STAS WIELOWSKI
Stas Wielowski was born in Sieradz, Poland, a small town of 20,000 approximately 200 kilometer from the capital of Warsaw.
Even as a youngster he possessed a burning desire to play sports. At 12 Stas incorporated soccer into his daily life, initially playing on a local boy’s team, then quickly moving up the ranks to the junior division representing the “Warta” Sieradz.
As a 16-year old his talent and ability earned him a spot on the senior team. Two years later he progressed to play on a state level.
With an unquenched desire and a love for sports running through his veins, soccer was not his only passion. While still pursuing soccer on a fulltime level, Stas innate, natural athletic ability allowed him to explore his other passion, wrestling.
As a wrestler, he reached great success. Through relentless hard work and dedication by 18, Stas proudly held the honor of National Champion in his age group – 20 and under.
In 1972, at the age of 20, he was selected to the Senior National Wrestling Team. By 1974, his accomplishments earned him the right to represent his country on the Polish National Olympic Team headed for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
While competing as a member of the Olympic Team at the European Championships in April, 1976 he sustained a severe shoulder injury. The severity of the injury devastatingly erased any hope of fulfilling his dream of competing in the Olympics.
A year later, he was forced to retire from wrestling altogether.
That same year, through the encouragement of his old wrestling coach Stas decided to leave Poland and head for the U.S. He settled in Perth Amboy where he was warmly embraced by a close-knit Polish community.
Through his association with United Poles in America, a non-profit organization in 1979, he founded the ZPA Soccer Club and became its president, coach, and largest sponsor.
The following year the ZPA Perth Amboy soccer team played its first game in the newly formed Garden State League. For four consecutive years (1984-87) ZPA won the State Over-30 Cup and was U.S. Open Over-30 Cup regional champions in 1985 and ’86.
ZPA’s proudest moment was reaching the final in the National Over-30 Cup in St. Louis, where it came in as runnerup.
In the 1980’s Stas played an integral role in his team’s success. Twice he was named Garden State Soccer League leading scorer and selected to the GSSL and NJSA all-star teams.
In 1995, Stas officially took a less active role as a player, and decided to shift his focus and attention to running and managing the team. At the age of 50 he still plays with the Over 40 team.
During the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons ZPA outshined the competition and won the GSSl Semi-Pro Division. In 1999 the success continued as it captured the N.J. State Cup Championship, followed by the Champions’ League Cup in 2001 and 2002. Since 1998 the ZPA Soccer Club has been considered one of the premier teams in the Champions’ League and the state of New Jersey.
For 23 years, Stas has dedicated himself and his efforts to his team in the role of player, president, manager, sponsor and caretaker.
Since 1990 Stas has served on boards of various Polish organizations, seven years as president of the Polish American Soccer Association; five years as president of the United Poles in America in Perth Amboy, and the last years on the board of United.
