Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club 2014 Girls Team takes top honors at Comstock Shootout
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/01/2024 - 2:21pm
Aliyah Marisol, Sosa Martinez, and Willa Anderson.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The new Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe’s (BGCLT) soccer teams competed at the Comstock Tournament last weekend and came away with a championship crown. The Comstock Shootout is Nevada's oldest soccer tournament, located in Carson City, Nevada. Divisions from U10 through U14 play in a variety of games for the trophy.
The Boys and Girls Club 2014 Girls Team - South Tahoe United - was crowned the U10 Girls Comstock Shootout Champion. Remarkable in the fact that the team was only assembled 8 weeks ago. Willa Anderson, a 4th grade player, said, “I was really happy when I got my medals. I felt like I accomplished something great. It was definitely a team effort.”
“When I told the girls we would be playing in the final, they asked me who gets gold and who gets the silver medal? I told them the winning team gets the gold. They told me, ‘Coach, we talked and we want the Gold’. I smiled and said if you decide as a team that this is what you want, then go get it; we will be cheering for you on the sidelines," said South Tahoe United Coach Robert Sanchez. "The team performance was excellent, they left every single drop of energy on the field and I am super lucky they took me along for the ride.”
Aliyah Marisol, Sosa Martinez, and Willa Anderson.
The goal of BGCLT Futbol Alianza is to double the number of kids playing meaningful year-round soccer in South Lake Tahoe, particularly amongst underserved communities. Interest in soccer peaks with the World Cup, and since that event is in the United States in 2026, it is expected there will be more kids wanting to play in South Lake Tahoe. Futbol Alianza provides the opportunity for all community children, aged 9 - 14 to compete at an intermediate level.
“The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is for every child to achieve their full potential," said Jude Wood, BGCLT executive director. "It is our goal to provide a variety of educational and recreational programs that encourage healthy lifestyles and teach essential skills such as teamwork, discipline, respect, and the importance of having fun. Starting Futbol Alianza was the perfect way to achieve that objective and reach more youth in our community.”
Paul Cotter, Futbol Coordinator for BGCLT and AYSO Alliance Director, adds, “There has been a noticeable gap in our community in what’s termed “player pathway” - how children learn and develop within the game of football. AYSO does a fantastic job introducing kids to soccer at the grassroots level during the fall season and South Tahoe Futbol Club provides excellent competitive travel soccer. The Boys & Girls Club wants to build on the amazing grassroots work AYSO does in the community, and support the player pathway that can lead to South Tahoe Futbol Club.”