Tournament Keeps Memory Of Friend Alive

When you lose a friend or family member, finding the next steps or path to take in life can often be difficult. Following the grief, many people look for ways to celebrate and remember their lost loved one’s life.

In Blenheim, that’s exactly what Rhys Dulisch, now a high school student at Ursuline College in Chatham aimed to do when he launched the Soccer Dogs 3 on 3 Tournament in 2013, in memory of his friend Tyson Santavy who passed away on May 2, 2008.

“I am passionate about organizing the Soccer Dogs 3 on 3 Tournament because I would like to keep Tyson’s memory alive,” said Dulisch, who first approached Tyson’s family about running the tournament in 2011, with the inaugural event taking place in May 2013.

For Rhys, who grew up only a few doors away from Tyson Santavy, his best friend growing up, running the Soccer Dogs tournament is a way to keep his friend’s memory alive, and to celebrate Tyson’s life.

“Tyson was about having fun,” remembers Dulisch. “One of the things I remember is his smile and how his face would light up when he did smile. My hope is that anyone that comes out for the tournament has a good time and makes some memories.”

Rhys Dulisch isn’t the only one remembering however, as the entire town, and others in Blenheim’s soccer community also view the tournament as an important event to celebrate Tyson’s life.

“Tyson was a energetic, kind child,” added Soccer Dogs Committee member, and Blenheim Community Soccer League volunteer Robin Rideout. “He played soccer with my sons before his illness. He was one of those kids that makes the game about having fun and I am glad to help honour that memory.”

Santavy and Dulisch both attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Blenheim, and played minor soccer together in the Blenheim Community Soccer League, making a soccer tournament the obvious choice to honour Santavy.

“I chose to do a soccer tournament because he liked soccer and so did I, and I knew that Blenheim doesn’t really have soccer tournaments, and I wanted to keep his memory alive,” said Dulisch.

Not only is the tournament about having fun, it is also about good deeds, as Dulisch raised $1442 for Ronald McDonald House in Toronto through last season’s event, and hopes to raise even more for a charity this year.

Santavy passed away in 2008 after several months of battling liver failure and the complications from a liver transplant he received in late 2007. According to Santavy’s mother Connie, Dulisch achieved his goal last year in running a successful tournament, and honouring her son.

“Rhys’ dream came true, and he honoured his friend with a very successful soccer tournament,” Tyson’s mother Connie wrote on the Soccer Dogs website. “The day was a huge success, and Rhys raised enough money to make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto in memory of Tyson.”

The tournament, which will take place May 31 this year, and has a registration date of May 10, is hoping to draw more than a dozen teams in their adult and youth divisions. The tournament, which aims at participants simply having fun costs $180 per team until the end of April, and can be registered for online at www.soccerdogs3on3.webs.com or by contacting Rhys Dulisch at 519-676-4299.