The

Lightning soccer program produced two big winners at the

recent Georgia Soccer Awards Luncheon.

Deanise

Myers was named 2000 Girls Soccer Coach of the Year and

Steve Weeman, president of The Lightning Soccer Club, was

inducted into the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame.

Myers was

nominated by the club and supported with many letters

from current and former players. She is well-respected by

her team and her opponents, stressing hard work and fun.

Many of Myers' players looked to her to be a role model,

guiding her players on and off the field.

Weeman's

award is a lifetime award that has been given to a small

number of people who have made a big difference to soccer

in the state. Weeman founded the Fayette County Youth

Soccer League with Don Kemp and basically built the

soccer complex at McCurry Park. He did the building,

landscaping and maintaining of the fields. Buddy Cumbie

was instrumental in the latter years, when Weeman took

care of the fields.

In 1983,

Weeman created the Lightning program, which pooled local

talent to field competitive teams. He founded the group

with Gary Nidifer, a Clayton County resident. In 1988,

Weeman and a group of 14 other investors built The Soccer

Centre. Soon after, Weeman brought in a paid director of

coaching, David Chadwick, to elevate the level of play

even more. Chadwick coached the first Lightning team to a

state championship.

Weeman

bolstered the level once more in 1998 with a complete

restructuring of the club. He brought in a paid executive

director and Weeman was once again the club's president.

Though his

sons and stepsons are well beyond the age of playing

youth soccer, Weeman has given a lifetime of dedication

to area youth. He continues to support youth soccer and

keep the Lightning at the top of all state soccer

programs.