Granite City, Collinsville add meaning to soccer rivalry with benefit for beloved photographer
Thursday evening, hundreds gathered at Gene Baker Field in Granite City to watch two of Illinois’ most storied varsity boys soccer teams — the Granite City Warriors and Collinsville Kahoks — play their final game of the regular season.
The star of the night, however, wasn’t one of the current soccer players. It was Alex Paz, a 1979 Granite City High School alumnus and former soccer player under legendary coach Gene Baker.
Paz now lives in Collinsville and is a beloved local photographer at athletics and community events in both Collinsville and Granite City.
The inaugural “Paz Cup” was organized to provide support for Paz, who was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. He had previously been diagnosed with cirrhosis caused by a hereditary liver disease that sometimes also leads to cancer. A liver transplant will be his only option for a cure, he said.
“It was overwhelming,” Paz said of the community rallying behind him, although being in front of the camera instead of behind it is not something he’s used to. “You don’t really realize how many lives you touch.”
People frequently approach Paz to thank him for photos that he’s taken. One woman told him during Thursday’s game that a picture he took about eight years ago remains her favorite picture of her daughter.
“He’s just kind of become a staple in our community with his photography,” Collinsville Athletic Director Clay Smith said. Smith and Granite City Athletic Director John Moad were instrumental in creating the Cup.
Smith said when he coached soccer for several years, Paz was “pretty much part of my staff.”
“He captured my kids grow up on the Collinsville campus” he added.
“When we heard about his diagnosis, looking at the soccer schedule and seeing that this was the last game on our regular season schedule, it only made sense that I get a hold of John and we put our heads together and do something to help him out,” Smith said.
“Our two schools work so well together, and this is a great cause,” Moad said. “It’s going to be a great event. I’m just wondering what color he’s going to wear when he comes out here.”
Prior to and at the event, both schools sold Paz Cup shirts — in Warrior red and Kakok purple — with the Cup logo on the front and the green liver cancer awareness ribbon on the back. It also included the initials “YWNA,” a reference to the motto of Paz’s favorite European Premier League team, Liverpool FC: “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Paz himself donned a half-red, half-purple Paz Cup shirt sewn by a local Collinsville quilter.
Proceeds from the shirt sales, the 50/50 raffle run by both schools’ students at the game and collected donations will go to Paz and his family to help with medical bills.
“We want to try to do everything we can to help them out,” Moad said.
The Kahoks won the game 3-0, receiving the shiny, traveling trophy from Paz and his two brothers. The next Paz Cup is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2024 at Collinsville High School.
