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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Fred Rakers,
4longtime coach of the Mater Dei High School girls volleyball
5team, on his retirement; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The team recently won its sixth State
7championship; Coach Rakers leaves with a coaching record of
81,046 wins, 200 losses, and 7 ties, the second-most wins in the
9history of Illinois volleyball according to Illinois High
10School Association records; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Nationally ranked Mater Dei defeated Joliet
12Catholic in November of 2010 to win the Class 3A State title,
13finishing the season 41-1; the Knights also won State
14championships in 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2001; and
 
15    WHEREAS, During the three State championship seasons from
161993-95, the Knights rolled through with a 118-4 record; in
171994, they were a perfect 38-0; 2010 marked the Knights' 20th
18State tournament appearance, and Coach Rakers just completed
19his 35th year as head coach; he began coaching in 1976; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Coach Rakers said he plans to continue teaching,
21which he has done at Mater Dei for 42 years; he has also hinted

 

 

HR1574- 2 -LRB096 24560 KXB 44381 r

1about staying around to help the program in some capacity,
2perhaps as an assistant coach; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Coach Rakers says he learned to coach volleyball
4by reading a book he found in the Mater Dei school library;
5therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8congratulate Coach Fred Rakers on his career as a volleyball
9coach for Mater Dei High School and wish him continued success
10for years to come; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to Coach Fred Rakers as a symbol of our respect and
13esteem.