1C
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018
CONTACT US
Erick Bengel | Features Editor
ebengel@dailyastorian.com
WEEKEND
BREAK
FOLLOW US
facebook.com/
DailyAstorian
Sue Cody photo
Kids have a blast at Camp Kick-A-Lot.
Kids get their kicks
LCYSA volunteers
help fill the late Jerry
Boisvert’s cleats
REGISTRATION
FOR FALL LEAGUE
Season Saturdays, Sept. 8 to Oct. 27
Age: Kids entering kindergarten through
By SUSAN CODY
For The Daily Astorian
or years, Jerry Boisvert — the man
who built and maintained the fields
at the Warrenton Soccer Complex
— could be seen there almost daily, erect-
ing fence, mending nets, lining the fields,
mowing grass, clearing weeds and chasing
moles.
Boisvert’s devotion to soccer extended
beyond coaching, refereeing and creat-
ing a fun atmosphere for children with
Camp Kick-A-Lot. His attention to the
maintenance of the playing fields was
remarkable.
The Soccer Complex boasts four fields,
parking lots, concession stands and a play-
ground, much of it driven by Boisvert’s
passion.
Boisvert died earlier this year. In his
honor, the Lower Columbia Youth Soc-
cer Association (LCYSA) is naming the
west field after him, and the best coach will
receive the Jerry Boisvert Coach of the Year
Award. A sign and ceremony will be held at
the field in the fall.
“We are now realizing how much Jerry
did,” said Fergus Loughran, president of
LCYSA, as the association restructures
to replace Boisvert and compartmental-
ize tasks, so no one burns out. “We want
to spread the load of field maintenance and
upkeep.”
eighth grade in the fall
Fee: $50 until July 15
F
Late fee: $15 after July 15, players will
be put on a waiting list
Registration: lcysasoccer.com
Shirts: Available for $15 at concession
stands on Saturdays
Scholarships are available for those in
need.
Fees go toward insurance, pay for refer-
ees and field maintenance.
Erick Bengel photo
Jerry Boisvert, the man who built and maintained the Warrenton Soccer Complex,
passed away earlier this year.
Gerber at 907-942-5981
Sue Cody photo
Volunteer Rory Loughran mows one
of the fields at the Warrenton Soccer
Complex.
Help needed
A blessing and a curse
Volunteers have stepped up for the sum-
mer mowing and weed eating, but there
will be a big need in the fall when students
return to college, people are working and
days are shorter, Loughran said. There will
be a great need to line the fields for soccer
games.
“The facility looks fantastic, and I think
John Whisler, Tim Fastabend and I feel a
duty to make sure the program keeps going
and the facility remains the way Jerry had
it,” Loughran said. Each man has been
involved for years with LCYSA and seen
their children play in high school and
beyond.
“It’s a blessing and a curse. You can’t
turn your back on maintenance or it will
overtake you,” Loughran said.
Begun in 1984, the association formed
as a nonprofit, run entirely by volunteers to
serve youth in Clatsop County and Pacific
County, Washington. A few years later,
Warrenton allowed LCYSA to develop
a soccer field on the clay-capped former
dump along Ridge Road.
“It is great to go to the soccer complex
early on a Saturday and see it fill up and
For information, call Registrar Alex
Sue Cody photo
Portland Timbers players and Timber Joey held a soccer clinic at LCYSA’s Warren-
ton Soccer Complex in 2017.
swell with people having a good time,”
association Vice President Derith Andrew
said.
“I like that it’s not too competitive,
but it teaches sportsmanship and hav-
ing fun. Kids are taught to be nice to the
coaches and referees. It’s not about which
team won.”
Serving kids
Each year, the association serves around
600 kids from the two counties. Boisvert’s
motto was: “It’s all about the kids.” More
than collecting money, he wanted to make
sure the kids were playing and learning
about soccer, Loughran said.
There is the fall recreation league, a clas-
sic league (for more experienced players)
and Camp-Kick-A-Lot in the summer for
kids in grade school. Adult leagues also use
the fields. And now there is a playground.
“I like that it is so much about the
kids. We preach it and keep it affordable,”
Andrew said. There are scholarships avail-
able, so everyone can play.
Charitable contributions and gifts
poured in after Boisvert’s memorial,
Loughran said. With matching funds from
Pacific Coast Seafoods, LCYSA was able
to buy a new Gator riding mower and start
a scholarship fund.
But there is always a need for sponsors
and volunteers to help with mending nets,
mowing, lining the fields, maintenance,
refereeing and coaching. “If you have a
skill, let us know,” Loughran said. Con-
tact LCYSA through the website lcysasoc-
cer.com.
“Bogh Electric, Nygaard Logging,
Pacific Seafoods, Big River and many oth-
ers have been big contributors,” Loughran
said. Sponsors receive advertising along the
fences of the fields.
People have stepped up to serve on the
board. “Everyone involved is selfless, fun,
caring and giving,” Andrew said.
Referee coordinator Molly Albright said
she loves that LCYSA serves almost every-
one. It’s enjoyable because parents come
together for carpooling and exchanging
equipment. Referees 14 and older can be
paid.
“It’s a great first job, and I give good ref-
erences,” Albright said.
Some Astoria kids are returning as
young adults to help the organization that
was a focus throughout their youth and
high school years, Loughran said. Rory
and Liam Loughran, Phil Gaffney, Angelo
Schauermann and Brooke (Duling) Stanley
(my daughter) are involved, donating time,
sweat and expertise.
“It’s a big achievement to get kids
back,” Loughran said. Still, more commu-
nity involvement would be helpful.
“We are so fortunate to have this facil-
ity,” Whisler said. “It gives all kids an
opportunity.”