Excitement is building for the 10th anniversary of the Martins Classic 3on3 Basketball Tournament being played on July 13 at the Dutch Broadway School. Tournament organizers announced that Senator Jack Martins, the New York Cosmos, Elmont Soccer Club and Villanova University have teamed up with 3on3 in sponsoring a Soccer Cup challenge to be played in memory of Karen Rodgers-Dennis who served as a volunteer at the tournament.
“This Soccer Cup means so much to my family. The Cosmos have a long history with the Elmont, Floral Park and Franklin Square communities. Many of my best friends were a part of the Cosmos Academy and the Soccer Cup Challenge continues a tradition of Soccer Excellence during the greatest day of the Summer- the Senator Martins 3on3 Tournament. On behalf of my entire family, I can’t thank everyone enough for this honor,” said Aaron Dennis.
The Soccer Cup will pit area high schools and teams from the greater community in a fast paced soccer tournament. The Elmont Soccer Club will also be hosting a soccer arena intramural skills challenge with local soccer stars. Mini clinics and games for elementary school soccer players will run throughout the day with a soccer shoot out challenge as a capstone.
“This is an incredible partnership between the tournament, the Cosmos, Elmont Soccer and Villanova University,” Tournament Chairman Scott Cushing said. “When we approached the Cosmos and Villanova about being a part of the Soccer Cup, they immediately said yes and have been working very hard with our volunteers ever since. The soccer cup will no doubt electrify the tournament and will be fun for all of our up and coming soccer stars!”
New York Cosmos Head Coach Giovani Savarese and his team attended a 3on3 Tournament committee meeting recently, where over 340 volunteers jammed the Dutch Broadway School cafeteria to listen to tournament committee preparations and hear from the Cosmos. Savarese was a soccer star from Venezuela who played on the Metro Stars where he scored over 80 goals. He also played for the New England Revolution, Italian Club Perugia, San Jose Earthquakes, Swansea City, Millwall, and Eportivo Italchacao.
“It’s a very big honor to be working with the 3on3, Senator Martins, Elmont Soccer and all of the volunteers and community members from Elmont, Franklin Square, Floral Park and South Floral Park,” said Savarese adding, “the tournament is a big part of the greater community and the Cosmos are very honored to be a part of your day. Aaron Dennis played for our Cosmos Academy and we are so proud of him and this tournament for playing this Cup in memory of his mother.”
Teams have already signed up to play in the cup including squads from Carey High School, Floral Park Memorial, Elmont Memorial, Sewanhaka, Mineola, Valley Stream Central, Manhasset, New Hyde Park, Great Neck North, Great Neck South, Villanova, Old Westbury and several Elmont Graduate Squads. The games will be played in a 7-on-7 rotation.
“Having the Cosmos as a partner in this tournament means so much to our young people and families throughout our greater community,” Martins said. “Gio Savarese and the entire Cosmos team are helping make this day something to remember for a very long time.”
The chairpersons for the Soccer Cup include Karen’s children, Aaron, Aidan and Maya Dennis. Rounding out the committee are Martins, Senator Dean Skelos, Mustapha Allanah, Scott Cushing, Patrick Corvetti, Darian Bryan, Donald Bryan, Ahkeel Rodney, Joseph G. Cairo, Jr., DJ Monumental, Jonathan Lewis, Richard DeBrosse, Roger Williams, Alex Bowen, Stephane Owusu-Sarpong, Lateef Adeyemi, Dillon Williams, Daniel Alexander, Justin Okoro, Funlola Otokoya, Gary Connell, Jules Riche, Akeem Morris, Aaron Buissereth, Qusarn Caldwell, Tristan Brown, Richard Robinson, Marcel Hostin, Isaiah Jackson, Marvin Lee, Jason Allen and Joseph Thomas.
Tournament forms and information to play basketball, soccer, football, lacrosse and more can be found by going to the Martins Classic website, http://www.nysenate.gov/initiative/2013-senator-jack-martins-classic
