Sara Kluttz, former Ooltewah soccer standout and member of the Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team, has been named the United States Youth Soccer Region III Volunteer of the Year, making her one of four finalists for the national award. Kluttz will attend the U.S. Youth Soccer Awards Ceremony, March 5-7, in San Jose, Calif.
Kluttz, an Ooltewah native, recently completed her freshman season with the Lady Govs, playing in 15 games as a defender. In the Fall of 2008, she was named to the President’s List for a 4.0 grade-point-average. Kluttz also is a member of Chattanooga’s Redoubt Soccer Club.
“I am very proud to have Sara as a member of our women’s soccer program at Austin Peay,” Lady Govs head coach Kelley Guth said. “She is truly an ambassador for the sport. Her involvement in her local community has impacted the lives of many children and the development of this program is a great benefit to the hometown community.”
In 2007, Kluttz found a way to give back to her local community through a week-long soccer skills camp. The Chattanooga Soccer Camp was designed specifically for the children of the West Side housing community in downtown Chattanooga. The free camp began with 75 kids on an old baseball field within the neighborhood. Funded by local business, each participant was given a soccer ball and a camp t-shirt. More importantly, the camp introduced soccer and taught the basic skills of the game.
The success of the week-long adventure made waves through the Tennessee soccer community, so much that for the 2008 camp, the Tennessee Soccer Association agreed to provide necessary funding and move the camp to Dupont Park’s North River Soccer Complex. Participation increased to 175 campers and transportation was provided to and from the complex. Campers also had the ability to register at local Neighborhood Associations, Parks and Recreation centers and many local McDonalds.
The Chattanooga Soccer Camp, which will be June 8-11, remains free to all participants and the staff has grown each year in number and experience. Many coaches from both the high school and club level have volunteered their time, as well as many area players making the camp subject to some of the best coaching in Tennessee.