Men's Soccer Plays in Community Service Double Header
9/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The No. 14 U-M Men's soccer team devoted itself to two simultaneous community service events Monday (Sept. 17). Half the squad worked with the Special Olympics athletes at the U-M Soccer Field, teaching soccer to participants, while the other members worked with kids at Park Ridge Park in Ypsilanti, Mich., through Ypsilanti Community Soccer, a group that instructs underprivileged youth about soccer.
After practice, Peri Marosevic and the Wolverines signed autographs for Ypsilanti Community Soccer participants.
The U-M soccer team, winner of last year's Rachael Townsend Community Service Team Award, became involved with Ypsilanti Community Soccer through former U-M women's soccer player Dory Gannes, who started the organization this past summer. She wanted to keep it going into the fall, and senior forward co-captain Michael Parke became the men's team representative.
"I think it went really well," said Parke. "We had 30-40 kids out there who don't have a lot of experience with soccer. We got to show them some fundamentals and then we played against them. Everyone had a lot of fun."
Mark Riordan, U-M Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing and Promotions, approached the men's soccer program about becoming involved with Special Olympics and the squad was happy to oblige. Co-captains Alex Morisset and Michael Holody spearheaded the event on the U-M Soccer Field.
"There were about 25 Special Olympics athletes there," said Morisset. "There were three teams and three coaches. We had three or four Michigan athletes with each team. We just did some drills and learned their names at first -- then we scrimmaged for about 40 minutes. After we gave them posters and signed autographs. It was a great time."
"Community service is very important to the soccer team," said Parke. We have a lot of resources as athletes at Michigan and we're taken care of. It's nice to do these events for those less fortunate, and, at the same time, it's a great bonding experience for our team to hang out and have some fun giving to others."
"This group of young men is very selfless," said head coach Steve Burns. "They win on Sunday and give of themselves on Mondays to those that are less fortunate."
The Special Olympics athletes will play a match at the U-M Soccer Field during halftime of the men's match against Wisconsin Sunday (Sept. 23).
Special Olympics Photo Gallery
Ypsilanti Community Soccer Photo Gallery
Contact: Stacey Schwartz (734) 647-4237
