Memorial soccer tournament to honor Jeff Beery returns May 23-24

On May 23 and 24, recreational youth soccer players are invited to participate in the Jeff Beery Memorial Tournament. The tournament will be held at the Wooster Soccer Complex and is put on by Wooster Recreation in partnership with Wooster Football Club. Team registrations are due by May 1, with T-shirt sales closing at midnight April 30.

Wooster Recreation is the recreation department for the City of Wooster, operating out of the Wooster Recreation & Community Center. It is involved in community soccer with programming for age 4 through high school and partners with the Wooster Soccer Association, Ohio Strikers and Wooster Football Club.

Wooster Football Club is a soccer team founded in 2023 for post-high school, collegiate and soccer enthusiasts over the age of 18. It competes in the Northern Ohio Soccer League, providing players with an opportunity to continue developing their skills and passion for the sport.

This will be the second time the tournament will be held in remembrance of Beery. A Wooster native and 2000 graduate of Norwayne High School, Beery helped coach hundreds of kids over the years in youth soccer, basketball, baseball and flag football. He died last year at age 43 after a 20-month battle with cancer.

“Jeff was heavily invested in the community and development of young athletes in the area,” said Dave Zimmerly, president of the Wooster Football Club. “You would always see Jeff at the fields coaching three to four teams on any given Saturday. People from all area programs knew him and loved him as a person.”

Beery owned and operated Beery Custom Woodworking and Remodeling for 14 years. His home was in the Sterling area.

Tournament Director Peter Philippon said team fees for this event are less than half of what is currently charged in other tournaments.

“Most tournaments are set up for the club level, with fees at least double what we are charging,” Philippon said. “We do this to give rec youth soccer players the tournament experience, not to generate a profit.”

Fees are used to pay for trophies, medals and referee fees. Any net profits are used for the soccer programs.

Wooster Recreation & Community Center serves as a hub for community engagement, providing residents with a range of programs, services and recreational opportunities.

“We are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people of all ages through the following key areas: youth, adult and senior programs; fitness and wellness; community events; park and facility management; and senior services,” said Heather Dennis, recreation supervisor. “Together, the recreation department and community center function as a key resource for residents, offering accessible, inclusive and enriching opportunities that promote social connection, healthy living and community.”

To sign up for the Jeff Beery Memorial Tournament, to order tournament shirts or to see the schedule, log into the Wooster Recreation Department and visit www.woosteroh.com/2026-jeff-beery-memorial-tournament.

Soccer enthusiasts of all ages are invited to come watch the tournament. Times will be determined by the number of teams participating.