By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

For years Dave and Betty Ernst never missed a soccer game. The Geneseo couple continues to be actively involved with Geneseo Soccer well after the loss of their son, Seth Ernst, who was a sophomore at Geneseo High School when he and two classmates died from injuries incurred in a car accident on Oct. 15, 2000.

Generous financial contributions were made to the Ernst family in memory of Seth, and Mr. Ernst said he and his wife chose to use that money to seek an avenue to keep their son’s memory alive.

The Seth Ernst Memorial Soccer Slam was organized in 2007 and continues today, with the seventeenth annual tournament set for Jan. 26-28 for ages 6/7–11 Boys and Girls along with the U2Old Division, which is for Geneseo School District Residents and alumni, Seth Slam coaches, and one guest player; and from Feb. 23-25 is for ages 12 – 14/15 and Geneseo High School students in grades 9-12. U14/15 players may not be in high school. Registration deadlines are: Jan. 10th for ages 6/7 – 11 and U2Old. Ages 12–14/15 and Geneseo High School is Feb. 7th.

The tournament takes place at the Geneseo Foundation Activity Center, 700 North State St., Geneseo, adjacent to the high school building.

Registration is online at www.sethernstsoccerslam.org. Click on COACHES. Information also is available from tournament director Jill DePauw, 309-945-2696, or email soccer@sethernstsoccerslam.org

Special friends from STRIVE rehabilitation center in Prophetstown will play a scrimmage against local heroes on Sunday, Jan. 28th at 2 p.m. and also Sunday, Feb. 25th. Seth Ernst Memorial Soccer Slam has supported STRIVE for many years by donating money to purchase handicapped running carts, special rock climbing equipment, basketball supplies, and much more to assist this extremely valuable organization.

Both Saturdays, Jan. 27th and Feb. 24th, will feature a LIVE / ONLINE auction conducted by Stenzel Auction Service beginning at 2 pm. Jason Stenzel and his crew will take bids in person and also online. Anyone interested in donating a unique item or baked goods for either Saturday, please contact Jill DePauw at 309-945-2696. Whimsy Pixie Paint will be back for her 8th year to do face painting on both Sundays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Because of the support of the many volunteers for this tourney, Geneseo Soccer Club, Geneseo REC Soccer, and Geneseo High School Soccer Boosters, request financial assistance from the proceeds to enhance the soccer experience for youth. Seth Ernst continues to offer four $1000 scholarships each year to two GHS senior boys and two senior girls who have played soccer for at least three years. In 2023, $8,750 was awarded. The application will be available from Geneseo High School’s counseling page in early Feb., 2024.

“It took time for us to come up with the tournament idea,” Mr. Ernst said. “We wanted to have something that would be ongoing to keep Seth’s memory alive, and we wanted to have something that would benefit youth in Geneseo and the surrounding area.”

The couple met with people from the Geneseo Soccer Club along with members of the Geneseo High School Soccer Boosters.

“It was Greg Ogle who first suggested the tournament idea,” Mrs. Ernst said. “The people who have helped with this tournament since its beginning have done a great job and they continue to help.”

The tournament has become so popular that today it encompasses numerous ages.

“We added the U2Old Division because we wanted Seth’s friends who are out of high school to be able to come home and play soccer,” Mr. Ernst said.

Last year there were 108 teams involved in the tournament.

“Seth loved kids, loved to babysit and he loved to play soccer,” Mrs. Ernst said. “He was in youth soccer when he was 5. I know Seth is proud of what the Geneseo soccer community has done.”

“Without faith, you don’t get through a loss like this,” Mr. Ernst said. “When we lost Seth, a friend said to us, ‘Isn’t it great to believe?’ and another said, ‘We’ll get to see him before we know it.’… We know where he is.”

On the day of the accident Mr. Ernst recalled his church pastor, the late Rev. Ron Webb, being at the Ernst home and said, “We can’t do anything about what happened, but we sure can do a lot about the future.’…The loss of Seth has taught us to enjoy each day and the people around us.”

Mr. Ernst said he and his wife plan to continue presenting awards at the Seth Ernst Memorial Slam “even when we are 90.”

The awards, too, are another unique aspect of the Soccer Slam. Sportsmanship pins are given to each coach at the start of every game. The teams then present the pin to one player on the opposing team who best exemplified sportsmanship during that game. The main focus of this tourney has always been sportsmanship and again this year a special award will be presented to one team each day rated as the best team with overall sportsmanship. The referees and scorekeepers rate each team, their coaches and fans after every game. “Our tournament is unique in the fact that the biggest award a team can earn is not for first place, it’s for Sportsmanship” Mrs. Ernst proudly comments.

She continued, “We’ve had amazing support from local businesses, and have also received grants from area organizations to help us enhance the tournament. We’ve added a sound system for both weekends thanks to Butch Bos. To start each day there is a morning prayer and a GHS choir student sings the National Anthem.”

A full concession stand is offered along with double-sided scoreboards on pedestals on each court for better spectator viewing of the time and score. Every player receives a Seth T-shirt and one round of our Six Shot Contest, two rounds of our Speed Shot Contest, and at least three games for $30, plus a handling fee through GetMeRegistered. Live links are open to register today at: https://sethernstsoccerslam.org/registration/

This tournament would not be possible without hundreds of sponsors, the support of the Geneseo School District, and all of the volunteers from Geneseo Soccer Club/REC Soccer and Geneseo High School Soccer Boosters. Anyone who would like to become a sponsor and/or volunteer is asked to email soccer@sethernstsoccerslam.org.

“Even though the tournament is a bittersweet time for our family, we know God has blessed us with this wonderful event,” Mrs. Ernst said.