Tri-Cities Night supports one of its founders
By Chris Walker
Just two years ago, Paul Jennison was coaching St. Charles East and asked about how the annual Tri-Cities Classic is way, way more than simply a showcase of outstanding area high school soccer.
“It’s excellent raising awareness of soccer, and we have a great cause every year to donate to,” Jennison said. “There are not many areas that can have such strong rivalries and such big community. At the end of the day it’s a game -- we’re all trying to do the same thing, give these kids a chance and be part of something bigger than us. Big thanks to all the Tri-Cities coaches and schools for getting involved and the communities for joining in, because this is really something special.”
Jennison no longer coaches the Saints, but it’s his personal cause that funds are being raised for on Thursday evening at Norris Stadium at St. Charles East.
In early August, Jennison and his wife Lauren were blessed with the arrival of their baby daughter, Charlotte Victoria Jennison, but their beautiful baby girl suffered complications with her heart and doctors had to perform open-heart surgery.
To help offset their medical costs, there are several opportunities for the public to donate to his special cause, including T-shirt sales, a 50/50 raffle and direct financial contributions which can be given at the game.
St. Charles East has already asked that all players participating in the two games purchase a special “Tri-City Night” t-shirt for $10 and wear them during the event as a reminder that it’s more than soccer, but a unity between neighboring communities in a special cause that is bigger than the game of soccer.
St. Charles East (4-3-0, 0-1-0) will take on St. Charles North (8-3-1, 1-1-1) at 5 p.m.
Last September, the Saints stunned the North Stars, blanking them 3-0 at St. Charles North. Of course, the North Stars got the last laugh, extending their season all the way to the state finals in Hoffman Estates where they brought home a fourth place Class 3A trophy.
Batavia (2-5-3, 1-1-1) and Geneva (2-7-2, 0-1-2) will battle in the second game at approximately 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, St. Charles East beat Geneva 2-0, while St. Charles North edged previously unbeaten Lake Park, 2-1. Batavia took care of Wheaton Warrenville South for their first victory in the new DuKane Conference.
“It'll be fun this year to have the traditional rivalries on Tri-Cities Night with us facing Batavia and the St. Charles's facing each other,” Geneva coach Jason Bhatta said. “As a team we're looking forward to taking on the last Tri-City school in Batavia. Having tied St. Charles North and lost to St. Charles East, we're looking to get a good result against Batavia to give ourselves the best position to win the Fox (traveling trophy).
“It's always a great night to see all the programs together for a good cause, especially this year as we're helping out Paul who was a founder of Tri-Cities Night. There's always a little extra edge to the games with the atmosphere of the night.”
It’s always a night that’s beyond compare with great soccer and always a great cause.
“We all enjoy competing against each other, but at the end of the day the players and coaches truly respect the other schools,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “This type of relationship does not happen in other areas and even when we add some new coaches the tradition continues.
“I am proud to be a coach in this area and have a night were we can support a former coach that has been a colleague of ours for many years that helped others through our Tri-Cities event. Now he is in need, and we are there for him. We look forward to an exciting evening.”
By Chris Walker
Just two years ago, Paul Jennison was coaching St. Charles East and asked about how the annual Tri-Cities Classic is way, way more than simply a showcase of outstanding area high school soccer.
“It’s excellent raising awareness of soccer, and we have a great cause every year to donate to,” Jennison said. “There are not many areas that can have such strong rivalries and such big community. At the end of the day it’s a game -- we’re all trying to do the same thing, give these kids a chance and be part of something bigger than us. Big thanks to all the Tri-Cities coaches and schools for getting involved and the communities for joining in, because this is really something special.”
Jennison no longer coaches the Saints, but it’s his personal cause that funds are being raised for on Thursday evening at Norris Stadium at St. Charles East.
In early August, Jennison and his wife Lauren were blessed with the arrival of their baby daughter, Charlotte Victoria Jennison, but their beautiful baby girl suffered complications with her heart and doctors had to perform open-heart surgery.
To help offset their medical costs, there are several opportunities for the public to donate to his special cause, including T-shirt sales, a 50/50 raffle and direct financial contributions which can be given at the game.
St. Charles East has already asked that all players participating in the two games purchase a special “Tri-City Night” t-shirt for $10 and wear them during the event as a reminder that it’s more than soccer, but a unity between neighboring communities in a special cause that is bigger than the game of soccer.
St. Charles East (4-3-0, 0-1-0) will take on St. Charles North (8-3-1, 1-1-1) at 5 p.m.
Last September, the Saints stunned the North Stars, blanking them 3-0 at St. Charles North. Of course, the North Stars got the last laugh, extending their season all the way to the state finals in Hoffman Estates where they brought home a fourth place Class 3A trophy.
Batavia (2-5-3, 1-1-1) and Geneva (2-7-2, 0-1-2) will battle in the second game at approximately 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, St. Charles East beat Geneva 2-0, while St. Charles North edged previously unbeaten Lake Park, 2-1. Batavia took care of Wheaton Warrenville South for their first victory in the new DuKane Conference.
“It'll be fun this year to have the traditional rivalries on Tri-Cities Night with us facing Batavia and the St. Charles's facing each other,” Geneva coach Jason Bhatta said. “As a team we're looking forward to taking on the last Tri-City school in Batavia. Having tied St. Charles North and lost to St. Charles East, we're looking to get a good result against Batavia to give ourselves the best position to win the Fox (traveling trophy).
“It's always a great night to see all the programs together for a good cause, especially this year as we're helping out Paul who was a founder of Tri-Cities Night. There's always a little extra edge to the games with the atmosphere of the night.”
It’s always a night that’s beyond compare with great soccer and always a great cause.
“We all enjoy competing against each other, but at the end of the day the players and coaches truly respect the other schools,” Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “This type of relationship does not happen in other areas and even when we add some new coaches the tradition continues.
“I am proud to be a coach in this area and have a night were we can support a former coach that has been a colleague of ours for many years that helped others through our Tri-Cities event. Now he is in need, and we are there for him. We look forward to an exciting evening.”