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FRANKLIN, TN – Tennessee Soccer Club hosted its annual Soccer-A-Thon on Saturday at Robert Ring Arena in Franklin, TN to raise money for the Special Olympics Tennessee (SOTN). The event was a resounding success, raising over $24,000 to help the SOTN with its soccer program. 

Participants filled the arena, with 26 athletes from Special Olympics as well as nearly 50 TSC players and coaches playing and helping run the hour-long clinic.

“It is always powerful to watch our coaches and players come together with the Special Olympics athletes for an hour where soccer isn’t the only focus,” said TSC Tournament Director & Events Coordinator Jimmy Drain. “Hearing the laughter, seeing all the smiles, and watching friendships take place on the field are just a small sample of how much fun takes place at the event.” 

TSC began working with Special Olympics Tennessee in 2016 and has helped raise over $230,000 toward the cause. 

The current Soccer-A-Thon fundraiser will keep accepting donations until March 1st with a mission to raise even more funds for the Special Olympics athletes and TSC. You can donate here.

“We love sharing our enjoyment for the game and look forward to hosting again next winter,” Drain added.

“We are so thankful for the support that TSC has given Special Olympics Tennessee over the years,” Adam Germek, President and CEO of Special Olympics Tennessee said. “This support has helped grow Special Olympics soccer and other programs throughout the state. The athletes look forward to the TSC Soccer-A-Thon every year and love the unified experience with TSC players, coaches, and staff. Thank you TSC for being champions for inclusion on and off the field!”

Tennessee Soccer Club established the TSC Cares program in 2017 as the philanthropic mission of TSC to aid in Building the Community in the Greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee area. TSC Cares continues to partner with local organizations to positively impact our community. To learn more about TSC Cares, or to join us in caring for the community, please visit our TSC Cares page here.

Q and A with Calvin Bettencourt

We sat down with TSC 2007 Williamson Showcase midfielder Calvin Bettencourt who encountered a life and death situation.

TSC:  What TSC team are you on?

Calvin:  I’m currently playing on the 2007 Williamson Boys Showcase team.

TSC:  Tell us about your experience in Florida over Fall Break.

Calvin:  Fall break was very fun and relaxing overall. I stayed at my friend’s house with four other friends and we had a great time watching movies, biking around, swimming, playing sports, and doing other activities.

On one of the last days of break, however, an incident occurred. My friends and I were playing spikeball on the shore and it was my turn to sit out and let someone else play. I’m not sure why, but I was drawn out to go play with and watch after my friend’s little brother and his friend while waiting my turn. On a sand bar that was pretty far from shore, we began playing a game with an inflatable ball the size of a volleyball that would later save our lives. 

Although I’m not sure how it exactly happened, my friend’s little brother got sucked out into the ocean where he couldn’t stand. I saw him struggling as waves crashed over his head, so I swam out to him with the ball. I gave him the ball, and told him to hold on to it tight. His friend was also sucked out, although he remained close to the sandbar. I realized we were caught in a rip current, and as I tried to swim sideways out of it, we only got sucked farther out. I decided that it would be best to swim against the rip current to avoid getting pulled farther out, although it was very strenuous. After about five minutes, the boy’s friend made it to the sandbar where he could stand again. I yelled after him to get us help, although I knew he wouldn’t be able to make it back to the shore for quite some time. I continued to wave my hands above my head and swim against the rip current with the boy in one arm. I began to get exceedingly tired, however I knew stopping wasn’t an option. After about ten minutes of struggling, people finally saw my hands waving and two of my friends and about five dads rushed out to come help us. They pulled us back onto the sandbar and helped us back onto shore.

TSC:  What was going through your mind when you were in the ocean trying to save someone’s life?

Calvin:  Staying calm and keeping the boy calm was the first thing on my mind. I worked hard to reassure the boy that we would be okay. Of course, I had other emotions and thoughts that I had to push back in order to keep calm. Just the thought and sight of all of my friends having a great time on shore while me and the boy I was helping were in deep trouble felt extremely stressful and surreal to me. As time went on, I felt my energy steadily depleting as we made little progress towards shore. After about nine minutes, I felt my hope begin to waver, however I knew I needed to stay strong for the boys sake. While in the water, I found myself subconsciously praying. I felt a sudden burst of energy and determination as I continued struggling that helped me stay afloat. And now, after everything happened, I strongly feel like there was a greater force at hand. So many things lined up perfectly for me to go save the boy and for us to both return safely.

TSC:  How do you feel when people say you are a hero?

Calvin:  Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being called a hero. The whole situation happened so quickly and me swimming out to help the boy felt like second nature. After getting back to the shore, I didn’t feel any desire to receive praise; all that was important to me was the fact that both of us were safe and the satisfaction and thankfulness of knowing we could continue on living our lives.

TSC:  What have you learned from this experience?

Calvin:  My perspective on life changed greatly as an outcome of the whole incident. I learned just how easily a life can be taken away, which helped me come to grips with not taking life for granted. Before the incident, never in a thousand years would I have thought that I would get close to dying in my teen years. The experience served as a wake-up call for me and since it all turned out the way it did, (with everyone safe), I am glad it all happened as I feel it helped shape me into the person I am today. 

