This press release comes from Vickie Denning, of the Sabino boys soccer team:

The Sixth Annual Sabercat Chris Maier Boys Soccer Invitational will be held at the Sabino High School fields December 15th-19th. The tournament was renamed in 2005 in honor of Chris Maier and is used to raise funds for the National Meningitis Association.

This year the tournament will host a powerful contingent of 16 teams from Southern Arizona: Sierra Vista Buena, Canyon del Oro (the defending champion), Catalina Foothills, Cienega, Flowing Wells, Ironwood Ridge, Mountain View, Nogales, Palo Verde, Rincon/University, Rio Rico, Sabino, Sahuarita, Sahuaro, Sunnyside and Tucson.
Match times will run from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. On Friday, matches begin at 9:30 a.m. and the tournament will conclude with the Championship at 3 p.m.

Chris Maier scored the winning goal in Sabino’s 2005 State Championship. Joyful photos of the championship were taken two weeks later, at which time Chris was feeling under the weather. He was suffering from flu-like symptoms that, unknown to him or his family, were the result of bacterial meningitis. Chris died the next day, within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

This tragedy inspired Chris’ parents, Leslie and John, to be actively involved in increasing meningitis awareness, promoting disease prevention, and raising funds to fight the disease. Leslie is a National Meningitis Association Board Member who shares Chris’ story throughout the community and state.

Leslie and John helped push for legislation to mandate the meningitis vaccine in Arizona, which became effective in 2008.

John recruits sponsors and solicits donations for the Soccer Invitational. Last year, through the community’s support, the tournament was able to direct $3,685 in monies to the National Meningitis Association.

The tournament is so much more than a tournament to the Sabino soccer community, especially to Chris’ teammates. Each year during the tournament, Chris’ teammates—many of whom are now Seniors in college—come to the field. They come to support the current players, visit with the Maiers, and honor Chris’ life and mourn his death. Chris continues to inspire all who were touched by his extraordinary spirit.

Teammates

Tim Steehler
• What are you doing now?
I’ve been quite busy these past few years after graduating from Sabino in 2005. I continued my education at Pima Community College and recently received a Fine arts degree; I am to continue my studies at the University of Arizona in the spring. I have also been pursuing a career in music.
• Have you been involved in soccer since high school? After the fulfilling years on the Sabino soccer program, I continued to play but only for recreation. I played on a men’s league and a co-ed league, both for a few seasons. Although I haven’t stepped on a pitch in some time now, just watching a match brings back my exhilarating love for the game.
• What effect do you feel that Chris’ death has had on your life?
I have gained a greater understanding of life and the reality of unpredictability. Chris along with the many others who have been claimed by the devastating disease called meningitis, have filled me with a desire to live with conviction. The premature ending of Chris’s life affected the many people he touched, and I am honored to say Chris Maier my peer, my teammate and my friend has touched and influenced my life.

Brian Denning
• What are you doing now?
I am a Senior majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the UA. I work part-time in a law office and plan to attend Law School.
• Have you been involved in soccer since high school?
I played at Yavapai College for 2 years and now play on several indoor soccer teams.
• What effect do you feel that Chris’ death has had on your life?
Chris is an inspiration to me both on and off the field. Every time I step on a soccer field I think of Chris and thank God for the chance to play the game that I love so much one more time. But, more important than soccer, Chris’ death showed me how fragile life really is and how important it is to make the most out of every day you are alive. He was always a good friend, very outgoing, and a nice all around person—everyone enjoyed being around him. He was the type of person who others tended to gravitate towards.
Chris’ death was so surreal to me. Someone who had such a good character, who had been on the same State Championship soccer team, and who I could not help but grow closer to, was gone in the blink of an eye. Chris’ death has led me to not take even the smallest things in every day life for granted. I am thankful for the time I was able to spend with him.

Mike McKenzie
• What are you doing now?
Senior Applied Math Major at Whitman College
• Have you been involved in soccer since high school?
Played 4 years at Whitman College
Started Junior and Senior Years as Outside Left Defender
2008 NWC Honorable Mention
• What effect do you feel that Chris’ death has had on your life?
Chris’ death brought the uncertainty of everyday to the forefront of my life. Losing him so suddenly made me understand the importance of sharing my feelings with those I care about so that they know how much I care. I do my best to make the most of each day since no one knows what the next may bring. Unfortunately, we sometimes do not understand how great the people are in our lives until they are no longer with us. Chris’ passing helps me be thankful every day.

Matthew S. Sternheim
• What are you doing now?
Currently, I am a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Political Science and English. I am on track to graduate in May, 2009 and I plan on taking the LSAT exam in order to eventually attend Law School. I am also a writing tutor at the U of A Writing Center and I am a server at North Italian Restaurant. When I am not attending class, tutoring or serving, I referee youth and adult soccer.
• Have you been involved in soccer since High School?
Since graduating from Sabino I have continued to play soccer recreationally in the Tucson Metro Soccer League. However, my largest involvement in soccer since High School has been with officiating. I have been a soccer referee in Tucson for over 6 years, and I have had the opportunity to ref nearly every league in Tucson from PCJSL, Tucson Metro League, High School, and Junior College. I have also refereed in premier soccer tournaments such as the Surf Cup College showcase in San Diego, CA and, of course, the Chris Meier Invitational. I have also officiated in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Regional championship in addition to several semi-professional games. More than anything, refereeing has allowed me to stay involved in soccer in Tucson and youth soccer especially, and I thoroughly enjoy continuing to be a part of the Tucson Soccer Community.
• What effect do you feel Chris’ death has had on your life?
I think, overall, Chris’ death has had a tremendous impact on my life and he continues to be an inspiration to me on a daily basis. Chris’ passing was really the first experience I ever had with death and it really forced me to open my eyes to the possibility that life could end at any minute. However, as the years have gone by I have realized that the inevitability of death is what makes life worth living and you really have to live in the moment and appreciate everything life has to offer. Every time I saw Chris I admired how much he really seemed to enjoy life and I wished at times that I could have done the same. Therefore, since his passing I have definitely tried to take advantage of every opportunity life has given me, never forgetting that it could be taken away at any minute. Chris will always have a permanent place in my heart and his tragic death will always have a significant impact on me. Anytime someone that young dies, it makes people wonder why life can be so cruel and why did it happen to them before they had a chance to live a complete life? However, I try to think about it more positively and I believe everything happens for a reason. When a young life is taken it is important for those he left behind to learn from his life and therefore strive to be a better more complete person. Many times when I become overwhelmed by school or life in general, I tend to think of Chris and I realize it’s not worth stressing over everything and instead I need to embrace the opportunities I have received. More than 3 years after his passing, Chris’ positive effect on me has not diminished and I know that the lessons he has helped me learn will continue to benefit me for the rest of my life.