The goal of OMSA is to have fun, promote
sportsmanship, increase awareness for youth soccer and help develop
players to work as a team.
History
The Old Mill Soccer Association (OMSA) was formed in 1994 as a non-profit
organization sponsoring youth soccer in Will and Kankakee Counties. Every
Fall a tournament is held in Peotone, Illinois bringing together U-10,
U-12 and U-14 Girls and Boys/Co-ed teams from nine local communities.
The tournament has grown from 12 to 40 teams and has 600 players participating.
U8 teams were added in 2005 for the four founding towns of Beecher,
Grant Park, Manteno and Peotone to participate in a "Founders Classic".
Starting in 2006, all towns are eligible to have U8 teams
Community
OMSA gives back to the community of Peotone by offering scholarships to
high school graduates who have been active in soccer in grade school and high
school. OMSA donated a total of $1000 for two scholarships in the spring of
2007. OMSA has contributed a total of $5500 towards 11 scholarships since
2002. Recipients that have received $500 scholarships for continuing
education at the college level include:
- Jessica Gruca(2007) - attending Millikin University
- Alec Panici(2007) - attending Western Michigan University
- Ryan Murray(2006) - attending Olivet Nazarene University
- Trisha Rehfeldt(2006) - attending the University of Illinois
- Shannon Troescher(2005) - attending Northern Arizona University
- Chris Wurst(2005) - attending Loyola and a member of the soccer team
- Britney Oliver(2004) - attending the University of Illinois
- Nate Oliver(2004) - attending Lewis University
- James March(2003) - attending the University of Illinois
- Jason Thomas(2003) - attending Joliet Junior College
- Kathleen Heinrich(2002) - attending Monmouth College and a member of the women's varsity soccer team
OMSA contributed $2500 in 2003 to the Peotone School System Save Our
Students Program (SOS). This contribution helped offset the funding of
extracurricular activities that year in the junior high and high school.
