ASA Premier Soccer Gives Back to the Community

In a partnership fostered between U.S. Naval Academy graduates and fellow Marine Corps Officers, LtCol (Ret) Dave Bethel ’79 and Major Josh Jabin ‘01, ASA Premier ‘99s Soccer and The Travis Manion Foundation collectively put the “Special” in the Special Olympics Aquatic Events held at the United State Naval Academy on April 26.  ASA Premier Soccer players, working in support of the Travis Manion Foundation, selflessly provided over one hundred volunteer hours as timers, scorers, and lane organizers during a terrific day of sportsmanship and athletic excellence.  Their service supported the local event as part of the Travis Manion Foundation’s “Day of Service”.

The Travis Manion Foundation was founded in honor of fallen U.S. Marine,  First Lieutenant Travis Manion, a Naval Academy graduate and Varsity Wrestler, with a goal of “honoring the fallen by challenging the living”.  When ordered back to Iraq for a second combat tour shortly after his return from his first deployment, Travis was asked why he had to return so soon.  He merely replied, “if not me, then who”.  Travis knew that if he did not return to lead his Marines in combat, than someone less prepared would have to return in his place.  “if not me then who” has become the cornerstone of the Manion Foundation’s “Character Does Matter” program which speaks to individual sacrifice and selfless service…serving without expecting anything in return. The “if not me, then who” motto resonated throughout the ASA Premier soccer players who stepped up in selfless service last Saturday with their only reward being the smiling faces of hundreds of special needs athletes who competed that day.

The picture captures ASA Premier Soccer players, Cristina Young, Kelsi Ross, Beyza Yazici, Tayah Rendina, Katie Hoffman, Jada Lee, Maddie Wheeler, Alana Marshall, Asiah Manu, Caitie Milley, Cassie Wolfe, Jessie Lee, Madison Pisone and Angela Puhl along with former Marines, Dave Bethel and Josh Jabin at the indoor aquatic center located inside MacDonough Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy.

More information on the Travis Manion Foundation may be found at www.travismanion.org.

Information on the ASA Premier Soccer Club can be found at www.asapremier.com