By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Seth Ernst loved playing soccer and his parents, Dave and Betty Ernst, were always on the sidelines at their son’s games.
That was when he was on the playing field. Their son was a sophomore at Geneseo High School when he and two classmates died from injuries incurred in a car accident on Oct. 15, 2000.
Plans are in place for the 19th Annual Seth Ernst Memorial Soccer Slam at the Geneseo Foundation Athletic Center (GFAC). Registration opens online Nov. 1. Members of the Ernst family in the photograph are encouraging teams to participate in the Soccer Slam, and they are, in front, Noah Stralow, Seth Stralow, Cora Stralow, Luke Stralow, Drake VerStraete, Will VerStraete; in back, Nathan Stralow, Erica (Ernst) Stralow, Dave Ernst, Betty Ernst, Megan (Ernst) VerStraete and Shane VerS traete. Registration for the tournament, beginning Nov. 1, is available at www.sethernstsoccerslam.org. Anyone with questions is asked to email soccer@sethernstsoccerslam.org or call Jill DePauw, tournament director, at 309-945-2696. The tournament benefits Geneseo High School Soccer Boosters, Geneseo Soccer Club and Geneseo Rec Soccer. Contributed Photo
Generous financial contributions were made to the Ernst family in memory of Seth, and the couple chose 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 19th annual tournament set for Jan. 30-Feb. 1 for ages 11-14/15 Boys and Girls along with Geneseo High School students in grades 9-12. U14/15 players may not be in high school.
The second weekend of the Tournament is Feb. 27-March 1 for ages 6/7 – 10 Boys and Girls and U2Old. The U2Old Division is for Geneseo School District residents, alumni, and SEMSS coaches, along with one guest player.
Special guests from Socialization, Training, Rehabilitation, Independence, Vocation and Education (S.T.R.I.V.E.) Rehabilitation Center in Prophetstown, will play a scrimmage against local heroes at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.
The 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 more to assist the valuable organization.
A live and online auction, conducted by Stenzel Auction Service, will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, and again n Feb. 28 at the GFAC. Anyone interested in donating a “unique” item for either of the Saturday auction dates, is asked to contact Betty Ernst at 309-714-1805.
Representatives from Whimsy Pixie Paint will return for the ninth year to provide face painting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.
A new feature last year in the concession stand also will return – grilled chops, brats and hot dogs.
Aside from financially supporting Geneseo Rec Soccer, Geneseo Soccer Club and Geneseo High School Soccer Boosters, at least four (4) $1,000 scholarships are given to two Geneseo High School senior boys and two senior girls who have played soccer for at least three years. Applications for the scholarships are available on the Geneseo High School counseling page.
Dave and Betty Ernst came up with the idea of the soccer tournament in their son’s memory and Mr. Ernst said, “It took some time for us to come up with the tournament idea. 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 each year.”
The tournament became so popular that today it encompasses numerous ages.
“We added the U2Old Division and the UWay2Old 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 128 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 five. 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 (Grace United Church) pastor, the late Rev. Ron Webb, being at the Ernst home and commenting, “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. They 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” Betty. Ernst said.
“We’ve had amazing support from local businesses,” she added. “The tournament utilizes a sound system for both weekends, thanks to Butch Bos. In the concession stand, there is a 50-inch television for viewing GoPro video from games, double –sided scoreboards on pedestals for better viewing of the time and score.”
Mr. Ernst said, “This tournament would not be possible without hundreds of sponsors, the support of the Geneseo School District, and all of the amazing volunteers from Geneseo Rec Soccer, Geneseo Soccer Club and Geneseo High School Soccer Boosters.”
Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or a volunteer for the tournament, is asked 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.