By Joe St. Henry
Special to the Review
Sharing the goal to develop the best youth soccer club teams possible to represent the Lake Orion community, the LOBOS Soccer Club and Lake Orion Soccer Club recently merged.
The decision to combine the two soccer clubs and leverage their resources was made after two years of discussions between long-time LOBOS President Steve Alliston and LOSC President Matt Paukovits.
Both are excited about the new LOBOS Soccer Club’s future, starting with team tryouts scheduled to begin on June 15. (The tryout schedule is posted online at www.LOBOSSoccer.com.)
‘Youth soccer continues to flourish and grow in northern Oakland County, Lake Orion in particular,? Alliston said. ‘It makes sense to unify the local soccer community by combining these two club programs. We’re taking advantage of the competitive attributes of both organizations to build even stronger boys and girls club teams in multiple age groups.?
‘All of the Club’s trainers and coaches are totally committed to providing our young athletes with quality soccer training and club-level competition,? said Paukovits, who is the current boys varsity coach at Lake Orion High School. ‘We’re excited to hold tryouts in anticipation of the fall season and expect a solid turnout of players.?
The LOBOS Soccer Club will be managed by a Board of Directors comprised of Alliston as Chairman, Paukovits as Technical Director, Robert Hopper as Treasurer and Jim Dyckman as Secretary. In addition, Alliston and Paukovits said they are especially pleased with the decision of Chris Corteg to remain with the club as Director of Coaching for all U13 teams. He is the former boys and girls varsity coach at Utica Eisenhower and former head coach at Eastern Michigan University. Paukovits will be Director of Coaching for all U8-U12 teams.
Other key coaching positions are being filled by Phil Kimmel, the varsity boys? and girls? soccer coach at Brandon High School and Jason Collinsworth, assistant coach of the boys varsity team at Detroit Country Day. All LOBOS coaches are licensed by the USYSA and/or NCAA to coach soccer. Many have earned advanced coaching licenses through both organizations.
‘From a coaching standpoint, the Club has never been on more solid ground,? Alliston said. ‘Our objectives are to teach young players the skills and techniques needed to play this great sport at a higher level of competition, promote sportsmanship and a respect for the game. Our Youth Academy for players that are not old enough to go into travel will help prepare them to move to the next level. ?
Paukovits said the combined club will host an expanded summer camp at Civic Center Park, July 27-30, for all U8-U14 teams. In addition, he said the new LOBOS Soccer Club is strengthening its Soccer Academy program, with more details coming soon.
All girls teams will continue to play under the LOBOS name, while the boys teams will now play as the Wizards. Both groups will play under the LOBOS Soccer Club and continue to be affiliated through the Orion Oxford Soccer Club (OOSL).
‘We are happy that we could come up with agreements? with the LOSC and the OOSL to join forces? Alliston said. ‘The natural progression for our youth soccer players is to play in the OOSL, start training in the Youth Academy (details will be posted on the LOBOS website), then begin travel soccer at U8.?