By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
April 8, 2024-The Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), the largest league in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), inducted three longtime volunteers into the LIJSL Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on Saturday, April 7 at the Stonebridge Country Club in Smithtown.
Victor Varonier has volunteered as a Club President for over two decades. He played soccer as a child, then became a coach and coached his Sound Beach team to the club’s only State Cup championship, an immense accomplishment for a very small community. Yet the Sound Beach Soccer Club, through Vic’s inclusive leadership, continues to grow. He also is always helping out to make sure the gameday experience is enjoyable for all players, from lining and setting up fields to cheering on the Sound Beach players from the touchline.
Although Vic’s children graduated from youth soccer, the last one in 2018, he is now coaching his grandchildren!
Just like Vic Varonier, Violette Smith has been a Club President for over two decades. She has been the lifeblood of the Brentwood Youth Soccer Club as everybody knows Violette. She has steered the club with inclusivity, innovation and a genuine love for the sport, creating the atmosphere of a tight-knit family. This year, the club is also be celebrating its 50th anniversary and she is one of the many reasons why Brentwood High School has won five boys state soccer titles, including last year.
In addition to leading a club of passionate soccer players, coaches and fans, Violette somehow finds the time to volunteer at the LIJSL office during the arduous but necessary registration process.
Jeff Sinkiewicz, known as “Mr. Middle Country Soccer,” has been involved with Middle Country Children’s Soccer for nearly three decades. Starting as a coach in the 1990’s, he served as Club President for five years and currently sits on the club’s board with the position of Head Referee.
He is involved with many fundraising efforts in central Suffolk County and with many important days, from Memorial Day, the anniversary of 9/11, Halloween plus appearing as “Sinko’s Santa” aboard a Centereach fire truck and at the Centereach Tree Lighting. Jeff has also volunteered in the club’s TOPSoccer program that kicked off in 2021. He was honored as The Times of Middle Country’s Sports Person of the Year in 2012.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/