By Arielle Gordon

On Saturday, May 4, more than 300 Colorado College students and alumni descended upon Washburn and Stewart fields to participate in the 10th Annual Quony Cup.  
 
The Quony Cup is an all-campus soccer tournament held in memory of two former student-athletes who passed away after graduating – Christopher Quon '09, who played both lacrosse and soccer, and Evan Spirito '10, also a member of the lacrosse team.
 
"It's evolved into a weekend of reconnecting with old friends, and making new friends," Chris's father David Quon said. "It's a time to celebrate and provide an activity to support the local American Cancer Society."
 
As a student, Chris Quon organized a charity soccer tournament, which he named Answer to Cancer, because he wanted to do something after his two grandfathers were diagnosed with cancer.
 
Some of his teammates worried that after they graduated, support of Quony Cup would fade away, but they love to come back and see how engaged the current student body is.
 
"My one fear of the second, and third, and fourth year was that it might not be as big," said former lacrosse player Toby Cohen. "It's kind of become part of the student calendar and it think it's pretty amazing that these people who didn't know Chris and Even are here, but their legacy lives on."
 
Over time, the event has grown from a few teams playing on Armstrong Quad, to this year's Cup, which saw 24 teams and approximately 320 players competing on six fields spread across Washburn and Stewart fields.
 
Each game is a short side, 30-minute soccer contest, with five field players and a goalkeeper. The tournament has two rounds, the first of which consists of group play (this year, there were six groups with four teams each). The winner of each group, plus two wildcards teams, advance to the knockout stage with single elimination games, with one team becoming the winner. For the fourth time, Team Deuce prevailed.
 
Team Deuce consists of Quon and Spirito's former teammates, many of whom travel across the country each year for this one weekend. The team name originates from when Quon and some friends lived at 222 Uintah during their senior year, and referred to the house as "The Deuce." The players make new team shirts each year, and they treat this weekend as a reunion, as they do not get to see each other as often.
 
"Where ever I'm at, I'll fly in for this," said Ben Beadle-Ryby, one of Chris's soccer teammates. "It's kind of an enchanting, magical feeling when you're out here looking over everyone."
 
In addition to friends coming back each year, members of the the Quon and Spirito families both return to CC.
 
"CC has been so great to our family," Chris Quon's youngest sister, Kasey Quon said. "It's hard to put it into words."
 
Chris Quon's favorite foods in Colorado Springs were chocolate croissants from a bakery in Old Colorado City, and Borriello Brothers Pizza. The Quon family had croissants before the event, and dozens of pizzas were delivered for lunch.
 
Members of the CC volleyball team volunteered at the event and grilled hotdogs and hamburgers for players to eat between games. Their efforts, as well as the participation of many other student-athletes, was organized by Rachael Martino, the Quony Cup chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Some students volunteered as referees and others helped give out information and sell Quony Cup t-shirts to raise money for ACS.
 
As a four-year member of the women's soccer team, Martino has been a part of Quony Cup during her time at CC, and her favorite part of the day is when David Quon speaks to the entire group after the first round of games. 
 
"When Mr. Quon talks, it is the most inspirational, moving thing that I have ever heard," Martino said. "Last year, that's when I got so excited to start taking over the role, it's a huge honor for me."
 
This year, David Quon spoke about never giving up in the face of hardship, and the importance of the support that the CC community can provide. Tony Spirito, Evan's father, also spoke about how Evan asked that his family donate to the Quon Foundation, and as he does each year, Spirito presented the Quon Foundation with a check in Evan's honor.
 
Apart from Team Deuce, and a few other alumni, the current iteration of Quony Cup consists of players who never knew Quon or Spirito, but they come out each year to support their memories and legacies, as well as contribute to the greater CC community, or "family," as many describe it. 
 
"We are happy to support the event in any way we can because of the positive experience Evan had at CC," Tony Spirito said. "For us, it is an important event to come to remember Chris and Evan and support the event at much as we can."
 
During the games, the scoreboard above Washburn reads 19:21 in honor of their jersey numbers. Quon wore 21 and Spirito wore 19 on the lacrosse team. They are both a part of CC each day, not just on the day of the Quony Cup. At the top of the Tiger Trail, there is a bench in memory of Spirito. Just next to the bench is a tree in memory of Quon, which was donated by the class of 2010, including Spirito.
 
Additionally the SAAC gives out three awards at the end of each year, one of which is the Chris M. Quon Award. "The award is presented to the student-athlete who most closely upholds the character, values and qualities that Chris represented, showing compassion to everyone and anyone and selflessly helping those in need all while excelling in the classroom and in his/her respective sport."
 
There also are foundations in both Quon and Spirito's names, which are administrated by their families and donate money to organizations that support cancer research.
 
The Quony Cup is not the only event in their honor each year.
 
The Spirito family started a tradition of hiking the Manitou Incline when they were together, and now the hike takes place the day after the Cup. What also started out as a small event has grown to include up to 25 people who climb the 2,000 steps in any condition, including snow.
 
There is also an alumni soccer game held on Sunday. Depending on the number of available players, the alumni either scrimmage a collection of players from the team, or might just scrimmage the current senior class.
 
Former men's soccer coach Horst Richardson attended this year's Quony Cup. He recently published a book full of stories from his coaching career, and one chapter is dedicated to Quon.
 
Richardson remembers the day when an athletic trainer came out to the field during practice to tell the team that Quon had passed as being one of the saddest days as a coach. Nevertheless, he is glad to see that the Quony Cup is held annually in his memory.
 
The Quony Cup and alumni game are perfect opportunities to re-connect with his former players.
 
"I'm excited to see them all," Richardson said. "The exciting thing is that most of them still play very well. If he (Chris) is able to look down on us, I'm sure he's smiling."
 
Both families are thankful to CC for helping put on this event each year, and carrying on the memories of their sons.
 
"We as a family are absolutely just grateful to CC, to the students, the administration, the coaches for continuing this tradition of the Quony Cup," David Quon said. "We know it is a lot of hard work."