by Scott Sacry
The Stevensville boys and girls soccer teams host Corvallis on Saturday, September 19, in an all-Bitterroot Valley matchup. The contest has added significance as the Stevensville Soccer Complex will be renamed the Serrette Soccer Complex in honor of Ralph Serrette during a pregame ceremony. The ceremony starts at 11 a.m., after which the boys play at 12 p.m., and the girls play at 2 p.m.
Bitterroot soccer legend Ralph Serrette passed away in September of 2024. Serrette and Stevensville Soccer were intertwined for 30-plus years. Serrette started coaching the Stevensville High School boys team in 1995, and was a coach and leader for Stevensville Club Soccer. Serrette organized years worth of tournaments, fundraisers, trips, and team rosters. Generations of Stevensville’s youth have been positively influenced by Serrette’s dedication to soccer.
Specifically, Serrette took meticulous care of the Stevensville soccer fields. Serrette spent countless hours planning, building, and caring for the soccer fields, so it is only natural that the Stevensville complex be named in his honor.
“For Ralph, it was always about the kids,” said Cathi Cook, an organizer for the dedication. “Above anything else, Ralph just wanted all the kids to have an opportunity to play soccer. If kids needed cleats, he would get them cleats. If a goalie needed help, he got them to a goalie camp. He worked tirelessly to build Stevensville soccer, help the kids, and maintain the fields.”
There is also a new archway at the entrance of the new Serrette Soccer Complex. Mike and Brooke Flynn were the visionaries behind building an archway as a way to help commemorate the field to Serrette. The Flynns helped with the building and got local businesses and community members to help fund the project.
Bitterroot Valley soccer fans and community members are invited to attend the dedication ceremony at the Stevensville soccer fields at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 19.
Leave a Reply