By Billy Cruz
IV Leader Assistant Sports Editor

There is no doubt IVCC was in serious need of a head baseball coach who would be willing to turn around a program that had been struggling so much in past years. That need turned out to be just what has gotten the school’s baseball team recognition throughout not only the state of Illinois, but the nation as well when Bob Koopmann was hired.

Koopmann’s first team struggled throughout much of that rebuilding season before posting a dismal 5-39 record. Since then, the fifth-year IVCC mentor has guided his teams to three consecutive winning seasons, including last year’s remarkable school-record 45 wins, a sectional and region championship, and a berth in the state championship game, which the then Apaches lost to arch-rival Parkland College.

The 2001-2002 Eagles are currently ranked # 2 in the nation, according to a coaches poll from the Division II NJCAA National Office, which was released on Feb. 5. IVCC is second to only Jefferson Davis Community College of Brewton, Alabama.

Koopmann is pleased with the high ranking and national publicity, but knows that rankings do not produce wins, but place a target on his team’s back. He does see the ranking as a tribute to his players.

"The ranking doesn’t mean a whole lot to me," said Koopmann. "It is a credit to the past and present players."

Koopmann, along with Associate Head Coach John Cruz and Assistant Coaches Tim Trevier and Jon Drahos are looking forward to the new season and are optimistic about the team’s capabilities.

"This season should be a fun season to coach for all of our coaches because this group has a lot of things other than just talent," remarked Koopmann. "They have more important things like composure, being humble, and the ability to laugh at themselves. They have a great work ethic and they have dreams, but above all they have one heartbeat."

Koopmann is pleased with the way his team has been practicing and coming together to prepare for the upcoming season, but still has concerns regarding his team.

"I think the team is more than just jelling together," stated Koopmann. "They simply understand the concept 'to think as one.' However, I would like to see the team do a better job of budgeting their time to fit their academic studies before concentrating so much on baseball."

Koopmann has high expectations for his squad, and he is hoping to get a big lift from numerous returning key players, including team captains Billy Corrigan, Kent Graff, Nathan Miller, Justin Petitt, Jake Resser, and Billy Terry. Koopmann hopes his captains can lead by example and provide leadership to his ball club.

Like the coaching staff, the captains themselves also have many goals they are hoping to achieve this season, which includes making it to the World Series in Tennessee.

"Our team is going to be very successful this year," said Petitt, who serves as a utility man for the Eagles. "I think one of our main goals is to improve throughout the season and make sure we are all participating at the highest level possible when the postseason comes along."

Resser, one of the team’s pitchers, feels the team can be very successful if they continue to play together and peak at the right time.

"I think one of our biggest strengths is our team unity," said Resser. "That has been tremendous. If we can play consistent and catch fire just before the postseason like we did last season, we can be very competitive in the end. That momentum carried us in the postseason a year ago."

Terry, who will be looking to improve on his six wins on the mound a year ago, feels the team has to remain focused at what is at stake.

"We need to stay focused," commented Terry. "This team wants to win the Arrowhead Conference this year and make it to the World Series. We have to take it one game at a time and focusing will be key in the team’s success. We can’t play inconsistent baseball and afford to struggle at times like we did last year."

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