Hopkins honors 4 individuals, 1st state grid finalist

Nostalgia reigned supreme Saturday evening at the second annual Hopkins High School Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony.

This time the honorees were longtime head varsity football coach Rex Weaver, his 1999 football team that was the first ever from Hopkins to reach the state finals, basketball and softball standout Tracy Hazen Iciek and Dennis and Judy Kennedy, who ran the concession stand at athletic contests for 39 years.

Last year’s ceremony welcome 10 inductees, but this year’s list was shortened, unless you consider each of the 1999 football team members and coaching staff.

Tracy Hazen Iciek

A 1979 graduate of Hopkins, Iciek set the school season records for 347 points scoring and 389 rebounds. It was noted by emcee Brian Ballard that her 1978 total in rebounds still is among the top 10 in state records.

Iciek played on the 1976, 1977 and 1978 squads and watched as a freshman when Karen Caywood (an inductee last year), Sue Maher and company made it to the state finals in 1975. She also was a standout on the Viking softball team. She was a member of six league champions and five district championship teams and later played some basketball at Western Michigan University.

But she gave credit to her teammates, her family and her community.

“Without all of you, I wouldn’t be standing up here tonight,” she said. “We were one big family.

She did return to coaching after graduating from WMU and said she still loves the game.

Her greatest disappointments, and there weren’t many, were losing to Kalamazoo Christian in 1977 after going undefeated until the regional finals and losing a regular season game to neighborhood rival Wayland.

Rex Weaver

Already inducted into the Michigan Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Weaver fashioned a 214-91-1 overall record and guided the Vikings to the state Class CC finals twice. He began his career at Hopkins in 1972 as junior varsity coach and took over the varsity in 1981.

Besides the two appearances in the state finals, his teams won 15 conference championship and five regional titles.

Weaver acknowledged a lot of changes in high school football over his career.

He recalled, “When I started, you played your nine games, then turned in your equipment and said ‘see you next year’.” Now high school teams shoot for the playoffs if they can win six ballgames or go 5-4 against teams with quality schedules.

Another big change was that football became a year-round commitment with weight training and summer camps.

“We had a lot of dedicated athletes,” he commented.

Weaver listed several games as special highlights of his career:

• The 1995 regional championship game in a snowstorm, won 6-3 in overtime over Union City.

• The controversial playoff victory over Constantine a year later in which the referees had to be escorted off the field by police.

•  The 1999 season opener, celebrating 50 years of football in Hopkins, when the Vikings pulled out a rare 31-28 victory over perennial powerhouse Muskegon Catholic.

• The playoff running power vs. passing power victory over Berrien Springs.

• The 25-22 upset victory over Maple Valley in the playoffs.

• Two victories in which Weaver said almost perfect execution of game plans prevailed, 20-17 over a better Coopersville team and 21-0 over Jackson Lumen Christi.

About the 1999 team, which had 15 members and four coaches present as honorees on the same stage, Weaver noted, “We had great support from our community. The first time we went to the Silverdome (for the state finals), you could have come into Hopkins and stole the town.”

The 1999 Hopkins Varsity Football Team

Tri-Captains Cody Francis, the current Vikings varsity coach, Nathan Vogt and Kevin Glupker were selected to speak on behalf of the team, which went 12-2, lost a regular season game to Class B Dowagiac and made it to the Silverdome, losing the championship game 21-14 to St. Charles.

Vogt was selected to speak with the other two captains standing with him.

He said the while point of playing often was recognized with the motto, “For the Honor of Hopkins High School.”

Vogt also said seeing the members of the first Hopkins team of 1949 was a special honor, as was winning the game against Muskegon Catholic in their presence.

“Without the support of the community, the Hopkins High School football program wouldn’t be the same,” he concluded.

Also recognized and present were assistant coaches Jim Newell (an inductee last year), Mick Francis, T.J. Restau and Glenn Noble.

Dennis and Judy Kennedy

Judy Kennedy did the talking for the couple, who joined the Hopkins Athletic Boosters in 1976 and took over the concession stand in 1978, never faltering or wavering in their commitment.

“This is very humbling. We didn’t expect this,” Judy said. “But this is a family thing. Sometimes that means 12-year-old popping popcorn.”

She singled out the efforts of the Francis, Beck and Hazen families behind the scenes.

“I love all these kids,” she said. “I’ve watched them grow up.”

Hall of Fame Committee Member Linsay Mitchell, credited with organizing much of the event, said Bob Beck and Scott VanBonn are stepping down from the committee, leaving two vacancies. The other members are Lee Dale “Pete” Arnsman, Jim Newell, Adam Valk, Dan Kisner, Rick Hazen and Brooke Brenner.

She said anyone interested in serving should get in touch with Valk, the athletic director.