Past meets present as the current boys' soccer team and soccer alums gather before the game. Photos: Ben Dicola
Knights Honor Memory of Neil Baasten
By Ben DiCola
The past teaches us history and tradition. The present offers us a glimpse of who we are and where we are going. St. Thomas Aquinas melded the two continuums together recently at the school's first alumni boys' soccer game played at Sirpilla Stadium. The present-day soccer team took on its elders, Aquinas soccer players who have since graduated while also celebrating the life and legacy of the school's late soccer coach and founder, Neil Baasten.
The soccer program's origins can be traced to Baasten, who brought his love for the game to the U.S. from the Netherlands. He served as boys' varsity soccer coach at St. Thomas for 16 seasons (1987-2003). He also founded the Community Soccer Club in Stark County and developed other non-profit youth programs in Northeast Ohio. Following a short two-year retirement, Baasten returned to the field to pilot the soccer program at North Canton Hoover for another 14 seasons. His overall varsity soccer coaching record stands at a glistening 322 wins, 169 losses and 61 ties. Over a 30-year period, Baasten was honored as Coach of the Year 21 times.
In his maiden season at Aquinas, the Knights fielded a club team. The first varsity team followed in 1988. Two years later, Baasten led the Knights to an undefeated 17-0-1 campaign. At the start, St. Thomas practiced at adjacent Eastlake Field, and Baasten along with Aquinas alum Joe Caplea formed the team's first home, playing at Diamond Field in Plain Township. One of the alumni participants in the game on August 24th was Neil's 50-year old son and 1992 graduate, Jason Baasten, who was a midfielder.
"He wanted to make sure we had a place to play," Jason recalled. "A lot of the guys in my eighth grade were going to go to Aquinas to play soccer. Dad wanted guys who were fast, but he also taught us about integrity, hard work, and intelligence. He wanted to make sure that we worked harder than the other team. He was able to get the most out of his players and to be the best we could be, whether it was soccer, academics or in our relationships."
Current boys' varsity coach Chic Vignos echoed Jason's observations. "Neil set the tone for an excellent soccer program here," he said. "We are working hard to create that same legacy. Neil made STA a better place with his love of sports."
Vignos noted that the alumni soccer game will now become an annual event each year in August. The present-day team will take on soccer alumni to help build the sport and foster goodwill and relationships going forward. In addition to Jason Baasten, other Aquinas alums to play included John Donnelly from the Class of 2009, Adam Cecconi, '09, Derek Walro, '10, Adam Drakulich, '10, Ray Benedetti, '11, Matt Furgiule, '12, Matt Miller, '14, Francesco Luke, '17, Dan Meir, '17, Andrew Jenkins, '19, Dominick Morello, '20, Nick Johnson, '21, Anthony Johnson, '22, Yazun Muhheisen, '22, Nino Pansera, '22 and Paul Walsh, '22.
Neil Baasten passed away in June at the age of 76. An official dedication plaque in his honor is being made and will soon be on display at the school.
St. Thomas Aquinas honored the late Neil Baasten for his contributions to creating the soccer program at the school. In a recent dedication, from left: Neil's son, Jason, wife Chris Joe French, president of Stark County Catholic schools and Aquinas boys' soccer coach Chic Vignos share a moment.