Blessed with yet another day of glorious sunshine and a welcomed cross-field breeze, conditions were perfect as players of all ages and abilities from 14 and up gathered to raise funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
The superbly appointed Seven Gables Park, ran by Wheaton Park District, played host to the family oriented event, which for the first time was split into competitive and non-competitive brackets. Although judging by the commitment, endeavor and skill on show, there was not much to separate most teams in either section.
Highlights of the day included Jim Duffy’s wondergoal in the dying seconds as Hoof Hearted beat NADS in the semi-final of the non-competitive bracket, while Jason Kieffer’s display, dictating play and scoring one of the goals of the tournament from the sweeper position, ensured a deserved win for his Queneville Mustaches team in the final. Or even Dan Mueller’s “goal heard round the world” putting his team, the Thundersticks ahead of the opposition, and thus proving that yes, you CAN score a goal even if you only play soccer once a year.
In the competitive bracket, returning champions Whatever, I’ll be at Moe’s were knocked out in the semi-finals by a well-drilled All Whites team, who went on to beat Show us your Witts in a tense, absorbing, closely fought final, with Natalie Horner, Greg Brinkman, Matt Soper, Eric O'Reilly, eventually emerging 3-2 victors and worthy champions.
A more emotional highlight followed at the post-tournament festivities in Buckingham Court, where key sponsor Mike Abernathy paid tribute to the late Jack Blake, the husband, father, friend, coach and mentor in whose honor this event is held.
On top of the $10,000 raised for the Lance Armstrong Foundation from this year’s event, there was also the unveiling of a new $1,000 fund set up with the Wheaton Park District in Jack Blake’s name to provide a resource available to kids unable to afford registration fees for local soccer leagues and camps. Thus allowing Jack Kicks Cancer the opportunity to give back to the Wheaton soccer community as well as continue to raise cancer awareness and benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation, an unparalleled resource for those affected by cancer.
The Blake family would like to thank all players and volunteers who made the event such a success, as well as the local businesses, without whose continued support the tournament would not be possible.
We look forward to seeing you again next year!