This summer’s third annual Union Farmer Soccer Camp can be termed a success mostly based on the following statement:
“We had over 190 kids attend this year’s camp from our community,” said Camp Director Lester Lembryk, the head boys’ soccer coach at UHS since 2008.
The camp ran at Union High School the last week in June – from June 27 to July 1.
“We had a great turnout the first year (2014) and the camp is still growing,” Lembryk said.
The campers worked with an elite staff that in addition to Lembryk included Kevin East, men’s coach of Division 3 nationally ranked Rutgers-Newark; Nicki Malanda, four-time Georgian Court All-America; Stan Lembryk, Major League Soccer player and member of the Olympic Development Coaching Staff; David Gretzek, Division 1 Rutgers University goalkeeper; and 1993 UHS graduate Eric Shaw, former head girls’ soccer coach at UHS and present head boys’ soccer coach at Westfield. Shaw led Union’s 1990 boys’ team to the Union County Tournament championship as a standout sophomore goalkeeper before eventually starring on the Division 1 level at Seton Hall University.
“We wanted to showcase the facility and the coaching staff, that was the focus,” Lembryk said.
According to Lembryk, one of the camp highlights was a guest appearance by Chelsea and U.S. National Team defender Matt Miazga, who spoke to the campers about his playing experience and the importance of education and hard work.
More information about the Union Farmer Soccer Camp’s summer session for 2017 may be obtained by visiting the camp’s website at: www.ufsocceracademy.com.
