A message from President Ryan Merrill
Dear Old Town Soccer Club Families,
Hello! We are thrilled to officially kick off the Spring 2025 season and welcome you back to another exciting chapter with Old Town Soccer Club. Last weekend marked our season opener, and what a fantastic way to begin—with club-wide friendlies hosted alongside our neighbors at LSSA. The energy, sportsmanship, and community spirit were incredible, and it was a joy to see so many of our teams gathered in one place. We are excited to make this a tradition, with OTSC hosting each spring and LSSA hosting each fall moving forward.
Many of our teams also began league play over the weekend, and we want to take a moment to wish every player, coach, and family a rewarding and memorable season. Soak in the experience, enjoy the journey, and cherish every moment—these are the memories that last a lifetime.
As we begin, we kindly ask for your patience and perspective. The season is just getting started. Our players are learning, growing, and developing—progress takes time. Trust the coaches, trust the club, and most importantly, trust the process.
A gentle reminder: soccer starts at home. It’s essential that players are encouraged to get touches on the ball outside of scheduled practices—whether that’s in the basement, the backyard, or the garage. There’s simply not enough time during the season to build strong fundamentals without regular practice at home.
Finally, we ask that all families support a positive game-day environment. Let the coaches coach. Let the players play. Let the referees ref. We’re looking forward to a season full of growth, learning, and joy. Thank you for being part of the Old Town Soccer family.
Old Town Soccer is thrilled to kick off the new season with exciting updates!
Warm regards,
Ryan Merrill
President
Old Town Soccer Club
New 2025-2026 Tryouts
Old Town Soccer Club is implementing a restructured tryout system, designed to ensure fair and comprehensive player evaluations. For the 2025-2026 season, formal tryouts will be conducted exclusively during the month of May. This standardized approach streamlines the team selection process and provides all participants with equal opportunities to showcase their skills. All current and prospective players intending to participate in the upcoming 2025-2026 season (fall / spring) must complete the online registration form found below. Upon registration, players will receive detailed information regarding their specific tryout times and locations. Tryouts will be integrated into existing team practice sessions, allowing coaches to observe players within a dynamic team environment. Supplemental tryouts will be held after the conclusion of the fall school soccer season. We encourage everyone to register and tryout during the May tryout window to increase your potential place on a team. To stay informed about tryout dates and any potential updates, we strongly encourage you to subscribe to our mailing list at the bottom of this page. This will ensure you receive timely notifications and avoid missing critical information regarding the upcoming season.
Spring Academy
3x3 Tournament
Player Spotlight
Aiden Howe #10
Aiden plays central midfield for the U12 boys team. He started the season with an exceptional performance last Saturday during our spring kickoff, scoring a hat trick and contributing three assists! His hard work and dedication on the field are truly commendable.
How many years have you been playing soccer? 7 years
How long have you played for OTSC? 4 years
Please share a memorable moment in your soccer career.
We won the Creek Classic Tournament in my first year with Ryan as our coach.
Why do you enjoy playing for Old Town Soccer Club?
I enjoy playing for OTSC because I have great teammates and coaches.
Do you have a favorite soccer team or player?
I do. My favorite soccer team is Columbus Crew, and my favorite player is probably Messi.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I like to read and playing outside.
Gavin Deer #33
Gavin, on the U16 team, is a versatile player. While he traditionally plays as a center back, he has shown his adaptability by excelling in various positions. Gavin kicked off the season strong with two goals!
How many years have you been playing soccer? 11 Years
How long have you played for OTSC? 3 Years
Please share a memorable moment in your soccer career.
When our team went to the Creek Classic last spring and the championship game went to over time then we went to a penalty shoot-out and we won the tournament.
Why do you enjoy playing for Old Town Soccer Club?
Because I enjoy playing with my friends and competing with them.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I also run Track and Field.
Coach Spotlight
John Owusu Kwakye
We are excited to introduce our newest coach for the U16 team, John Owusu Kwakye. Here’s a bit more about Coach John:
- He hails from Ghana and has an impressive soccer background.
- John played amateur soccer in Moscow, Russia, where he trained with the Lokomotiv Moscow junior side in 2015 and the Dinamo youth side in 2016-2017.
- He holds a bachelor's degree in Sports and Physical Culture Studies from the University of Ghana.
- John has also completed an internship with the men's soccer team at the University of Ghana during the 2022-2023 season.
Let's give a warm welcome to Coach John.
Volunteer Spotlight
Old Town Soccer Club is a volunteer organization. We cannot do what we do with our volunteers. Here are a few that we would like to introduce to you. If you would like to volunteer please contact vicepresident@oldtown.soccer
Scott Bowlby
We would love to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Scott Bowlby for all his hard work in maintaining and enhancing our fields. Scott dedicates countless hours to lining, mowing, seeding, and fertilizing the fields we play on, ensuring they are in top condition. Additionally, he is the head coach of our U11 girls team, further contributing to the development of our young athletes.
Nate Wendling
We are excited to introduce our new Vice President, Nathan Wendling! Nathan has jumped right in and begun making significant contributions to our organization. His passion and dedication have already made him a tremendous asset, as he collaborates on various projects to enhance our club.
Nathan, along with his family, moved to the beautiful Hocking Hills a couple of years ago. We are thrilled to welcome them as part of the Old Town family!
A proud alum of Chaminade Julienne High School Soccer in Dayton, Nathan has also coached for WYB Soccer in Worthington. As a dedicated father of two children, he has been actively involved in club soccer for the past five years, playing in both Worthington United and OTSC. His educational background includes both an undergraduate and master's degree in Architecture from The Ohio State University.
Thank you, Scott and Nathan, for your incredible commitment to our club!