The History of the Brookfield Youth Soccer League

2010

• A group of five volunteers form the Brookfield Youth Soccer League bringing soccer to the area for the first time.  They coached multiple teams to cover all 120 kids that played the first year.
  
  
• Materials for soccer goals were donated and welded by volunteers and continue to be used.
  
  
• Practices and games were held at the Brookfield Community Park and continued to do so until 2016.

Board Members: Darl McGhee - President, Erin Warrender - Vice President/Treasurer, Debbie First - Secretary, Harry Barshney, Jay First

2011

Board Members:  Darl McGhee - President, Erin Warrender - Vice President/Treasurer, Debbie First - Secretary, Harry Barshney, Jay First

2012

Board Members: Erin Warrender - President/Treasurer, Debbie First - Vice President/Secretary

2013

• BYSL enters it's first team in indoor soccer at the Tri-County Sports Complex in Liberty, Ohio, a U10 team coached by Chris Whitney and Dustin Zyvonoski.

Board Members:  Erin Warrender - President/Treasurer, Debbie First - Vice President/Secretary

Coaches: Erin Warrender - U8, Jen Russo - U8, Chris Whitney - U10, Dustin Zyvonoski - U10, Becky Zyvonoski - U10, Christa Shingledecker - U10, Dayleen Bartolin - U12, Harry Barshney - U15

2014

• Brookfield Schools sanctions the first ever co-ed club High School team.  Erin Warrender transitions from President of BYSL to become the head coach of the High School team.
  
  
• BYSL hosts its annual soccer camp for the first time, instructed by coaches of the league.
  
  
• The U8 "Team C" goes undefeated (13-0), coached by Rick Dudzenski and Jason Russo.
  
  
• BYSL enters the Apple Cider Tournament in Lordstown, Ohio for the first time, with a U12 team coached by Chris Whitney and finishes in second place, losing in a double shootout.
  
  
• The first annual raffle fundraiser takes place at the Sharon Elks Lodge #103 in Sharon, PA.

Board Members: Erin Warrender - President, Dustin Zyvonoski - Vice President, Jen Russo - Secretary, Rick Dudzenski - Treasurer

Coaches: Stacie Whitney - U6, Stefanie Bych - U6, Jason Russo - U8, Rick Dudzenski - U8, Dustin Zyvonoski - U10, Scott Panner - U10, Becky Zyvonoski - U10, Chris Whitney - U12, Dayleen Bartolin - U12, Frank Oviatt - U12, Jen Russo - U15

2015

• BYSL begins implementing corporate sponsorships for teams and uniforms.
  
  
• The U12 Mr. D's team coached by Frank Oviatt finishes in second place at the Apple Cider Tournament.
  
  
• Rick Dudzenski becomes President of BYSL.
  
  
• The U15 age group moves to a larger field at Brookfield Schools.
  
  
• U15 coach Jen Russo becomes assistant coach of the High School co-ed team.
  
  
• A concession stand is purchased and used for the first time, selling snacks, drinks and hot dogs.
  
  
• BrookfieldYouthSoccer.com is created.
  
  
• A U12 girls team coached by Chris Whitney finishes in second place at a 3 vs. 3 tournament in Orwell, Ohio.

Board Members: Rick Dudzenski - President, Jason Russo - Vice President, Becky Zyvonoski - Secretary, Dustin Zyvonoski - Treasurer

Coaches: Stefanie Bych - U6, Michael Piscarik - U8, Steven Gonda - U8, Derek Mihalcin - U8, Jason Russo - U10, Dustin Zyvonoski - U10, Chris Whitney - U12, Dayleen Bartolin - U12/U15, Frank Oviatt - U12, Jen Russo - U15, Randy Rickert - U15

2016

• BYSL moves all fields and operations to Brookfield Schools.
  
  
• The U12 Stateline Supermarket team coached by Chris Whitney goes undefeated for the season (14-0-2) and finishes in second place at the Apple Cider Tournament, losing in a double shootout.
  
  
• The U15 RL Lipton team coached by Jen Russo finishes with an impressive 18-2-1 record.
  
  
• The concession stand is dubbed The Snack Shack and sells authentic Taco Bell tacos.
  
  
• Rick Dudzenski resigns and Jason Russo assumes the role of President.
  
  
• The U14 indoor team coached by Jen Russo goes undefeated (6-0-1) in the fall session at Farmer Jim's Sports Complex.

Board Members: Rick Dudzenski - President, Jason Russo - President/Vice President, Jen Russo - Secretary, Frank Oviatt - Treasurer

Coaches: Stefanie Bych - U6, Melissa Thompson - U8, Hope Wright - U8, Michael Piscarik - U8, Steven Gonda - U8, Derek Mihalcin - U10, Heather Bacon - U10, Jason Russo - U10, Chris Whitney - U12/U15, Dayleen Bartolin - U12/U15, Frank Oviatt - U12/U15, Autumn Kasiewicz - U12, Tim Allen Jr. - U12, Jen Russo - U10/U15, Mike Abraham - U15

2017

• The BYSL soccer camp is presented for the first time by the Youngstown Nighthawks semi-pro soccer team.
  
