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HISTORY OF
THE Jefferson Kiwanis Youth Soccer Club
It all began in the
mind of Joe Kennedy while on vacation in the summer of 1978---the idea of
a youth soccer program / league. He came back to the Ohio Valley, shared
his idea, and quickly found an enthusiastic group of like mind. You'll
probably recognize some of these names: Tony Recinella (started CCHS
soccer program), Ward Rodgers, Libero Barca, Pete Scaffidi, Carl Arlotta,
Jerry Gast, and Dom Buccaferni ( first and current coach of the Indian
Creek Girls Soccer team). Some of these were the first coaches of our
league. Soon after, Manuel Federico and Pete Petrides also got involved.
Special help came from John Cunningham of Bethany College ( still the
Bison's Men's Soccer coach ) who came across the river to mentor these
new coaches.
The league started
with about 60 kids forming teams from U-8 to U-14. By 1980, the league
had grown to about 100 players forming 7 teams. In those early years,
games were played at Belleview Park, The College of Steubenville, and
Hills Elementary school.
During the summer
of 1985, the Steubenville Kiwanis Club, in behalf of the young soccer
league, entered into a 20 year lease agreement with Big Bear Stores
Company, to allow fields to be developed on their property. The first
field ( the current U-12/14 ) was used the following year along with
Belleview Park. Our other fields ( U-10, U-8, U-6) gradually followed
during the 1990's.
In 1986 travel
teams were formed at the U-14 and U-16 levels. The 1988 U-16 Steubenville
Raiders coached by Tony Recinella went all the way to the Ohio state
finals and ended as the State runner-up.
By 1990, the league
had grown to 34 teams ranging from U-8 to U-18. During the 90's the
league would gradually cut off at U-14 as more of the local high school
soccer programs began. The fall of 1991 began the awarding of the Peppy
Pesce Memorial Award given to a U-14 player of the previous year to
recognize that player's talent and sportsmanship as well as to
memorialize Peppy's contributions to the league.
A travel team was
reestablished in the Spring of 1999 at the U-16 level for boys. They
played in the Western Pa. league against Pittsburgh area teams. In the
Spring of 2000, a U-17 and a U-14 boys travel teams played in the Western
Pa. league with the hope that participation in travel teams will continue
to grow.
The Fall 2000
season saw the beginning of all girl teams with two teams in the U-14
division and three teams in the U-12 division. This was also the largest
participation in league history with 52 teams and 625 girls and boys
playing.
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