Chris Maier Boy's Soccer Invite

Sabino: December 9-13

There are special moments in every child’s life. They are the moments parents come to cherish and share with family and friends as the years go by. For Chris Maier, one of those moments came when he scored off of a corner kick in the 2005 4A state championship game to give Tucson Sabino a 1-0 victory over Glendale Cactus.

It was the school’s second soccer title and it came after a series of odd occurrences that led to his magical moment. First, Maier had transferred from Tucson High to Sabino and had reportedly given up the sport before his championship season.

Second, the championship match against Cactus was delayed three days due to bad field conditions. Then, Maier left his white jersey at home – preferring his purple uniform – causing Cactus to change uniforms. He would have sat the bench had the referees not agreed with the uniform change.

Finally, according to the Cactus coaches, it was the only score off of a corner kick given up by the team that year. Cactus coach Garrison Harmann told the Tucson Citizen in 2006, “For some reason, that was Chris’ moment and we weren’t supposed to win that game.”

Unfortunately, the Maier family never had the chance to celebrate that moment with their son as the years went by. Chris caught meningococcal meningitis two weeks later and the 17-year-old passed away less than 24 hours after displaying the first systems of the disease.

His death caused several players from Cactus to reexamine the importance of losing what amounted to a “game” and gave his parents a special mission to educate other parents of this widely unknown disease that costs thousands of lives each year.

“A booster for the disease is required for adolescents entering middle school but we now know that the vaccine is only good for about five years,” explained his mom Leslie. “Parents need to know that their kids need another vaccine before heading off to college.”

Unfortunately, universities only advise parents of the importance of getting the booster and have yet to make it a requirement.

According to the World Health Organization, “Close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters (such as a dormitory, sharing eating or drinking utensils) with an infected person – facilitates the spread of the disease.

“The most common symptoms are a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting. Even when the disease is diagnosed early and adequate treatment is started, 5% to 10% of patients die, typically within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Bacterial meningitis may result in brain damage, hearing loss or a learning disability in 10% to 20% of survivors.”

Chris has become somewhat of a poster child for preventing the disease. According to his mom, a young cousin saw a poster of Chris in his doctor’s office and wondered why it was there. His doctor was using Chris’ story to educate parents on the important of preventing the disease.

And, since 2005, Sabino changed the focus and name of their winter tournament to raise awareness and funds to educate parents and to help combat the disease.

 

Group Play Results

Tuesday, Dec. 9

Salpointe 2, Douglas 0

Flowing Wells 1, Cienega 0

Sabino 2, Catalina 1

Amphi 2, Rincon/UHS 0

Tucson 5, Cholla 2

 

Wednesday, Dec. 10

Palo Verde 3, Catalina 1

Amphi 4, Flowing Wells 0

Rincon 3, Cienega 1

Tucson 2, Nogales 1

Nogales 4, Cholla 2

Salpointe 1, Canyon del Oro 1

 

Thursday, Dec. 11

Canyon del Oro 2, Douglas 2

Sabino 3, Palo Verde 0

Desert View 4, Catalina 0