Writer Ken Szymanski, right, of Eau Claire, shares the story, “Built to Last” at The Lakely in Eau Claire on Nov. 14, 2024. Musician Derick Black, left, played guitar between storytellers. The storytelling event was hosted by WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. Rich Kremer/WPR
Athletes in youth sports are often told things like, “It’s not about winning, it’s about having fun!” Sure, but what if you haven’t won a single game all season? That’s something Eau Claire Writer in Residence Ken Szymanski dealt with as a soccer coach.
He shared a story, “As the Sun Sets on Summer Soccer,” at a live storytelling event hosted by Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. It was held on Nov. 14, 2024 in Eau Claire at The Lakely.
Musician Derick Black, left, and writer Ken Szymanski, right, of Eau Claire, on stage at The Lakely in Eau Claire on Nov. 14, 2024. They performed to a packed house for a storytelling event hosted by WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. Rich Kremer/WPR
It’s August in Wisconsin, and my son’s parks and rec soccer season has nearly reached its less-than-inspiring conclusion. His team, the Broncos, sits at zero wins and 10 losses. I can’t blame the coach because I am the coach. And I’m busy trying to make sure they don’t give up altogether and wilt in the August heat.
Do you know how difficult it is to be in charge of morale when your team is 0-10? I can give the Broncos only so many variations on the “it doesn’t matter if we win or lose” speech because when they’re 11 years old and we lose every single time, it does matter. And even if I hide it well, it affects me as a coach, too. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m doing this wrong.
But this isn’t about me. Sure, I don’t want my son to watch me coach his team to a winless season. But I also don’t want him to go through a winless summer. I don’t want any of these kids to only feel loss after loss after loss after loss and have that become our summer’s legacy. So, we’re all on this sinking ship together — with one last game that could serve as our collective life raft.
Coach Ken Szymanski’s roster board for his soccer team, a homemade contraption that he said, “Gets a lot of attention, and it fits the makeshift vibe of the team.” Photo courtesy of Ken Szymanski
While we lost our previous game 8-0, there are no standings in parks and rec soccer. So, each game is a fresh start. That’s how I sell it in the final pregame speech: “Let’s end this season on a high note!” I say, and the players good-naturedly take their positions on the field.
Less than a minute after that speech, the Cheetahs zig-zag the ball through our defense and score an easy goal. Here we go again.
“Keep fighting, Broncos!” I yell. “Keep hustling!” After some back-and-forth, we work the ball downfield. Charging toward the goal, Mashona passes to Ali, who kicks it past the goalie’s outstretched hands and into the net. Broncos score!
It’s been a while since we scored a goal. Like a defibrillator, it’s a jolt to the system, bringing our team to life. Four minutes later, Mashona is left alone with the ball near midfield, and she boots a high floater. It sails like a shooting star over their defense, over the goalie’s head, and into the net for another goal! Now we have something we haven’t experienced all season: a lead.
Writer Ken Szymanski, right, shares about the youth soccer team he coaches in his essay, “As the Sun Sets on Summer Soccer.” He shared the piece at a storytelling event hosted by WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild, which was co-hosted by author B.J. Hollars and “Wisconsin Life” host Maureen McCollum, left. Guitarist Derick Black played the event. Rich Kremer/WPR
I can feel the shift in our team’s mindset. This is where winless teams become dangerous. All the frustration from all those losses suddenly becomes fuel — a hidden reservoir of high-octane fuel unavailable to winners and champions. For the rest of the game, we are in overdrive.
By the fourth quarter, we’re up 5-4, and the defense is determined to hold that lead. This is bigger than soccer. We’re playing for pride — salvaged pride.
And, unlike the sports movie cliché, we don’t need a heroic game-winning goal to pull off the victory. All we have to do is not blow it.
With a one-goal lead, the ticking clock becomes our savior.
Five minutes left.
I can’t do this for them, but I can pace the sidelines. I can yell encouragement. I can contort my body with each shot.
Three minutes left. Our goalie, Kasmer, blocks a barrage of shots and does an army crawl through a flurry of kicking legs to secure the ball.
One minute left.
Don’t let them steal this from us. Just hold on.
