West Virginia University fosters inclusion and diversity on campus. The Mountaineer community represents numerous faces, each one unique and special. Behind every face is a story. For three years, students have joined together to honor the University’s diversity and find common ground through the love of soccer.
The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences hosted the 5th Annual Diversity Cup Tournament, September 28-29. The CPASS Sport Management Club, WVU Athletics and the WVU Recreation Center partnered with CPASS to celebrate diversity, friendship and inclusion.
The tournament included a total of 12 teams with a minimum of one opposite gender player per team. Diversity Cup participants were from different nationalities and represented an array of majors from various colleges and departments on campus. They came together to put their skills to the test and showcase them on the student recreation fields.
Ultimately, team Target came out on top, beating team Oman (6-0). Congratulations to the following players on team Target who clinched the championship game: Basel Alyahya, Payton Southall, Hashem Alnasser, Hamad Alsuroor, Abdulrahman Alabbas, Joseph Fasinu, Thamer Alfuraidan and Killian Kei-Boguinard.
WVU Men’s head soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc attended the event. “I thought it was great to have the opportunity to connect with students from all over the word, to be able to speak with them on a personal level and to have some great football banter as well,” LeBlanc said. The WVU Men’s soccer team is in midseason form and it was an honor to have Coach LeBlanc take the time to make an appearance at the tournament.
CPASS faculty, students and friends helped the Sport Management club create a weekend of fun, competition and camaraderie. Intensity levels were high, and some rivalries made, yet the end goal remained the same – to share a passion for sport. The annual tournament is held in honor of Moses T. Lawer Yolar, a former Diversity Cup participant, who tragically passed away in 2017.