AYSO Area Q, of which Region 213 is part of, has named its Spring Sportmanship award the Thomas Z award. This award is given to the team who displays the highest level of sportsmanship during the Spring Select tournament held every year in May at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).

Thomas Ziegelgruber was one of our Spring Select coaches for Spring 2007. He also assisted with the Boys U12 Gold All Star Team for Fall 2006-07. He passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 3rd. Only 21 years old, he had a passion for the sport of soccer and to coach kids in our region without having any children of his own in the program.

Services were held for Thomas on Saturday, May 12th, 10 am, at Voyagers Church in Irvine. Many of his family, friends, and young students of the game attended this emotional ceremony.

The official information published in the Irvine World News is here...

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Thomas Ziegelgruber loved coaching soccer. He missed class to attend games. He stayed after his games to referee other matches. He mentored players on other teams who would come early to talk with him. 

    But last Saturday, his group of sixth graders competed without Mr. Ziegelgruber. Their coach died of unknown causes on May 3, at age 21. 

    After the game, the team had a silent prayer and black ribbons were made for him.    “In the short time I knew him, he taught me so much, from how to shoot a penalty correctly to just plain old having fun on the field,” said Irfan Nazarzai, who was part of an older team but often came early to see Mr. Ziegelgruber. The coach practiced with players on other teams at the park outside his house. 

    Parents described him as being “dedicated,” “eager,” and “enthusiastic” when coaching their kids.    The American Youth Soccer Organization renamed his area’s team spirit award as the Thomas Z. Award. 

    With dreams of becoming a computer engineer, Mr. Ziegelgruber was to graduate college later this month. He was wrapping up certification programs in information technology at Stanbridge College in Irvine.  Mr. Ziegelgruber had shown interest in computers at 6 years old.     “He took the computer apart because he wanted to know how it worked,” said his mother, Mary Pearson. “We were like, ‘oh my gosh, we just got it.’” 

    Building things turned out to be his specialty. With his car, he won the soap box derby in Boy Scouts. Armed with wood and paint, he built a six-foot fort in his backyard for slumber parties in junior high.   His passion for computers led him to be part of Northwood High’s video production team where he captured memories of everything from sports to theater. He filmed the school’s video morning announcements. Pearson recalled that his production teacher said he even taught her things. 

    Mr. Ziegelgruber was always teaching and often brought friends to church to introduce them to the Lord. He attended Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa and Voyagers Bible Church in Irvine where he combined his passion for music and technology by managing the sound system during services. At home, he loved playing the guitar with his father, especially Eric Johnson’s music.    This past week, his team and parents put on their own music and production hats to create a video tribute for Mr. Ziegelgruber. It will be shown at his service Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m. at Voyagers Bible Church in Irvine. 

    Mr. Ziegelgruber leaves his mother, Mary; father, Tom; stepfather, John; and stepsisters, Jackie and Julie.
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