  
• The U6 division is dubbed Lil' Kickers and is instructed by High School soccer players Jordan Gerace, Spencer Toro and Dana Sydlowski.
  
  
• The U15 Kennsington Golf team coached by Chris Whitney goes undefeated with a record of 16-0-3.
  
  
• The U15 RL Lipton team coached by Jen Russo wins 17 straight games and finishes with a record of 18-1, with an impressive 116 goals for and 5 against.
  
  
• The High School soccer program is made an official varsity sport starting with the 2018 season, splitting the teams into boys and girls.

Board Members: Jason Russo - President, Frank Oviatt - Vice President, Jen Russo - Secretary, Chris Whitney - Commissioner

Coaches: Melissa Thompson - U8/U15, Paige Novosel - U8, Derek Mihalcin - U10, Chris Whitney - U12/U15, Jason Russo - U12, Charley Bartelmay - U12, Jen Russo - U15, Mike Abraham - U15, Dayleen Bartolin - U15

 2018

• BYSL Co-founder Erin Warrender becomes the first ever Girl's Varsity coach, with Chris Whitney as her assistant.
  
  
• Lil' Kickers is instructed by the Girls Varsity team.

Board Members: Jason Russo - President, Jen Russo - Secretary, Chris Whitney - Commissioner

Coaches: Crysta Bonekovic - U8, Essie Guthrie - U8, Melissa Thompson - U10, Jessica Winters - U10, Melanie Everson - U10, Meade Everson - U10, Sarah Kurpe - U12, Jason Russo - U15, Don Lehman - U15, Alyssa Vaughn - U15

2019

• BYSL celebrates its 10th season.
  
  
• Long time U15 coach and Board Secretary Jen Russo becomes the Boys Varsity Head Coach.
  
  
• BYSL hosts its first Light Up Soccer Night, featuring a glowing ball and goals during the evening hours.
  
  
• Lil' Kickers is expanded back to a full U6 division by Jessica Winters.

Board Members: Jason Russo - President, Derek Mihalcin - Vice President, Jen Russo - Secretary/High School Relations, Crysta Bonekovic - Concession Manager, Jessica Winters - Fundraising Coordinator

Coaches: Jessica Winters - U6/U10, Jason Caldwell - U8, Ashawa Gibbs - U8, Crysta Bonekovic - U10, Melissa Thompson - U10, Brad Huffman - U10/U15, Steve Gonda - U12, Matt Glover - U12, Sarah Kurpe - U15, Dustin Zyvonoski - U15, Jason Russo - U15

2020

• BYSL celebrates its 10th Anniversary (2010-2020).
  
  
• BYSL, along with the other TCSA clubs, are forced to cancel the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Board Members: Jason Russo - President, Derek Mihalcin - Vice President, Jen Russo - Secretary/High School Relations, Crysta Bonekovic - Concession Manager, Jessica Winters - Fundraising Coordinator

2021

• BYSL returns to the field after the 2020 season was cancelled due to Covid-19.
  
  
• Two new fields are set up for U10 and U15, separating them from the U12 and High School fields respectively
  
  
• Light Up Soccer returns and adds Big Ball Soccer for U6/U8 featuring an oversized soccer ball

Board Members: Jason Russo - President, Derek Mihalcin - Vice President, Jen Russo - Secretary/High School Relations, Jessica Winters - Fundraising Coordinator 

Coaches: Jordan Norris - U6, Michaelene Cooper - U6, Jessica Winters - U8, Michelle Panner - U8, Alissa Polk - U8/U10, Ashawa Gibbs - U10, Brad Huffman - U12, Melissa Thompson - U15, Derek Mihalcin - U15

2022

Board Members: Jason Russo - President, Derek Mihalcin - Vice President, Jen Russo - Secretary/High School Relations, Jessica Winters - Fundraising Coordinator, Jordan Norris - Concession Manager 

Coaches: Tara Avery - U6, Jordan Norris - U8, Shawn & Hollie Champ - U8, Jacob Saum - U10, Jessica Winters - U10, Jenn Scharba - U10, Lisa Driscoll - U10, Alissa Polk - U12, Brad Huffman - U15, Melissa Thompson - U15

2023

• Jason Russo steps down as President and Jessica Winters assumes the role
  
  
• BYSL has a successful youth soccer camp hosted by the Boys and Girls Varsity players and coaches

Board Members: Jessica Winters - President, Jordan Norris - Vice President, Alissa Polk - Secretary, Stacy Wingard - Fundraising Coordinator, Eve Carlton - Uniforms, Jane Bell - Concessions 

Coaches: Ian Wingard - U6, Denise Jamieson - U6, David Williamson - U8, Ryan Moon - U8, Alaina Jamison - U10, Jacob Saum U10, Jenn Scharba - U12, Brad Huffman - U15