Upward Sports Program

Dear Upward Soccer Families,

It’s with a heavy heart that I must announce Western Hills Church will not be running a fall Upward Soccer program. The most significant reason is that we have been unable to find a Soccer Commissioner for the 2026 season.

As you know, Upward Soccer relies on hundreds of volunteers, from coaches, assistant coaches, referees, concession stand workers, building cleaners, mowers, to field painters. It takes a small army to ensure a successful Upward Soccer Season. The key leader in all of that chaos is our Soccer Commissioner.

The Commissioner is responsible for recruiting those volunteers and training them, as well as actually running the league evaluations, draft, and schedules, which involves many unseen hours of showing up early and staying late every weekend for eight straight weeks in the fall. Over the years we have been blessed by the leadership of Bryan Zeigler, Dave Parker, and most recently Aaron Bivens. These leaders have been mature Christ-followers who not only knew how to do all of that but did it in a manner that represented Jesus to our community.

We know this must be disappointing; however, there is good news.

First, we just finished perhaps our best Upward Basketball season ever and are ramping up for another basketball season in late fall of 2026. Bobby Holthaus returns as our Basketball Commissioner, and we are amped for another great season of basketball. Basketball isn’t going away!

Second, we are working this summer and fall to bring something back in the Fall of 2027. We will keep you apprised of that as the picture becomes clearer.

Thank you for your investment in Upward and kids. See you for basketball season in November.

Grant English, Lead Pastor

Ages: K-5 to 6th Grade