Finally, the ref blows the whistle, and victory is ours — for the first and final time.
Our team runs off the field like World Cup champions. In celebration, one player yells: “We actually won!”
The word “actually” gives me pause, but I shake it off and join the celebration.
In parks and rec summer soccer, it’s not whether you win or lose.
Sometimes, it’s when you win or lose.
And on this late Thursday night in August, the Broncos will ride their season-finale, one-game winning streak straight into the setting sun.
Author B.J. Hollars, left, talks with writer Ken Szymanski after he read his essay “As the Sun Sets on Summer Soccer” while musician Derick Black is seated with a guitar. Szymanski shared his story on stage at The Lakely on Nov. 14, 2024. Hollars co-hosted the event put on by WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. Rich Kremer/WPR
After Szymanski shared his story live on stage at The Lakely, event cohost — and his friend — B.J. Hollars talked with him about the essay.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
B.J. Hollars: Well, Ken, as a former child soccer coach myself — retired, retired! — I do have to ask, what are you thinking? Do you have any essays where you win more? Or is it just all losing?
Ken Szymanski: I think losing is always more interesting.
And every year when your son’s playing parks and rec soccer, they send out the email begging parents to coach. And most parents don’t want to do it for a variety of reasons. But I’ve coached middle school for 20-some years, so it’s something I’m familiar with. I’m comfortable with the kids, so I don’t mind doing it. You get to know the kids. You get in the best seat in the house, really. So what’s not to like?
Some years are better than others.
BH: (Laughing) But there’s always next year! Thanks so much, Ken.
KS: Thank you!
To hear all the Chippewa Valley writers’ stories from the live storytelling event, check out the full collection at“Wisconsin Life” Live from the Chippewa Valley.
Ken Szymanski
Ken Szymanski is the 2020-2024 Eau Claire writer-in-residence and an English teacher at DeLong Middle School. He is the author of Home Field Advantage and Sit Down and Stay Awhile: My Aunt Lil, a Small-Town Bar, and a Lifetime of Polkas.
There is a certain magic around youth sports, a feeling that sticks around with those who’ve played far after their time on the team has passed. Whether they are indelible memories of the dirt swirling around a Little League field, mud squishing under cleats on the soccer field or the sharp crack of pads colliding in a Pop Warner game, those moments will live on in the hearts of those who have played. This December, the members of the Sarasota Sun Devils 14U football team made some memories that they will be sure to cherish forever.
From December 8-13, the Sun Devils—a youth football and cheer organization started in 1987—competed in the American Youth Football National Championships in Naples, Florida. The Sun Devils, which had secured a berth to the tournament by winning its regional championship in November, played against teams from New Jersey, Virginia and California in the All-American Division 2 bracket. Led by head coach Bill Weiser and assistant coach Joshua Smithers—the former head coach and a current assistant coach on Riverview High School’s football team—the Sun Devils overcame an initial 18-2 loss to the Toms River Warriors to win two successive games en route to placing third in the national championships.
“We had games on Monday and Wednesday of that week guaranteed, and depending on the outcome, we would play on Friday,” says Smithers, who served as offensive coordinator. “I’m not sure if our kids were just nervous, but we lost to Toms River on Monday 18-2 and I thought to myself, ‘this might be a long day on Wednesday.’”
The Sun Devils rallied, however, defeating Richmond’s RVA United 20-18 in the consolation bracket before squaring with San Francisco’s Bay Area Gators for a shot at third place. Despite the Gators being as physical and well-coached a team as the Sun Devils had faced all season, Sarasota was able to pull out the victory, 32-21. A strong receiving group and the complimentary skill sets of the Sun Devils’ two quarterbacks, Parker Taylor and Beckett Hill, allowed Smithers to scheme up a creative offense. “It was the most that I’ve ever done with a youth football team. We were throwing screens and play action passes, we took advantage of the quick game and were able to run the field as well as push it down the field through the air,” says Smithers. “These kids were able to handle a lot in terms of scheme and play design.”
For Smithers and the rest of the Sun Devils, the end of the season is bittersweet. 14U is the last stop before high school football and much of the team had been playing together for years. “It was a little sad, but I am excited to watch these kids grow into young men and do great things for our area high schools.”
