Grace Cup

The third annual Grace Cup senior soccer all-star game, held Saturday, June 3, in Raymond, raised $1,178 in donations for infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy research in honor of five-year-old Grace Herschelman, who is battling the rare genetic condition.

2017 Grace Cup Teams

The game featured 32 players from 11 different schools, Lincolnwood, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Pana, Staunton, North Mac, Williamsville, Riverton, Roxana, Carlinville and Greenville.
The game would be competitive and would have been even more so if it had not been for Greenville goalkeeper Noah Matthews, who made several acrobatic stops in the first half to give the Blue Team a 3-0 halftime lead. Both teams would score twice in the second half as the Blue Team defeated the Orange Team 5-2.

Our girls getting ready for the Grace Cup.

Jack Epley of Pana, Koltan Page of Carlinville and Jake McLeod of Pana would score in the first half for the Blue Team, with Page and Litchfield's Spencer Bloome scoring in the second half. Drew Ratliff of Roxana and Jacob Morse of Williamsville would score in the second half for the Orange Team. Ratliff and Matthews would be named MVPs for their respective teams and would receive a Grace Filled Journey soccer scarf.

 While the game was impressive, the generosity of those in attendance was even more so as the event, which had no entry fee, brought in close to $1,200. Nearly half of the $1,178 raised during the game came from donations from the Lincolnwood soccer program, who ran the concession stand at the Grace Cup, held a benefit alumni game beforehand and contributed seven players to the Orange Team roster.

"We can't thank everyone enough," said game organizer Kyle Herschelman, the father of Grace Herschelman. "Without Joe and Ashley Webb and the rest of the Lincolnwood soccer program, this event wouldn't be nearly as successful as it has been the last three years. We are honored that they are part of our journey."

Chilling with our grandmas

Being the star sure is hard work!

 The Herschelman family also received help from several jersey sponsors this year, including Maverick Steaks & Spirits and Wendy's of Litchfield, which lowered the costs of doing the game and increased the donation to INAD research that will be going to Washington University in St. Louis.

"The amount that our community has been able to raise for INAD research is just amazing to me," Herschelman said. "But even more important is that we were able to share Grace's story with dozens of new faces today."

The Herschelman clan

Grace continues to battle the genetic condition that affects muscle tone and nerve function with physical therapy twice a week and speech therapy once a week. While she is unable to walk and talk, the Hillsboro five-year-old continues to be a happy little girl, one who will start kindergarten at Beckemeyer this fall. Most children with INAD don't live past to see their tenth birthday, but that statistic hasn't erased all hope from the Herschelman family.

Family photo

Family photo plus a cute bonus nephew!

 "We've made up our mind to give Grace the best life we can, whether she is with us for another day, another year or if she outlives us all," said Herschelman, who along with his wife Mary also has a three-month-old daughter, Charlotte. "We want Grace to have as many experiences as possible and the Grace Cup has become one of our favorites. Not just because of the game or the money raised, but because of our family and friends who help make it a truly special day."

For more information on the Herschelman family's story, go to www.agracefilledjourney.com or www.facebook.com/agracefilledjourney.

June 3 at Raymond
3rd Annual Grace Cup All-Star Game
Blue Team       3    2 - 5
Orange Team   0   2  - 2
Scoring Summary
First Half
18:38 - Jack Epley (Pana) - Blue 1, Orange 0
17:09 - Koltan Page (Carlinville) - Blue 2, Orange 0
4:24 - Jake McLeod (Pana) - Blue 3, Orange 0
Second Half
28:58 - Drew Ratliff (Roxana) - Blue 3, Orange 1
27:00 - Koltan Page (Carlinville) - Blue 4, Orange 1
21:45 - Jacob Morse (Williamsville) - Blue 4, Orange 2
7:12 - Spencer Bloome (Litchfield) - Blue 5, Orange 2
Goalkeepers: Blue Team: Noah Matthews (Greenville); Orange Team: Tyler Marsh (Riverton), Cameron Gross (Lincolnwood).
Blue Team Roster:Koltan Page - Carlinville; Logan Turley - Carlinville; Noah Matthews - Greenville; Noah Owens - Greenville; Jordan Leihser - Greenville; Jordan Tuetken - Hillsboro; Kenny Lauderdale - Litchfield; Ethan Guinn - Litchfield; JT Boerckel - Litchfield; Spencer Bloome - Litchfield; McAllen Fenton - Litchfield; Matt Copley - Pana; Tristan Woodridge - Pana; Jack Epley - Pana; Jake McLeod - Pana; Jacob Latonis - Pana; Coach: Jason Burke
Orange Team Roster: Joey Follis - Lincolnwood; Brenden Friesland - Lincolnwood; Connor Wagahoff - Lincolnwood; Aaron Webb - Lincolnwood; David Pope - Lincolnwood; Cameron Gross - Lincolnwood; Landon Cina - Lincolnwood; Dagan Bivin - North Mac; Logan York - North Mac; Tyler Marsh - Riverton; Brendan Zeller - Roxana; Drew Ratliff - Roxana; Nick Russell - Staunton; Dominic Fairman - Staunton; Justin Cozart - Staunton;Jacob Morse - Williamsville; Coach: Travis Matthews
Grace Cup Jersey Sponsors
• Maverick Steaks & Spirits of Litchfield
• Wendy's of Litchfield
• Travis, Carrie, C.J., Claire & Cody Matthews
• Nick, Stephanie & Abraham Putnam
• Matt Robbins & Family
• Sam, Ailee & Caleb Clark
• Kristy Michie
• Virginia Armour
• Jami Sarsany
• Dylan, Malory & Zoe Mack
• John, Selena & Rachael Gorman
• Terri Pope
• Sasha Pats-Nougues
• Neil Prideaux