Bishop's Cup Comes to Campus

WHEELING, WV, Aug. 29, 2007 - Wheeling Central Catholic High School will host the annual Bishop's Cup State Catholic High School soccer tournament this fall, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15 at the Wheeling Jesuit University campus. Lou Vargo, Central's boy's coach and Heather Ridge, Central's girl's coach have coordinated the planning of the Wheeling sporting event this year.

The two-day high school tournament travels around the Mountain State on an annual basis. Teams from all Catholic high schools in the state are invited to participate in the Bishop's Cup. Attracting both boys' and girls' high school teams as well as coed teams, the Bishop's Cup offers two days of hard driven action and friendly competition for the players, their families and soccer fans alike.

Wheeling Jesuit University President Julio Giulietti, S.J., said the University was pleased to welcome the hundreds of players and fans expected to attend the event. “As the only Catholic college or university in the state of West Virginia, we are excited to welcome some of the finest soccer players in the state to our campus,” Giulietti said.

Games start Friday at 11 a.m. and continue at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Friday and at 8 and 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturday at Wheeling Jesuit's playing fields. The final game will be played on the University's James LaRosa Soccer Field.

This year five teams will make an appearance: Parkersburg Catholic (coed), Weirton Madonna (girls), and the boys' and girls' teams of Wheeling Central, Charleston Catholic and Huntington St. Joseph.

Friday's action will end with the host Wheeling Jesuit University's soccer team facing Bethany College in men's college action at 7 p.m., Sept. 14.

All matches are open to the public and each day's admission is $6. Friday's admission price includes admission to the Wheeling Jesuit men's soccer match on Friday evening.

Recognizing the global nature of soccer and the service component of Catholic education, Wheeling Jesuit has asked teams to bring used soccer equipment to donate to a club team in Cameroon, Africa. Wheeling Jesuit University sent used team uniforms to the country of Cameroon over the summer and more equipment is welcome. Cameroon has many villages that have soccer teams that lack adequate equipment, like uniforms and shoes. All donations are welcome.