The Long Island Junior Soccer League is excited to announce the LIJSL Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The newest members to be inducted this spring will be Jeff Sinkiewicz, Violette Smith, and Vic Varonier. All three will officially be honored at a ceremony on April 7 at the Smithtown Stonebridge Country Club.
Sinkiewicz, who is known as “Mr. Middle Country Soccer” has been involved with Middle Country Children’s Soccer for over 27 years. Beginning as a coach in the 1990s, he served as Club President for five years and currently sits on the club’s board with the position of Head Referee. He was also named Times of Middle Country’s Sports Person of the Year in 2012.
The impact that Sinkiewicz has had can be felt not just within the club, but also throughout the entire community with his many fundraising efforts. His most notable may be his work as “Sinko’s Santa’s” which raises money to provide gifts to less fortunate families during the holidays. The program has now been running for the past 18 years. Sinkiewicz has also been very involved in the club’s burgeoning TOPSoccer program, which began in 2021.
Smith has been the heartbeat of Brentwood Youth Soccer Club as Club President for over 20 years. She has also coached for the past 25 years and has played a role in the development of several professional players, including her son Andrew Jean-Baptiste, who was the 8th overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, and Joesph Lopez, who played professionally in El Salvador. Most recently, Stalyn Acosta was named a High School All-American after coming up through the ranks in Brentwood under Smith’s tutelage.
During her time as Club President, Smith has steered the club with inclusivity, innovation, and a genuine love for the sport, which has created the atmosphere of a tight-knit family. This year, the club will also be celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Not just dedicating her time to the Brentwood soccer community, Smith also contributes to help the LIJSL community as a whole. She can be seen often in the office before, during, and after registration time, helping stamp passes and processing rosters.
Varonier has spent the past two decades serving as Club President for Sound Beach Soccer Club. Starting out as a coach, he stands as the only one to lead SBSC to an NY State Cup title. The club, through Varonier’s leadership, continues to grow. He also is always hopping in to make sure the gameday experience is enjoyable for all players, from lining and setting up fields to supporting the SBSC players from the sideline.
As well as his role as Club President, Varonier can be seen coaching his grandkids.