Awards

Every year, the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association honors outstanding contributions to youth soccer by asking its membership to nominate coaches, volunteers, administrators, and referees. Awards are presented at the WYSA Annual General Meeting. The 2012 recipients have varied soccer experience, but one thing they continue to share is a true “love for the game” of soccer and a strong desire to have players “do their best” within the confines of the rules and a spirit of fair play.

Congratulations go out to this year’s award winners:

2012 Boys Recreational Coach of the Year – Gary Rebholz coaches in the Mt.Horeb Soccer Club. Gary’s player’s appreciate his sideline demeanor, dedication, and complimentary style of coaching. His off field experience as a member of the Mt. Horeb Soccer Club might have something to do with that. Whether coaching club soccer, or administering for his club, Gary’s evaluations are reassuring to his players and their families.  

2012 Girls Recreational Coach of the Year – Don Blunck coaches club soccer for the Milwaukee Kickers Nicolet Dolphins team. Don makes his practices fun and relevant, while bringing in players from the Milwaukee Wave professional team to meet and work with his girls. Don has even been known to step in as a referee, when one is not available, and being a fair referee reflects how he positively influences the game of soccer beyond his own team.

2012 Boys Competitive Coach of the Year –Tyler Thomas coaches club soccer for the Allouez Ice U-15 Boys soccer team. Tyler held tryouts for his team knowing that 50% of the team would be comprised of Hispanic and Hmong players, some facing language and socioeconomic barriers. Tyler’s vision and efforts to coach one U-15 boys’ team in a newly established league, quickly became two teams of U-15 boys all wanting to play for him. Tyler’s efforts for his club and his teams have helped build the East Green Bay soccer community and helped to reduce player fees.

2012 Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Patrick Buckley has 20 years of experience with the Appleton Soccer Club as coach of the Appleton Goalgetters and the U13 Blast. In that time, his Goalgetters team has earned three state Championships, and Pat has had a positive influence on the lives of many players. This is Pat’s last year of coaching and we can’t think of a better way to honor those years of commitment and success.   

2012 Volunteer of the Year – Rick Theilig as tournament director for the Appleton Soccer Club puts in lots of hours making sure that tournaments run smoothly. Whether it is a local tournament, or the State Championships, or the Region II Championships, all tournaments receive Rick’s high level of professionalism and organization.

2012 TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year – Markus Roeders has coached the Marquette University Women’s Soccer team for the last 16 years, compiling an impressive 236-89-33 record. He has also supported WYSA’s TOPSoccer program for athletes with disabilities during much of that time. Markus has invited our TOPSoccer players to events at the university, and brought his MU Women’s team to the TOPSoccer Winterfest event for several years in a row. He’s been a solid supporter of our efforts and always manages to make the event special to our players.

2012 Male Young Referee of the Year – Killian Mielotz puts his player experience to good use as a referee for youth soccer games. Killian has also received high praise from his assignor for his technique as a referee, exhibiting impeccable character and an advanced level of maturity for his age. In addition to being a referee, Killian mentors younger goalkeepers, volunteers at a hospital with his music therapy, plays several instruments and participates with the UWM Youth Jazz Ensemble.   

2012 Female Young Referee of the Year – Paige Schommer had to give up on playing soccer for medical reasons as a youngster. But this didn’t diminish her love for the game and Paige decided to continue soccer as a referee. Her referee assignor can’t say enough good things about her. Paige also assists with Special Olympics, works with the elderly, serves meals at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, works with animal rescue, and does cross-age drug and alchohol training for younger students.

Winners of the Wisconsin Youth Soccer awards also compete at the Region II level. Region II award winners receive an expenses paid trip to the US Youth Soccer Adidas Workshop in Indianapolis, IN as part of the Annual US Youth Soccer Awards Program. What a great way to have your volunteers, administrators, coaches and referees honored for their service! Consider rewarding your volunteers with a nomination in 2013!

2011 Award Winners:
Boys Recreational Coach of the Year – Clay Nelson
Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Xavier Rico
Volunteer of the Year – Carl Micke
Male Young Referee of the Year – Dylan Seitz
Administrator of the Year – Vicki Abshere

2010 Award Winners:
Boys Recreational Coach of the Year – Dorothy Vander Wyst
Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Derek Crowley
Boys Competitive Coach of the Year – Predrag “Pep” Stojanovic
Volunteer of the Year – Karen Stashek
Male Young Referee of the Year – Nicholas Finch
Administrator of the Year – Todd Felhofer

2009 Award Winners:
Boys Competitive Coach of the Year – John Kaiser
Girls Competitive Coach of the Year – Derek Bell
TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year – Jane McCormick