HR1574LRB096 24560 KXB 44381 r


  
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.