I had not heard one complaint from anyone,” said Regan Ernst, a player and organizer. “It was so much fun.
“It ranged in age from kids in Grade 9 and 10 up to age 50. I have not heard one negative thing.”
The rules in the tournament required two men to be on the floor at maximum; however, they weren’t allowed to shoot or score, which created an interesting dynamic for players.
The tournament final, held Saturday afternoon, saw Fossil Fools defeat Irreconcilable Differences 4-3 to take the title.
Third place was split between the District Development Centre (Williams Lake Youth Soccer’s development program) and the Haz Beens and Never Wuzzes.
For first place, the Fossil Fools were awarded $325 in prize money.
The second-place Irreconcilable Differences won $250. The third-place teams split $150.
But in an act of generosity, all winning teams donated their earnings to Jason Sims and his family. Sims recently lost his local home in a fire. Both Sims’ older children (ages five and seven) play youth soccer and Sims, who was born and raised in Williams Lake, played youth soccer and is now a part of the men’s league.
Award winners for the tournament are as follows:
Most Assists: female — Lindsay Thiessen (Haz Beens); male — Nick Iachetta (DDC no. 1)
Best Shots: Nara Riplinger (Fossil Fools)
Hard Luck: female — Andrea Gustafson (Fossil Fools); male — Kyle Larden (Fossil Fools)
Shooting Blanks: Diane Baerg (Irreconcilable Differences)
MVP: female — Synthia Paul (Dog Creek); male — Nick Iachetta (DDC no. 1).