Optimist soccer wraps up season

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Kyle Bartos, of Tropical Isalnd Pools, outraces Santi Ruiz to the ball in an Optimist Soccer League game. Submitted photo.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Tara Snyder shows good form in kicking the scoccer ball during a Oprtimist Soccer League playoff game. Submitted photos.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Sara Hines of Drs. Bob & Pattie Poling's tean, tries to kick ball between parents as the children battled adults in one of the season-closing activities in the Optimist Soccer League. Submitted photo.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

090320ME-OPTSOC3 Paul Schneller tries to pass ball before his son Jacob, of Naples Team Sports, stops him in a parent-battles child game in the Optimist Soccer League's season-closing activities. Submitted photo.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Parents and children of Nacho Mama's and Verdi's teams slap hands following social parent-child soccer game in the Optimist Soccer League. Submitted photos.

The final week of the Optimist Club of Marco Island Soccer League season saw parents battling children in a fun game, while kids in the older divisions met in a tournament.

The parents took on their kids in a soccer free-for-all. In some matches there were two teams battling their parents on the same field, making for a very entertaining match. Neither the parents, nor the kids were willing to concede the title of champions of the field, but after battle both parents and kids lined up to congratulate each other for a job well done.

Competition was fierce when the fourth/fifth grade boys division and the sixth/eighth grade boys and girls divisions squared off. The matches were intense as each team gave their all.

The fourth/fifth grade boys matches were particularly exciting, with two of the four games ending in a shootout to determine the victor.

All in all, most would agree that the inaugural season of the Optimist Club of Marco Island Soccer League was a smashing success. There were road bumps along the way, but the good news is that it will only get better as the league management improves its processes.

On behalf of the league’s board of directors, I would like to thank all those that helped make this season a success, including those that worked the concessions, those that helped clean the field after the matches and all the sponsors, coaches, players and parents.

Special thanks to Kim Burke, Optimist Club of Marco Island Soccer League president, for her many hours and dedication in making this season what it has been.

The Optimist Club of Marco Island will continue to provide quality youth sports programs for Marco Island and the surrounding area. In fact, the first games for the baseball league are starting this weekend. For more information, visit OptimistClubofMarcoIsland.org.