NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — An annual soccer tournament raising money and awareness in honor of two young goalkeepers killed in separate car crashes.
The 4th Annual Keepers Cup Futsal Tournament and Silent Auction is being held Saturday and Sunday at the HR SportspleX in Newport News.
The tournament is held in honor of late area soccer players Conner Gweedo and Luke Messick.
Luke, a former soccer standout at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, died in 2021, "while traveling to the play the sport he loved." Police charged the other driver with reckless driving following the crash in Hanover County, according to media reports. He was 22 years old.
In 2019, Conner Gweedo was one of three 16-year-old Tabb High students killed in a car wreck. His classmate, who was driving, was unlicensed, and police said the teenage driver's lack of experience and speed played a role in the crash.
Both families launched organizations to make an impact in the community in their loved ones' memory.
Within three days of Luke's passing, his family started a non-profit focused on his passion to support education and youth soccer in Ghana. Luke Messick Futbol Charities also provides local scholarships.
The Conner Gweedo Memorial Foundation offers anonymous reporting of unsafe driving and other issues.
In addition to this weekend's tournament, a silent auction with over 100 donations can give people the opportunity shop and support local businesses while not being present to participate or win. Event organizers say auction items include things like Florida hotel stays, soccer camps, NFL tickets, as well as home decor, food, and family fun with price ranges to meet any budget.
For more on this weekend's tournament and silent auction, visit the event's website.