At left: The first St. Ignace travel soccer team poses during a visit to Escanaba, where they played games against Gladstone and Marquette. Pictured are (back row from left) Assistant Coach Scott Marshall, Alex France, Austin Marshall, Hunter Frazier, Toby Ferguson, Coach John Styes; (front row) David LaVake, Dylan Marshall, Jack Styes, Kody Rickley, and Autumn Orm. The trip to Escanaba was a first attempt to establish a travel soccer program for St. Ignace youth. (St. Ignace Recreation Department photographs) Youth from St. Ignace played for the first time as a traveling soccer team Saturday, August 22, against Gladstone and Marquette in Escanaba.

The game was a first try to form or join a traveling league, Recreation Director Scott Marshall said.

Marquette won the first game against St. Ignace 4-2 after a 1-1 tie for most of the game. Gladstone won St. Ignace's second game of the day, 6-1. Mr. Marshall said having only one substitute player and a long double header made for a difficult second game. Hunter Frazier had one goal in the first game and 1 in the second, and Austin Marshall had one goal in the first. The team, comprised of St. Ignace youth ages 10 to 12, was coached by John Styes.

Mr. Marshall said the teams from Gladstone and Marquette, comprised mostly of 12-yearolds, were preparing for an upcoming tournament they were both attending.

The St. Ignace Recreation Department has been exploring the idea of establishing a traveling team, he said, and the coaching availability of Mr. Styes for the date in Escanaba seemed like a good trial for the idea.

Any other coaches or parents interested in helping to organize and coach travel teams next year are asked to discuss it with Mr. Marshall. This summer's youth soccer program ended in St. Ignace in mid-August.

Travel leagues in both Petoskey and Cheboygan have expressed interest in joining with St. Ignace for traveling youth soccer, and the game in Escanaba gave Mr. Marshall the opportunity to propose the idea to Gladstone coaches, as well. Gladstone offered to form a travel league with St. Ignace, he said, and would give St. Ignace all home games except two, when the teams would meet in Manistique.

"I think it's going to grow to be something really good," Mr. Marshall said.

No travel teams have yet been formed, but it's a possibility the Recreation Department will look into for next year, he said.