Schwinger Memorial Soccer Tournament to Fund Soccer Athletes in Need

Registration is now open for the sixth annual Schwinger Memorial 4v4 Tournament. 

The fundraiser honors Joe Schwinger, a former Woodridge Storm Coach who died in a 2007 car accident at the age of 44. Schwinger helped the Woodridge Storm develop into what it has become today, said his wife, Alice. 

Soccer wasn’t Joe Schwinger’s initial sport-of-choice for his two sons. As a college baseball player, he first encouraged his children to play baseball. But they didn’t want to play baseball. They wanted to play soccer.

So Schwinger started coaching soccer with Woodridge Storm. He came from a soccer family – his cousin is Willy Roy, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Cindy Kinnaman started as the soccer tournament to help Alice Schwinger pay off medical bills. After the accident, Schwinger spent four months in a wheelchair and was out of work for a year.

After the first event, Schwinger and Kinnaman decided to continue the tournament to raise money for a scholarship program for young soccer players. 

The tournament will take place Aug. 18 at .

The deadline for early registration is July 14. Registration closes Aug. 1 and the schedule is posted Aug. 5. The early bird discount is $150 per team. After July 14, the cost if $180 per team.

Soccer players from U8 to adults are welcome to play. There are recreational and competitive divisions, as well as a special needs division (new this year). 

Register online for the tournament here or call Cindy Kinnaman at 630-215-7613.