The D.C. Futsal Cup is one of the district’s premier winter futsal competitions — a 5v5 futsal tournament for competitive teams played under FIFA futsal rules and regulations on hard court surfaces.
Teams from around the area will take to the courts to engage in one of the fastest-growing games in the country on Jan. 31 (U9-12 Boys & Girls) and Feb. 1 (U13-U19 Boys & Girls) at the Athletic Republic.
Register online at $399 per team.
5v5 Tournament
Bethesda Soccer Club Performance Center is hosting a one-day U9-U12 Boys & Girls tournament on MLK Day (Jan. 19) as part of its 5v5 Shootout Series.
Teams from around the area will play on 5v5-specific fields to engage in a bold and distinctive game of soccer that will be entertaining and competitive. This one-day tournament allows the unique opportunity to play and let it rip.
For 2026, Hyundai shifts the spotlight to the dreams, imagination, and artistic talents of the youngest and most spirited football enthusiasts—children. Their artwork will bring a splash of vibrancy and fresh dreams to one of the world’s greatest sporting spectacles.
These captivating drawings will accompany the national players as they travel to stadiums and match venues, sharing youthful energy and creativity with millions of fans around the globe.
Each creative entry symbolizes the passion and enthusiasm of football fans for their national teams, inspiring pride and unity among players and supporters. These works of art don’t just embellish the buses; they embody the spirit of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, spreading messages of hope and celebration wherever they go!
But the experience doesn’t stop with seeing their art on display. Each winning artist will experience the excitement firsthand, with two very special seats reserved for the winner and one lucky guardian. The prize includes two tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026™ group stage match, round-trip airfare, and hotel accommodations. This ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’ combines creativity, thrills, and a long list of unforgettable memories.
On Saturday, December 20, Fillmore Youth Basketball filled the Fillmore Middle School gym for a full day of games. Pictured are the games last Saturday for both boys and girls. Photo credit Crystal Gurrola.
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, December 25th, 2025
— Youth for Christ in Alexandria has been around for 15 years, but recently moved into its new home – the YFC Youth Center at 911 Highway 29 North, near the north McDonald’s.
A
grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony
will take place on Monday, Jan. 12, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Nick Jorgenson, the Alexandria area site director for YFC, said that actually,
Youth for Christ
moved into the building in March. However, the building wasn’t really usable until about two and half months ago, he said.
“We had to renovate the entire place,” said Jorgenson. “There was no flooring in here; we had to rip down some of the old walls and redo the bathroom and kitchen. It was a big project.”
Previously, the YFC program operated out of the building behind the Alexandria City Hall where Nordic Warriors is located. Jorgenson said they had a small space in the basement.
The new location is a much bigger space and includes several tables for participants to sit and play games, eat or visit with each other, along with a video gaming space and a foosball table. It also includes a handmade table with plug-ins and a removable top that can be used to play electronic games in a group setting.
Standing in the middle in front of the Youth for Christ Youth Center in Alexandria is Nick Jorgenson, Alexandria YFC director and Heidi Christensen, Parent Life director. Joining them were Sean Levesque, left, executive director for the Youth For Christ West Central Minnesota chapter in Willmar, and Josh Ottoson, the chapter’s Development and Ministry director.
Contributed photo / Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Jorgenson said there are lots of different activities for those who are 11 to 19 years old.
“Our number one goal is to reach students with the Gospel, to present Jesus to them, and offer them a way out of horrible situations and horrible lives in the difficult world we live in,” he explained. “It’s not easy to navigate sometimes and so we’re here to walk alongside them and help them become lifelong followers of Jesus. So that’s our goal. But we do it in a relational way.”
The students who attend Youth for Christ don’t just sit around reading the Bible and singing worship songs, Jorgenson added. He said instead, the team at YFC builds relationships with those who attend so that they can earn the right for the students to listen to them.
YFC offers lots of activities
YFC offers different after-school clubs. On Tuesdays, there is the middle school club and then Thursdays are for the high school club. Jorgenson said it’s a time and space after school for students to hang out, play board games, video games and build relationships with not just the adults, but also the other students.
