March 25, 2023, marked both a beginning and an ending for the Riverside Soccer program. Beginning with its inaugural team in 2005, Riverside soccer has had many successful seasons. Under the instruction of head coach Josh Mangrum and assistant coach, Tatianne Warren, both part of the first Riverside soccer team, the program is once again poised to have a great season. Saturday, the soccer program hosted its first Alumni verses player game that served as both the kickoff to their season and a fundraiser to purchase much needed items for this high school, co-ed team. The first alumni game was a huge success, bringing in 24 alumni players representing each year of the program’s existence. The stands were packed for this fundraiser game as the community rallied to show its support for these players. One of the reasons for this fundraiser game, besides having fun and celebrating the sport’s history, was to raise much needed money for the program. The field the high school soccer team has played on which is also the Decatur County Youth Soccer Association’s field, has very poor drainage, no lights, and limited crowd seating. The team simply needed somewhere new to play which requires equipment. Thanks to Coach Johnnie Frost and his community mindset, the soccer team will begin to play all their games on the high school football practice field at Riverside, making the alumni game the last game to be played on the old field. Thanks to friends of the school system such as Wayne Jackson, the field has been top dressed and is ready for the first home game on April 3rd. Bleachers from the old baseball and softball fields have been brought over for seating and lights are being put up for days the games run into dusk. The soccer team is forever grateful for all the people that have helped to make the practice field the soccer team home as well as to those who have donated to the program. Anyone that would like to contribute to the soccer team’s season through donations are welcomed to do so at Riverside High School, attention Coach Josh Mangrum. Please come cheer on the soccer team at their new field for their opening home game against Wayne County on Tuesday, April 3rd at 5:00pm.
