The 37th annual Ed Chartrand Memorial Soccer Tournament, an event associated with Fort Riley through the institutional partnership with Kansas State University, took place April 15-17.
The event was held at K-State's Memorial Stadium, a university landmark that opened in 1922 and was constructed in memory of 48 Kansas State University students who died in World War I.
The tournament, sponsored by the Ed Chartrand Memorial Foundation, featured four women's teams and 12 men's teams. The foundation was formed in memory of Ed Chartrand, a member of the K-State Soccer Club from 1974 to 1978, and a local advocate of the sport. On May 20, 1979, Chartrand died suddenly. The foundation was formed that summer.
"The tournament gives us an opportunity to come out and enjoy the sport because it's all about the love for the game," said Emily Johnson, K-State senior studying conservation biology and a women's club soccer team member. "It is also a fun way to engage the community, more specifically the Fort Riley community."
The event was organized to bring military families to the university to enjoy a weekend of soccer and recognize the mutual relationship.
"For me, it's good to be partnered with the community," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Heartley, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. "This shows our commitment to them and their commitment to us. Basically, it's a way to create a better community."
Art DeGroat, executive director of military and veterans' affairs for K-State said, "This mutually beneficial relationship has helped members of the military to be a part of the K-State club sports experience and the K-State family."
The first-place winners of the tournament were the University of Kansas' women's club soccer team and Texas A&M's men's club soccer team.
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