He said they usually will have snacks and beverages and then he will also do what he calls a “life talk,” which usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes.
Nick Jorgenson
“We talk about things going on in their world today and I apply biblical principles without just quoting biblical scriptures to them,” said Jorgenson. “And obviously, it’s in our name – Youth for Christ – so they’re not surprised when I tell them about God or Jesus.”
There are also groups, like the gaming group, which meets every other Thursday night. A volunteer will come in and the group plays games together. Another activity is the Girls Art Night where just the girls come in and do some kind of arts and crafts project, hang out with one another and build relationships with their peers. This group is led by YFC female volunteers.
And now that they have the space, Jorgenson said they have started Friday Night Life, where one Friday a month they do an activity, like Bingo or recently, they had a Christmas party.
Students can come and go as they please these during all the activities at the youth center. They are not made to stay until a program is done.
Students have snacks at a table inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
Contributed photo / Nick Jorgensen
Jorgenson said the students, as well as the parents, are informed that the students can come and go as they please and that there is not a membership to join. He added that he does collect contact information for both the students and their parents and/or guardians, providing the students give him their parent information. He said it doesn’t always happen, especially with the high school students.
The contact info is for mass messaging that is sent out regularly to students, parents, counselors, etc. to let them know about upcoming activities.
For instance, Jorgenson will let everyone know about an upcoming event called Winter Ignite 2026, which will take place Feb. 27 through March 1 at the Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria. It will feature guest speaker, Brandon Farris, and also Christian hip-hop artist 808 Beezy. For more information, send an email to josh@yfcminnesota.com.
Besides a new location, a new program offering at YFC will be starting in January 2026. Alexandria Parent Life, a ministry for pregnant and parenting teens, will be led by Parent Life Director Heidi Christensen.
This program was originally started in Willmar, which is where the main office for Youth For Christ West Central Minnesota is located. This is the chapter that the Alexandria YFC belongs to. Parent Life is also offered at the Hutchinson YFC.
Heidi Christensen
“This is a new launch for us here in Alexandria,” Christensen said. “We’ll start meeting with pregnant and parenting teens in January on Tuesday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.”
Parent Life is also offered to those ages 11 to 19, but Christensen said the program is a little bit different than the program Jorgensen runs.
She said there will be mentors and that they will be walking alongside the students in a kind-of pivotal point in their life. But, those who are attending are either pregnant or are already a parent.
“We are not a pregnancy center,” said Christensen. “When they come to us, they will have already either made the choice themselves to raise a child or carry the pregnancy to term but have an adoption plan in place. We do not do counseling of any kind. We’re here to walk alongside them and to have mentors.”
She added that parenting or being pregnant while still a teen is challenging and girls often find themselves ostracized from others. Parent Life will be a place where they can all get together and support one another.
Inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center there is an open space with tables and chairs for students to play games, hang with their friends or enjoy a snack.
Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press
“They may be from different schools or come from different walks of life, but together they have something in common,” said Christensen.
The mentors in the Parent Life program are able to go with the teen moms to appointments and help them to get back on the path if they’ve dropped out of school, which Christensen said happens often.
Mentors will help them graduate from school, go to college if that was originally planned or go into the workforce.
“Oftentimes, girls who find themselves pregnant think that it is the end of their story and that is just not the case,” Christensen said. “We’re here to provide hope and get them back on track and provide them with parenting tips or even educational tips.”
Like in Jorgenson’s program, Christensen said there will be faith-based discussions, but really, the whole goal is to walk alongside the teens and that if it ends up they make a decision on their own to follow Jesus, that is great. But she stated it is not the sole purpose of the program.
The nursery, which isn’t quite finished, inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press
In the new YFC Youth Center, there is also a nursery that will be staffed for those attending the Parent Life program who have children. Christensen also noted that there will be free diapers and wipes available to those attending the program.
For more information on the program send an email to heidi@yfcminnesota.com.
Information about the Alexandria Area Youth for Christ program can be found on Facebook at
facebook.com/AlexandriaYFC
or
yfcminnesota.com/ministries.
The video gaming station inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press
A cozy corner for students to hang out at in the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
