(This information is from the 2017 tournament year; updated information for the 2018 tournament will be posted soon.)

Youth soccer teams from across several states will merge on Hickory during April 29th and 30th of 2017 for the 20th annual Galaxy Shootout Soccer Tournament.  The tournament headquarters will be located at the Henry Fork River Soccer Complex.  Most games being played at Henry Fork and some may be played at Lenoir-Rhyne University’s soccer field.  Typically, over 500 youth soccer players plus their families will travel to Hickory for the weekend, bringing business to local hotels, restaurants and retail stores.

For soccer fans, it is an opportunity to participate in, or to observe, one of the most renowned tournaments in North Carolina.  Fees from entering teams pay for the cost of running the tournament; therefore, advertising and contributions from sponsors go directly to the club’s public outreach allowing the Rotary Club of Lake Hickory to support deserving students the opportunity to further their education.

The tournament is facilitated by the Rotary Club of Lake Hickory in partnership with the Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association (CVYSA) and title sponsored by Galaxy Foods.  Dozens of organizations have contributed to the tournament this year so far, with over $30,000 having been collected for local student scholarships and other outreach community efforts.  The scholarship recipients will be selected and presented at an upcoming Rotary Club of Lake Hickory meeting this year.

This year, the Galaxy Shootout is planning to host over 40 teams from all over the Carolinas and surrounding states.  The boys and girls teams represent age divisions ranging from U-9 to U-16, with winners competing on Sunday afternoon for the opportunity to be the champion in their division.  Each player will receive a “goodie bag” – another part of the tournament’s rich history – with many of these items donated by Galaxy Foods with a total retail value of over $30.00.

“We have enjoyed bringing this tournament to the Hickory area for the last seventeen years, and are excited by the fact that thousands of youth soccer players have traveled here during that time to engage in some healthy, fun competition” says Ernie Sills, Past President of the Rotary Club of Lake Hickory.  “As Rotarians, we continue to stress that the main purpose of the tournament is to raise money for local scholarships.  Since the tournament was started, we have provided over $500,000 in sponsorships to worthy local students to help them further their education.”

Rotary Club of Lake Hickory members will be present and helping manage the various fields and facilities, fulfilling their motto of “Service Above Self” by serving as tournament volunteers throughout the entire weekend.  This is the largest fundraising event of the year for the club, and all members are expected to take part in the weekend in one form or another.

The Rotary Club of Lake Hickory wishes to extend a special “thank you” to all of this year’s supporters and contributors, and especially to Galaxy Foods for their continued sponsorship of the tournament.  You can read more about the tournament by visiting its web site at www.galaxyshootout.com.

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