RAPID CITY - The Rushmore Cup soccer tournament has wide-ranging appeal for all involved.

The tournament began Friday with 79 teams - with boys and girls divisions - competing in divisions as young as 9 years old and up to 19. Teams competing from Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wyoming and South Dakota are playing throughout Rapid City.

First-time tournament director Shay Matkins put in plenty of work prior to the tournament to ensure it runs without a hitch.

"Anything that has to do with helping the kids I want to be involved," Matkins said. "I have been volunteering in the tournament for the past six years, and with two boys still competing this year I knew it was my time to step up."

Many coaches look at this tournament as an opportunity to play soccer and have a team-bonding experience all in one.

"(A Montana team) comes to this tournament with all of its high school players. This, along with tryouts, helps (the coach) determine who will make the team in the fall," said Matkins. "There are other teams that use it as an excuse to come play soccer, visit tourist attractions and camp in the Hills."

Rapid City Stevens head coach Troy Anderson is coaching the Rushmore Soccer Club's U-13 girls team while looking to challenge all of his players.

"This tournament is about getting our players the opportunity to play some top-notch soccer competition which helps to fine-tune their skills for their next step in their soccer careers," he said.

Anderson has two daughters competing in the tournament. Megan Anderson is playing on the U-16 Rushmore team and Michaela Anderson, who currently plays soccer for the University of North Dakota, is playing on the South Dakota United team.

"For some of these kids they are saying goodbye to teammates that they have been playing with since they were 9 years old, and now they are wrapping up their competitive soccer careers with the U-19 divisions," he said. "Some will continue to play in college and others will never play again and that's the sad part."

"For the most part it is a positive experience and for those who have been participating in this tournament over the years they love it."

Ryan Keohane, a recent Rapid City Stevens graduate, has been playing in the tournament since he was 9 and each year he has competed on the Rushmore boys' team they have won a championship. He is here to remain undefeated over his 10-year span, playing on the U-19 team for Rushmore.

"This tournament has been getting better each and every year we play in it," said Keohane, who is going to play soccer at the University of Sioux Falls in the fall. "As a 9-year-old there wasn't that many teams from out of state, but that has improved in recent years stepping up the competition level."

The Rushmore Cup continues today and Sunday.