The Greater Selah Youth Soccer Association recently released the names of its leaders and board of directors.

Aaron Wasilewski is president of the organization, and Marty Lackey is vice president. Both Wasilewski and Lackey are members of the Selah Football Club, and have been two leading voices in revamping GSYSA, formerly named the Selah
Youth Soccer Association (SYSA).

Other members of the executive committee are Treasurer Jamie Morford and Secretary Shirley Wasilewski. Currently, the positions of registrar and immediate past president are vacant.

The GSYSA board of directors are Ben Graf, Jennifer Busey, Jerry Sutton, Joe Jones, Tamiko Wilkens, Tom Longbottom, and William Barber.

Other representatives and ex-officio members are Allen Schmid, Selah Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hagler, and Selah Parks and Recreation Coordinator Danny Speer.

With the organizational structure in place, the GSYSA is looking ahead to bringing a soccer complex to Selah.

This time around, the organization is moving forward, wanting to educate the public properly to make sure more residents understand the benefits of bringing a complex to service the area.

GSYSA issued an official statement about its leadership formation:

“The association, founded to foster the development of local youth through the sport of soccer, is dedicated to providing participants with a fun, high-quality soccer experience that encourages sportsmanship and a love of the game through the development of player, coach, referee and team. The Greater Selah Youth Soccer Association will advocate within the greater Selah area for the good of the game of soccer. By promoting and working for soccer, we hope to nurture a love of the game in the children of our association and enrich the community.”

Despite the growing interest in soccer, particularly in Selah, Wasilewski said the way soccer is structured here is far different than European football.

“We’re too predisposed to the corporate connection,” he said.

He noted European countries take two clubs as community trusts, making citizens and soccer “emotionally, economically tied.”

For those reasons, he said he doesn’t believe Americans will endorse soccer to the degree that Europeans do.

Wasilewski, 43, came from the Midwest, and came to Selah 20 years ago. He is the Senior Network Administrator for Yakima County, and he and his wife, Shirley, have three daughters. His youngest daughter is the reason he is so involved in soccer.

“It’s the perfect opportunity to experience something with friends,” Wasilewski said. “I can’t believe we did without it; it is what we do.”

He said soccer allows the entire family to participate together, including traveling and playing as a unit.

Wasilewski played some soccer in high school and on local teams occasionally. He has coached for eight years, and has been a part of the Selah Football Club summer select program for three years, and the winter indoor program for two years.

After high school, Wasilewski joined the Navy and served for six years. His wife was stationed at Pearl Harbor when they met, and now Shirley Wasilewski works for Selah Parks and Rec and the Chamber of Commerce.

Like Wasilewski, newly named Vice President Lackey sees the fervor people are creating around soccer.

“I defy you to go to another sports community,” Lackey said, referring to one of the exclusive perks of soccer.  “The volunteer effort [found in soccer] is not found in baseball, football,” he said.

Lackey said with the structure and style of soccer, fans are more connected with the players on the field, while other sports do not always offer that bond. Because of this link, Lackey said the crowd and the players are more intrinsically linked.

Wasilewski seconds that thought. He said that anybody can play soccer.

“There’s always a place for a player to fit in,” Wasilewski said.

He noted there used to be a certain sense of elitism associated with soccer, but this isn’t the case as much anymore.

“Being a soccer mom is a cool thing now,” he said. “Before, soccer was just an afterthought.”

Lackey, 40, is from Issaquah, but worked at Nordstrom’s in Yakima for 13 years as a men and women’s shoes buyer. He is currently a partner in Diamond Homes.

Lackey began playing soccer when he was six, and later made it to a state All-Star team. At 15, he was on the Washington state development team.

Then, at the University of Portland, he made the Olympic National Team in 1985, when he played for Clive Charles.

But he had a groin injury as a freshman and had to leave school and soccer behind.

Lackey said the only two paths for a career in soccer were to look to indoor soccer, or go overseas to play, where the big money lies in Europe.

But for now, he said he is focused on bringing greater opportunities for young soccer enthusiasts in the area.

Wasilewski confirmed this notion, and added each participant would treat the project with respect and care.

“We would be the best possible stewards we can be of that facility,” Wasilewski said.

GSYSA headquarters are located at 216 South First Street in Selah, and its Web site is located at www.gsysa.org.