GREENFIELD — It was the first matches of the season, the first matches on the brand new turf field, but Saturday’s girls soccer tournament at the G-C Soccer Complex had a lot more meaning than wins and losses on the field.
It was more about the wins, the battles and the much more difficult losses off of it.
Saturday marked the 11th annual Greenfield-Central girls soccer Kickin’ For Cancer Tournament.
The tournament began in 2014 in remembrance of Melinda “Mindy” Dunn, a parent of a G-C soccer player, Courtney Dunn, who had just lost her fight with cancer.
Each year since 2014 the girls program has had a one-day, four-team tournament as a fundraiser.
Initially, funds had gone to the American Cancer Society. Since 2019, funds have been dispersed locally to the Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center and Hancock Health Foundation.
“I’m happy we were able to start out the season with this,” Greenfield-Central head coach Brandon Steeno said.
Previously, the tournament was played later in the season.
“This is a great soccer event, the boys team comes out and helps support it, the girls team and their parents, the booster club, to kick-off the season with this, it was a lot of fun for us this year,” Steeno said.
It’s a fun event, but it also tugs hard on the heart strings.
“It’s always an emotional day,” the coach added. “One thing we talk about when we play this tournament, everybody that has had this fight with cancer has had to fight really hard.
“We’re playing soccer. Out of respect, we need to make sure we give 100 percent. If we’re going to play in a cancer tournament to honor cancer survivors and their fight, we have that in the back of our mind, ‘How hard did they have to fight?’”
Paige McCarley had four goals and two assists in Greenfield-Central’s 9-0 consolation game victory over Warren Central.
This tournament is extra special to her. Paige’s mother, Marti, is a cancer survivor.
Marti McCarley is one of the boosters and organizers of the tournament. She survived AML leukemia and has been cancer-free for eight years.
“For me, these games are the most important. Not only for my mom but for everyone that has gone through this,” Paige said.
“We’ve been coming to this event even before Paige was part of this team, since 2016,” Marti said. “It’s always important to me and one of the favorite events that we do. To have Paige be able to participate in this and support me is always special to her.
“I think our community has been hit hard recently in the past few years with several people being diagnosed,” Marti added. “The community, in general, has always been here to help us and support us. We need to remember all of those that have lost their lives. A couple years ago we lost a junior high student that was diagnosed with leukemia and unfortunately passed. We want to bring awareness to how many lives this touches. I don’t think a lot of people realize, I know we didn’t realize until I was diagnosed and then it seems like you hear weekly of someone being diagnosed.”
After the Cougars defeated Warren Central in the consolation round match, players gathered at midfield from all four participating schools, which also included eventual tournament champion Lawrenceburg and Batesville.
After a moment of silence, a statement was made on the public address about those that fought, are fighting, or have lost their fight with cancer. Players from all four teams were asked to take a carnation to someone in the crowd that has won their fight or is still battling.
When players returned to midfield they released balloons in representation of those that have lost their fight.
It was also an emotional day for G-C sophomore Caroline Felver, who along with playing on the soccer team is a member of G-C’s swimming and diving team. The Cougars’ swim coach Emily Logan is currently battling cancer.
“(This is) big,” Felver said of the fundraising tournament. “Especially, Emily is such a big mother figure for me. I’ve known her for awhile and knowing she is going through this is tough. (She’s a fighter) and she doesn’t give up.”
The one-day tournament has traditionally raised anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 each season.
“There’s no rhyme nor reason why some survive and others can’t,” Marti McCarley added. “I always feel like it’s my responsibility to remember those that have lost and do all we can to find a cure for everybody. Everybody deserves that second chance.”