TSC:  What does going through this mean to you?

Calvin:  I feel that the situation has matured me in various ways. For one, I feel a greater confidence in myself now, knowing that I reacted the way I did in a stressful and dangerous situation. The experience also allowed me to have a greater view of the bigger picture in life. Things I once stressed about have ceased to worry me after going through a situation where I genuinely thought I would die. The whole ordeal means a lot to me as it granted me a deeper dive into my character and taught me a great deal about myself. I feel grateful for the life I have been given, and I am thankful to the experience for these reasons. I feel relieved that the boy is safe and the family of the little boy didn’t have to go through the mourning of a lost family member; this relief serves as the greatest fulfillment I can possibly receive. Overall, I feel the situation resulted in positives that outweigh any trauma from our near death experience.

FRANKLIN, TN –

Congratulations to all the teams that competed in the 2023 Fall Tennessee State Cup.   The Tennessee State Soccer Association released the All-Tournament Teams and Tennessee Soccer Club was well represented.

2023 Fall State Cup All-Tournament Teams

12U Girls D1

TSC Williamson 2012 Girls Premier MA

Alyssa Thompson

Ryan Wilkes

Ellanor Schwinn

 12UG D2

TSC Williamson 2013 Girls Premier White

Malia Zaghouani

 12UG D3

TSC Williamson 2012 Girls Elite JG

Nefeli Graves

Elle Thomson

TSC Williamson 2012 Girls EB

Maryn Adams

Amelia Duff

 12U Boys D1

TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier

David Levine

Gaius Neloms

William Hayman

 12U Boys D2

TSC Williamson 2012 Boys Premier Blue

Landon Davis

Hayden Wilkinson

 15U Boys D2

TSC Murfreesboro 2009 Showcase

Kaeden Linstead

16U Boys D1

TSC Williamson 2008 Boys Showcase

John Thomas Parkerson

17U Boys D1

TSC Murfreesboro 2007 Boys Showcase

Grayson Gibson

TSC Sumner 2007 Boys Showcase

Daniel Vasconcelos

TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Showcase

Logan Macy

17U Boys D3

TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Elite

Zach Arents

Jack Landers

Jake Solan

Peyton Rudiger

18U Boys D1

TSC Murfreesboro 2006 Boys Showcase

Brian Pleitez

Decklan Hand

Sam Melek
TSC Nashville 2006 Boys Showcase

Yeferson Gavarrete

19U Boys D2

TSC Murfreesboro 2005/2006 Boys Showcase

Erreguin Jesse

19U Boys D3

TSC Williamson 2005/06 Boys Premier

Ryan Link

Bryan Mendez

MURFREESBORO, TN – The Tennessee Soccer Club Williamson 2012 Girls Premier team triumphed on Sunday, earning the Tennessee State Soccer Association Fall State Cup Championship at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro.

The girls, competing in their first state cup tournament, won the championship in dramatic fashion in a penalty kick shootout against rival FC Alliance. The U-12 team advanced to the final after a 5-0 victory over Tennessee United Soccer Club in the semifinal match.

“We are very proud of the girls who were able to lift the trophy in their very first year of state cup play,” said U12-U14 Girls Director Dean Blain. “What a great achievement for that group as they begin their journey at the older age groups.”

Five other TSC teams advanced to their respective championship matches. The TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier White team fell in a heartbreaking penalty shootout and the TSC Williamson 2013 Boys Academy Premier Blue was edged in their final. Both U-11 teams played up a year in the U-12 age group.

TSC Murfreesboro 2006 Boys Showcase and TSC Williamson 2007 Boys Elite also were finalists on Sunday.

On Saturday, in the U-19 Division I final, the TSC Williamson 2005/06 Boys Showcase team traded goals in an entertaining game, finishing 3-3 through regulation and overtime, going to another penalty shootout. Luck was not on their side, however, as the team was not able to capture the championship, finishing as finalists.

Overall, TSC crowned one champion, had five finalists, five semi-finalists, and seven quarterfinalists.

“All of our TSC teams competed hard throughout the tournament and represented the club well,” Director of Soccer Stephen Jordan said. “We are looking forward to the older girls beginning their seasons and now we focus on the winter and spring.”

State Cup Champions

2012 Williamson Girls Premier

State Cup Finalists

2005/06 Williamson Boys Showcase

2006 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase

2007 Williamson Boys Elite

2013 Williamson Boys Academy Premier White

2013 Williamson Boys Academy Premier Blue

State Cup Semifinalists

2005/06 Williamson Boys Premier

2012 Williamson Boys Premier Blue

2012 Williamson Girls Elite JG

2012 Williamson Girls Elite EB

2013 Williamson Girls Premier White

State Cup Quarterfinalists

2005/06 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase

2006 Nashville Boys Showcase

2007 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase

2007 Sumner Boys Showcase

2007 Williamson Boys Showcase

2008 Williamson Boys Showcase

2009 Murfreesboro Boys Showcase

For more results from the 2023 Tennessee Fall State Cup, click here.