Burt Wilkes inducted into US Youth Soccer Region I Hall of Fame

(Via ENYYSA) – The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) congratulates Burt Wilkes on his induction into the Region 1 Soccer Hall of Fame, covering youth soccer from Maine to Virginia and West Virginia. Wilkes was inducted last Saturday, October 21 at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. He also received the Region 1 Administrator Award.

This is far from the first honor for the longtime volunteer as Wilkes was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame in 2012 as well as the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) Hall of Fame a year later, plus was selected as the Eastern New York Personality of the Month in August 2016.

“Youth soccer volunteers know that if you need something done, you call on Burt Wilkes so I am delighted that he has been inducted into his third Hall of Fame for always being there to help others,” commented Eastern New York President Richard Christiano.

Wilkes became involved with the CJSL’s Silver Lake Soccer Club in 1991 and served the club as President, Vice President and Trustee. He was the assistant coach and team administrator of the Silver Lake Rams, who won two State Cup championships at Boys-Under-17 and Boys-Under-19 with losing in the final at Boys-Under-18 in-between their two State Cups.

While with Silver Lake, the Rossville, Staten Island resident became part of the CJSL Board of Directors, then volunteered for six years as CJSL President. He was the driving force behind the CJSL opening a full-time office, negotiated partnerships with corporations and was instrumental in CJSL girls teams playing in other Eastern New York leagues as guest teams while the CJSL accepted guest teams from other leagues.

Wilkes also volunteered as the First, Second, Third and Fourth Vice President of Eastern New York as well as Trustee. After volunteering for Region 1 for the past three years, we were delighted to welcome him back to Eastern New York’s Board of Directors in 2017. Wilkes currently volunteers as our Fourth Vice President, serving as State Cup Chairperson and on the committees for Arbitration and the Eastern New York Hall of Fame.

Three years ago, he was elected Deputy Director of Region 1, then that title changed to Vice Chair. In this role as second in command, he also served as Chairperson of the Eastern Regional League for the past three years before his recent return to Eastern New York. Last year, Wilkes was promoted to a more national role as a committee member of the United States Youth Soccer Association’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) but he has since given up that position to concentrate on local soccer.

Wilkes was the boys soccer coach at Moore Catholic High School for five years, coaching the Mavericks to the B Division championship in 2001, plus he coached football at McKee/SI Tech for four seasons. He somehow finds the time to tirelessly volunteer for the New York Chapter of the American Red Cross.

He is the second person from Eastern New York to be inducted into the Region 1 Hall of Fame as former ENYYSA President Peter Masotto was inducted in 2013.