sports
Her Soccer Scholarship Is
Worth More Than Money
STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
S
occer referees around the
referee and her extensive list of
world were shocked three
extra-curricular activities.
years ago when a referee was
Among her activities outside of
punched by a player during a game
school were serving as vice presi-
in Livonia and died two days later.
dent of Achayot BBYO chapter, and
Elizabeth Larky-Savin
volunteering as a teacher’s
was one of those stunned
helper at Temple Israel.
refs.
In her essay, she said she
Now she’s “incredibly
originally thought referee-
proud” to be one of the
ing would be something
inaugural recipients of the
to do solely to make some
John Bieniewicz Memorial
money, but now she’s part of
Scholarship presented
an “amazing community” of
by the Michigan Referee
people who strive to improve
Committee in honor of the Elizabeth Larky-
the game they love.
Savin
late referee.
She wrote that officiating
Larky-Savin, a University
has helped her develop into a
of Michigan freshman and 2017
strong, confident person.
West Bloomfield High School gradu-
She’s also learned how to interact
ate, was awarded one of four $2,000
with players, coaches and parents,
scholarships from among more than she wrote, done a lot of quick think-
40 applicants.
ing and learned how to access a
Bieniewicz officiated a West
situation and handle it well.
Bloomfield girls soccer game a few
Doug Shoultz, United FC
weeks before the horrific attack that Michigan referee assignor, wrote a
took his life June 29, 2014. Larky-
letter of recommendation for Larky-
Savin played in that earlier game for Savin, calling her highly motivated
the Lakers.
and someone who takes her respon-
“I didn’t know John, but after
sibility as a referee very seriously.
I saw who he was after that inci-
“I never had to wonder if
dent happened, I put two-and-two
[Elizabeth] would do what was
together and realized he had offici-
required of her and she always did
ated some of our [West Bloomfield]
what was needed with excellence,”
games,” she said. “He was a good
he wrote. “She’s highly trustworthy
referee. When he was assigned to
and reliable.”
our game, I knew the game would
Larky-Savin said being a soccer
be officiated fairly.”
player has helped her become a bet-
Bieniewicz was punched by a
ter referee, and made the job more
player during a Michigan United
challenging.
Soccer League game. He died at age
“I know all the things players try
44, leaving behind his wife, Kristen,
to do, so I’m looking for them,” she
and two sons.
said. “On the other hand, you have
Bassel Saad, the assailant, was con- to always remember you’re a third-
victed of involuntary manslaughter
party at a game, which is so differ-
and sentenced to eight to 15 years in
ent than being a player.”
prison. Saad also was part of a con-
Larky-Savin, 18, a West Bloomfield
fidential wrongful death settlement.
resident, began playing soccer when
Witnesses said Saad, a Dearborn
she was 5 and played club and high
resident, was protesting a call and
school soccer.
was about to be ejected when he
She said she’s playing intramural
punched Bieniewicz, knocking him
soccer at U-M because she doesn’t
unconscious.
have time for club soccer. She’s put
Among the requirements for the
her refereeing career on hold until
scholarship named for Bieniewicz
she gets acclimated to a college
are being a soccer referee for a
schedule, she said, but she hopes to
minimum of three years and being a officiate again in the spring.
high school senior with at least a 2.0
The inaugural scholarship win-
cumulative grade-point average.
ners were honored at the outing in
Larky-Savin easily met those stan- July. Larky-Savin attended the event
dards. She’s officiated recreation
and spoke to the crowd. The fourth
and travel games for four years
annual outing will be Aug. 11, 2018.
and she was in the National Honor
For information, call Pete Morrissey
Society at West Bloomfield plus, she at (248) 207-5757. •
impressed the scholarship selection
Send news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.
committee with her essay on what
she’s learned from being a soccer
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November 9 • 2017
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