They began with just one team, the Orion Lancers, in 1988, but they became Lake Orion, Brandon, Oxford Select Soccer Club (LOBOS) in 1989, and have since grown to 20 teams.
The club offers teams ranging in age 9-18, and is a community-based, non-profit organization.
LOBOS former director of communications Patti Carpenter said they are one of the few non-profit programs left in the area.
‘Many are money-making enterprises,? she said. ‘We are not…All the money you pay goes directly back to the team.
‘We keep our costs low while offering the same type of training the other clubs do,? said Carpenter.
LOBOS? mission is to educate local young athletes, and provide a type of feeder system for the high school teams.
‘We offer young athletes an opportunity to play at higher competitive levels, preparing them for local high school and college playing experiences,? Carpenter said.
LOBOS has over 242 youth members, and sanctions a spring and fall season, as well as winter indoor training with director of coaching Chris Corteg and other higher licensed trainers.
Corteg is a former Olympic Development Coach, and has coached select and premier teams in Birmingham, Rochester and with the Vardar Soccer Club.
LOBOS also holds summer camps, and this year’s camp is Aug. 8-11 at Civic Center Park in Orion Township. The camp will feature trainers: Mark Christensen, Mariam Hickey, Jerome Hickey and Steve Sargeant.
Currently all of LOBOS? teams are accepting new players. Tryouts are June 15-19 at Civic Center Park (Joslyn Road next to Orion Township Hall), and Friendship Park (corner of Clarkston and Baldwin Roads in Orion Township).
LOBOS is planning a golf outing tentatively for July 9 at Beaver Creek in Oakland Township. This will be their first golf outing, and will include a shotgun start, best ball event, as well as lunch, dinner and prizes. The cost will be $75 per person.
The club also held a Euchre Tournament and silent auction in March to raise funds. All proceeds directly benefit the athletes through direct dispersion to teams and field improvements.
Carpenter said five of the Lake Orion High School varsity girls soccer team players are LOBOS players: Shannon Doyle, Kaitlynn Young, Lauren Drury, Rachel Werth, Amelia Cortis, Lindsay Luch and Margaret Verespie.
‘There are 29 LOBOS club players currently playing on all high school teams, including junior varsity and freshman,? she said.
LOBOS honors a member of the club with the ‘Sportsperson of the Year? Award, to honor an exemplify an adult or youth from the club who exhibits exemplary sportsmanship and integrity in the pursuit of sports excellence.
In honor of Michael Magdaleno, who played on the U14 boys team under the direction of coach Jim Dyckman, the 2005 award recipient was Michael’s father, Tony Magdaleno, coach of the U12 boys team.
LOBOS recently celebrated successes at the Amherst International Memorial Soccer Tournament in Amherst, New York (May 27-30). Two of the club’s teams won championships in their divisions and four teams came in second.
Finishing first for LOBOS were the U14 boys (coached by Jim Dyckman) and the U9 girls (coached by Jim Dyckman).
In second place were: U12 girls (coach Wayne Stroope), U17 boys (coach Tony Wilhelm), U11 boys (coach Craig Loviska), and the U10 boys (coach Jeff Baron).
The LOBOS Executive Board is headed by chairman Steve Alliston, along with treasurer Robert Hopper, secretary Jim Dyckman, board of trustee Jon Block, Corteg, and director of communications Justin Bogus.
Alliston can be reached at 693-4474, or by emailing salliston@aol.com; and Bogus at (248) 866-9457, or by emailing j13bogie@hotmail.com. Patti Carpenter can be reached by emailing lobos1917@aol.com.
For more information on LOBOS, visit www.lobossoccer.org.