July 19, 2025
People
People

6 years later, Sycamore teen not forgotten

By DOUG OLESON

With their heads bowed, participants in the sixth annual Toni Toska tribute formed a circle for a moment of silence to honor their late friend and teammate. The 17-year-old was killed in a single-car accident on July 15, 2006. (Doug Oleson)

SYCAMORE – They're older now.

In fact, if you haven't seen them in awhile, it takes a moment to recognize them. Some are finishing college. Others already have jobs. Whatever they're doing or whatever obligations they have, they haven't forgotten their friend.

On July 15, 2006, Toni Toska was killed in a single-car accident. He was just 17 at the time and a member of the Sycamore High School boys' soccer team.

On July 21, 2012. under an overcast sky, 35 friends and former teammates came together to play a co-ed exhibition match in Toska's honor at the SHS soccer field. The sixth annual event, coordinator Colby Newquist said, has now become a fundraiser for the Kishwaukee Family YMCA summer camp.

"It's a way to show he hasn't been forgotten," Newquist said. "He loved soccer more than anything."

Despite his short life, Toska obviously touched a lot of lives.

"He always knew how to lighten up a mood," Newquist said.

"He always had a smile on his face," said Brodie Lenhard, who grew up next to Toska. "He could always get along with everyone."

"He had so many friends," teammate Steven Parsons, said.

Like the others, Parsons wasn't surprised by the response to the annual tribute match.

"Everyone wants to come out," he said. "It's not hard to get guys to come out."

"It's been six years and it's still going strong," Lenhard said.

Newquist said he actually had to turn some players down so there wouldn't be too many players on each side.

"I'm always so excited to come out," former teammate Paul Bomar said. "To play for Toni, it just means that much more. I'm just proud to be a part of it."

"We'll do this as long as we can," Bomar said.

The whole tribute has touched Toska's family deeply.

"I don't know what to say," Toska's mother, Sevim, said.

"It's been six years and everyone has their own lives," Toska's younger sister, Tima, 20, added. "It's pretty crazy they still make the time to do this."

She paused.

"It's great that they do this," she said. "We can't thank them enough."

Eventually, Newquist is hoping to turn the event into a tournament with the winner of the high school level meeting a "legends" team.

"I think he would be surprised by all this," Newquist said.