Bryan Jeske received Community Coach Award from soccer club

Kelly Lankester recently presented the King City Youth Soccer Club's Community Coach Award, in memory of her husband Wayne, to Bryan Jeske.

The King City Youth Soccer Club named Bryan Jeske as the third recipient of its Community Coach Award, in memory of Wayne Lankester.

The presentation was made recently at the club's annual soccer dinner and dance.

Jeske has been a coach with the club for many years, coaching both his daughter Samantha and his son Stefan. This past season, he was the coach of Mr. Lankester's older son Ryan.

The award was presented to Jeske by Kelly Lankester, and in making the presentation, she spoke of her late husband's commitment to his family and the children in soccer.

During the 2003 soccer season, King City Youth Soccer Club lost Mr. Lankester, one of its valued volunteer coaches.

Mr. Lankester, who was coaching one of the under-6 teams at the time, passed away Aug. 03, 2003.

He exemplified the characteristics important to be a proper model to young soccer players. Not being a soccer player himself, he took the time to learn the sport and never lost sight of the fact that this activity was for the children, to help them develop as players and individuals. He knew that being a volunteer coach in a recreational soccer program had very little to do with personal gain, and that winning is only a small part of the players' development.

Mr. Lankester was diagnosed with cancer in February 2003, and rather than abandon his coaching activity for the season, he chose to again commit his time. During the previous seasons, he had coached his son Ryan.

Coaching brought him much joy and he thrived on teaching, mentoring and setting a proper example for the children. He chose to do this during the 2003 season with his second son Brayden. This was important to him. He lived up to his coaching commitment despite his ill health and was with the team one week before his passing.

To properly recognize his inspiration and dedication, the club, with the cooperation of Mrs. Lankester, set up an award in his name. The inscription on the trophy is "Community Coach Award, in memory of Wayne Lankester (1957-2003), Best Dad in the World."

This title recognizes Mr. Lankester's contribution to soccer as well as his devotion to his family. The soccer club will award this annually when a deserving candidate is nominated. The characteristics identified for nominees are: willingness to volunteer; fairness; dependability; initiative; willingness to improve; respectful of the Code of Conduct; children/players first; and, consistency of service.

The club hopes this Community Coach Award will be proper recognition of deserving volunteers for years to come. It is also to be a fitting memory of Mr. Lankester's courage, his character and his love of his own children and his players.