Mark von Bucher Soccer Tournament

Alexandra Post
Sigma Delta Tau

On Nov. 13, Psi Upsilon held their second Annual Mark von Bucher Soccer Tournament. This event is dedicated to a brother, Mark Theodore von Bucher, who passed away last year. Mark was a pre-vet student in the class of 2012 and a member of the Mundial Club Soccer Team. The event was held in the Ramin Room in Bartels Hall and was a three vs. three indoor competition. The event was sponsored by Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, and Southern Proper.

The event started last year to memorialize Mark since soccer was his favorite sport. All the proceeds are donated to local animal shelters because he loved animals so much and his parents felt that this would be what Mark would have wanted.

Mark was snowboarding out in Deer Valley, Utah on January 7 when he fell and slid and hit his head on a tree. He was put into a drug-induced coma and had different surgeries to help relieve some of the pressure on his brain and to help him breathe. The doctors noticed that after a while, Mark was beginning to show some progress and it looked like he was going to get better. But, then, tragically, on January 26, his heart rate was dangerously high and he was having trouble breathing.  The doctors said it was as if his brain was firing on all cylinders and his heart was no longer to take the pressure and it stopped on the night of January 26.

The brothers of Psi Upsilon are always thinking of Mark and at the tournament on Sunday, the Cornell community was there with them to show their support. The turnout was very good, other fraternities and many sororities were there to play and some were there just to donate. A large group of the Cornell’s Club Soccer team was there, too. Everyone was having a good time playing whether their team went 3-0 or, like the Fairy Princess Team, went proudly went 0-3.

Teams were encouraged to have at least one male and one female member, so as to keep it fair, of course. The entry fee was $30 for each team and no more than five players were allowed to be on a team. For an additional $15, supporters and participants could buy a T-shirt. There were over 25 teams at the event this year. Last year, all donations were made to Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Rochester. This year, Psi U donated close to $1,000 to Mark’s favorite charities. Congratulations to Team Slaughter on winning the entire tournament. 

Alexandra is a senior studying human development and communications. You may contact her at ap474@cornell.edu.