By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Closing out the Bucyrus Area Youth Soccer’s (BAY Soccer) Soccerfest, a friendly scrimmage between the BAY Soccer 18-and-under traveling team took on the Galion Tigers soccer team.
Kids bounced in inflatable bounce houses, ate ice cream, and took part in fun soccer drills. BAY uses the Soccerfest as a promotional tool to get the word out about the soccer program according to Matt McCoy, board president of BAY Soccer.
“We started Soccerfest last year, and the idea was to get more kids involved, and basically the registration and sign up involving our program. We have been a program since 1998, and we have continually grown over the years,” McCoy said.
McCoy added that this year has increased in attendance.
“We had about 80 kids attend last year, and this year we have about 90 to 100 kids,” McCoy added. “Every year we hope to grow a little bit more, add a few more things, and make it a little bit bigger. This year we decided to host Soccerfest near the Bratwurst (Festival) because people are already going to kind of be in that mood and kind of get them ready.”
In their inaugural season as an interscholastic team, the Galion Tigers soccer team used the game as a final tune up prior to their first game of the season this Friday at Highland. Galion head coach John Stewart explained that they were excited to play at the Soccerfest.
“We had a couple small scrimmages against St. Peter’s and Mansfield Christian, but we are excited to play here in Bucyrus. We are excited they are having us, and we are looking forward to playing tonight,” Stewart said.
Stewart added that the process of getting the club up and running has been great so far.
“It has been a great process, great getting to know the guys, the administration has been really supportive, and we are looking forward to a great season,” he said.
Stewart added that the team is improving.
“We have a disparity in skill sets, but we are all learning, and getting better in practice, and that is the main thing,” Stewart said.
Taking the field as referees for the scrimmage were Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke and Kevin Fourman. Koepke noted that he was excited about the future.
“We are thrilled, there are at least 425 kids playing soccer in Crawford County. We are happy to see it grow,” Koepke said. “Mr. Fourman is the godfather of BAY Soccer, starting a youth soccer program in 1995.”
“We started playing at the Bucyrus Y and it has grown to playing at the site of the old high school football field,” Fourman added.
Koepke said that the BAY Soccer is becoming a part of the community providing the youth with opportunities.
“The park is becoming a fixture in the community,” Koepke explained. “A few of the kids have gone on to play collegiately (sic). Also BAY Soccer has had a long history of producing place kickers for area high school football teams.”
Koepke added that the Galion High School soccer program wouldn’t exist if not for the tireless efforts of Gary Moreton, who had coached Galion Youth Soccer Clubs prior to his death.
The scrimmage proved to be a learning experience for Galion as the BAY Soccer team defeated them 6 -0.
PHOTO GALLERY: SoccerFest 2016