Petoskey Invitational Soccer Tournament

Petoskey was Soccer Town in Michigan during the first weekend that school was out,June 13-15. The Petoskey Youth Soccer Association and the City of Petoskey Parks and Recreation Division, shared the hosting of 2880 soccer players, and hundreds of soccer families, supporters and scouts that invaded the town.

This was the 15th Annual Petoskey Invitational Tournament and it certainly ranked right up there as one of the most successful. PYSA President and chief soccer mom, Kathy Beyer, one of hundreds of volunteers that helped make this a great weekend, was ecstatic The weather was perfect, the competition was excellent and the tournament final included the hometeam,The Petoskey Northmen.

The 160 league teams are drawn from the best high school and county recreational teams in Michigan. This year also saw some competition from Canada and Indiana. According to tournament co-directors Jim Ehrnst and Ginny Nelson, the tournament is an invitational, is highly competitive and while not the biggest, it is the most fun. Currently, the size of the tournament is limited by the number of level fields available in the hilly Petoskey area.

Tournament families filled every hotel and motel room in and around the Petoskey . Peter Fitzsimons, who is an emeritus referee and also the area's convention and tourism director could not have been more pleased. As he stepped on the field on Saturday monring to begin to referee his game, he knew he had great weather, a great field and full hotels.

Each year the tournament.invites teams with an eye toward great competition. And competitive it was. Teams at all levels kept the action fast and scores close. Solid defense kept many outcomes in doubt throughout the day's games. Semi-final games were marked by overtimes and exciting shootouts. Coaches seem to know they will find top notch competition here. For the first time,a number of coaches called tournament directors to declare that they were coming to scout the players.

On Sunday evening, after the last van had left the city, the volunteers got together at thePetoskey Football Stadium and had their little party. They were tired, happy and proud. They had, once again, put on another superb soccer tournament and that was their goal.