Cherry Cup 2026
We’re back from a weekend in Traverse City, for Cam’s first BIG soccer tournament. I’m reliving it all with a box of Kleenex.
Cam’s team played four games throughout the weekend–three regular matches and a finals match. They played against an incredibly tough team, a questionably aggressive team, a match with a grumpy ref, and a shortened game in cold rain on a slippery field.
Through it all the whole team played with heart and hustle. Cam gave every game his all–never shying away from getting a touch on the ball, trusting when his teammates had it, moving the ball up the field to pass to open team members, and taking gutsy shots when he had to.
Coach gives out “man of the match” awards after games, two for these tournament games. After game 2, a teammate who won it immediately turned and awarded it to Cam–an extra meaningful award coming selflessly from a teammate. When Coach gave Cam the award after game 3, he passed it on to another team member of his he felt deserved it.
See what I mean about the Kleenex?
Then there was Adrian– “brother of the match”. Lil’ bro hung out for hours and hours on the sidelines through warm ups, games, picnic lunch, and watching friends’ matches. And he never complained. He played with the other team siblings, or cheered Cam on with us. He was an exceptional brother.
More Kleenex, please!
Between matches we were able to sneak away to show the boys Sleeping Bear Dunes for the first time. While they were in awe of the magnitude of the lake and the dunes, I was in awe of both of them.
These guys.
Cam who loves everything about soccer–the sport, his team, his coach. To see him practice his passion, giving his all, improving his skills, and growing into a no-excuses kind of athlete… it’s no sacrifice on our part as parents to support him through an activity that pays so many more dividends back to him.
Seeing Adrian hang with HIS friends (player’s siblings) on the sidelines, want to kick a spare ball around on the sidelines too, cheer on his brother, and in general be a rockstar of a supporter all weekend–this certainly was not a weekend dedicated to him, and he beyond went with the flow.
In the finals game on Sunday night Cam’s team fought HARD against an exceptionally challenging team. They lost the finals match, but won the runner up trophy and the reward of knowing they played the whole tournament with their whole hearts.
Cam’s team played four games throughout the weekend–three regular matches and a finals match. They played against an incredibly tough team, a questionably aggressive team, a match with a grumpy ref, and a shortened game in cold rain on a slippery field.
Through it all the whole team played with heart and hustle. Cam gave every game his all–never shying away from getting a touch on the ball, trusting when his teammates had it, moving the ball up the field to pass to open team members, and taking gutsy shots when he had to.
Coach gives out “man of the match” awards after games, two for these tournament games. After game 2, a teammate who won it immediately turned and awarded it to Cam–an extra meaningful award coming selflessly from a teammate. When Coach gave Cam the award after game 3, he passed it on to another team member of his he felt deserved it.
See what I mean about the Kleenex?
Then there was Adrian– “brother of the match”. Lil’ bro hung out for hours and hours on the sidelines through warm ups, games, picnic lunch, and watching friends’ matches. And he never complained. He played with the other team siblings, or cheered Cam on with us. He was an exceptional brother.
More Kleenex, please!
Between matches we were able to sneak away to show the boys Sleeping Bear Dunes for the first time. While they were in awe of the magnitude of the lake and the dunes, I was in awe of both of them.
These guys.
Cam who loves everything about soccer–the sport, his team, his coach. To see him practice his passion, giving his all, improving his skills, and growing into a no-excuses kind of athlete… it’s no sacrifice on our part as parents to support him through an activity that pays so many more dividends back to him.
Seeing Adrian hang with HIS friends (player’s siblings) on the sidelines, want to kick a spare ball around on the sidelines too, cheer on his brother, and in general be a rockstar of a supporter all weekend–this certainly was not a weekend dedicated to him, and he beyond went with the flow.
In the finals game on Sunday night Cam’s team fought HARD against an exceptionally challenging team. They lost the finals match, but won the runner up trophy and the reward of knowing they played the whole tournament with their whole hearts.