Spookerfest 2008

Hello Everyone!   Thank you to all who participated, volunteered, coached and played in this year's tournament.  Everything went off without a hitch, nobody got injured, and the kids had a fantastic time at the tournament.  We had 39 teams participate in this year's event, over 100 matches were played during the day, making the tournament a huge success. We had over 95% participation from the K-Clinic (U6), GU8, BU8, GU10 and BU10 intramural age groups.

Each year Spookerfest has grown and improved and I wanted to thank a few special people who worked very hard to make the day a big hit.

1-Maura Coburn and Lisa Ayrs for staffing, recruiting volunteers, and organizing the concession stand this year.  We sold out of nearly everything that was for sale.  This is one of the biggest jobs at the event and I am truly grateful that Maura and Lisa stepped up this year to organize this important part of the tournament.

2-Bruce Baldwin for securing trophies for this year's event; greatly appreciated by the nearly 400 kids who participated.

3-Beth Beidleman who toiled over the schedule so we all could play our games in a timely fashion.

4-Wayne Regan and John Potemri who were at the event nearly the entire day handing out trophies, manning concessions, picking up trash and many behind-the-scenes activities important to a successful tournament.

5-Mark Winniker for the use of his time and equipment to move goals from around town to Marshall St., picking up and returning the generator and being available most of the day to help out wherever needed.

6-Bob Murtaugh for scheduling the referees for the games.

7-Karen Stamatakos for the Spookerfest 2008 logo design and commemorative shirts.

8-Intramural Coordinators who coaxed, prodded and cajoled coaches to get their teams signed up for the tournament on time, nearly 100% of teams were signed up before the deadline!  A Spookerfest First!!

9-Coaches and their families for dedicating most of their day to the kids on their team's for this long event.

10-Sano Obid for moving goals from locations around Holliston, repairing damaged equipment and setting up the field on Friday morning.

11-Holliston Soccer female players who manned the face-painting, moonwalk and helped out with concessions.

12-Anyone else who I might have missed, please forgive me.  This last thank you is for you!

I have enjoyed my 5 years as Soccerfest/Spookerfest Director, met a lot of great people, saw incredible joy on many a young face I will not forget.  It has been a pleasure serving Holliston Youth Soccer and the greater Holliston Community through this event, and hope you have enjoyed participating in it.  The tournament has grown and evolved into one of the highlight's of the soccer season, and hope it will continue in the future.  During this time we saw the tournament grow from about 20 teams in 2003 to 40 teams in 2007!

I have approached a couple of worthy replacements to run Spookerfest 2009 next Fall.  I feel we are leaving the tournament in very capable hands and am sure they will continue the great tradition of a high quality intramural tournament for Holliston Youth Soccer.

Thanks for a great run!

Rick Beidleman, Retired
Spookerfest 2008 Tournament Director