Keller Central continues to honor fallen soccer teammate at Kyle Fritz Memorial Cup

Kyle Fritz loved soccer, and had a bright future in the game. Any opportunity he had, Fritz would ride his bike to Keller Central High School, with a ball in his bag and practice taking shots.

The hard work paid off as Fritz earned all-district honors in 2005 and 2006. As a junior in 2006, he was awarded team MVP and named to the all-state team and Star-Telegram all-area team.

He was also loved by many.

And that will become evident with hundreds of people attending the 14th annual Kyle Fritz Memorial Cup, which will take place at Central and Fossil Ridge high schools Thursday through Saturday.

Just a few weeks before Fritz was to start his senior year at Keller, he died from injuries he sustained during a car accident. That was August 2006.

“Kyle was relentless. He was small, but deceptively quick,” said Southlake Carroll assistant coach Chris Padilla, who was best friends with Fritz. “He cared about everything, from the training sessions to the 90th minute of a playoff game. Kyle had a will to win and it’s something you look for in any player.”

The tournament officially began in 2004 as the Charger Challenge and it grew for the next three years. Then in 2007, Central’s head coach at the time, Dave Maher, changed the name to honor Fritz and his family.

“He was energetic and had a passion for the game,” said Maher, who is Central’s girls athletic coordinator. “It was important for us to keep Kyle’s legacy alive.”

From the start

Central opened its doors for the 2003-04 school year. The Chargers began their soccer program in 2004, but as a junior varsity team.

“Kyle was a founding member,” Maher said. “He was a captain and quickly became a leader.”

Central won the tournament in 2007, months after losing Fritz. The team also retired his No. 21 jersey that year.

“We played for our brother,” Padilla said. “We were a very close group and when we heard the news about Kyle, it not only shook up the whole school, but the entire community. The tournament brought us together and kept his legacy going. He had a huge future in the game. Even kids today who don’t know who Kyle was, still know what he stood for.”

“He was No. 21 on the field and No. 1 in our hearts,” Maher added. “He was such a huge contribution in building the program and culture that we knew no one was worthy enough to wear his jersey again.”

Keeping the tradition

Maher’s last season was 2013. Aaron Cottrell, who came over from Mansfield Legacy, became Central’s next coach.

“When I came in, that was priority No. 1,” said Cottrell, who coached Central for five seasons and is now the head coach at Carroll. “Chris was already on staff and I knew he was friends with Kyle. Central has a lot of pride in its soccer team so I wanted to keep that tradition going.”

“We had talked during the transition and it was easy to collaborate with Aaron,” Maher added. “He was trying to put his stamp on the program. When I mentioned the tournament, it was well received and he wanted to continue to honor Kyle and I’m grateful for Aaron.”

Six varsity schools participated in 2009. Cottrell got it up to 20 teams and at multiple venues.

Maher said he loves seeing past players and alumni come back all these years later.

“Proud of our program and I love seeing former players and parents come back and volunteer their time to the tournament,” he said. “It’s their way of honoring Kyle and his family. It’s really neat to see people that were involved in Kyle’s life give back.”

Awarding scholarships

Proceeds from ticket sales, concession stand and team entry fees go toward scholarships that are awarded to Central soccer players that best exemplify the characteristics of Kyle Fritz.

Players can submit applications and an essay and are picked by coaches and the Fritz family.

The program has raised over $30,000 and awarded over 40 scholarships since 2007.

Marshall Dickson was last season’s honoree.

“It’s a special deal. Kyle’s family usually matches the money the team raises,” Padilla said. “I still see them pretty often. It’s a great way to bring the program together, past and present.”

This season’s tournament

The 2020 edition starts at noon on Thursday. It features fives pools and 20 teams.

Head coach Scott Helverson is in his third year at Central and second at the helm.

“I know Kyle was a special player and held soccer deep in his heart,” he said. “Both Aaron and Dave filled me in on his legacy. It’s amazing to keep his memory alive.”

The Chargers will display a white flag with the No. 21 in honor of Fritz.

Maher will also have the opportunity to talk to the team before the tournament starts.

“I’ll be able to tie in some history and help them understand what the tournament means to the school and community,” Maher said. “It will help remind them that playing this game is much bigger than us.”

Thursday

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This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 6:00 AM.

Brian Gosset

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

808-218-5424

Brian Gosset covered high school sports for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram until 2023. He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in journalism before coming to Texas in 2014.