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ON LABOR DAY: Soccer Tournament on Sept. 5 To Benefit Exceptional Classrooms in Watauga Schools

By Jesse Wood

The first-ever 4-on-4 soccer tournament benefiting the exceptional classrooms in Watauga County Schools is taking place over Labor Day weekend, Monday, Sept. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Kelsey Strickland, a freshman at Watauga High School, organized the event to “purchase items and manipulatives to enhance … the self-contained autistic classrooms,” according to the event’s website.

“During 7th and 8th grade at Hardin Park, Kelsey served as a peer mentor in the self-contained autistic classroom as part of her curriculum and loved every minute. Kelsey is now looking to continue to impact the self-contained autistic classrooms by providing equipment, adaptations and experiences to enhance their environment.”

The event is open to just about all ages – from children in kindergarten to adults. Each co-ed team will feature a roster of 4 to 6 individuals, and the divisions are as follows: kindergarten; 1st-2nd grade; 3rd-4th grade; 5th-6th grade; 7th-8th grade; high school open division; and adult open division.

The entry fee is $20 per team plus website registration fee. To register, email your roster of 4 to 6 participants to stricklandsc@appstate.edu.

All of the proceeds go to the exceptional children program at Watauga County Schools.

The event will take place at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex on Brookshire Road in Boone.