A Class to Remember: Those Who Stay Will Be Champions
- Oct 27, 2017
- 3 min read
Graphic by E. Hawkins
Photos 1, 5 appear courtesy of Carthage Athletics
Photos 2-4 by M. Fingerson
On Sat., Oct. 28th, the Carthage College men’s soccer team will host Augustana College for a senior night match that will also be crucial to the team’s success in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. It will be a night that honors five seniors in Daniel Axtman, Joey Klawitter, Sahr Mahoney, and captains Johnny Rimkus and Jamie Tausend.
“Jamie has remained dedicated to the team, he has been doing a great job as a captain, broke the record for Career Starts and one of the best Lefts Backs out there. Johnny, is a terrific forward with amazing finishes. Sahr has come along way, and he is one of the roughest and toughest guys we have; an incredible guy who has worked hard throughout his four years on the team. No matter what day it is or what’s going on outside of practice, he has a smile on his face and is committed to the team,” said Dyminski.
These five, however, have proven the players who stay are those who become champions. 2014 saw the arrival of a multitude of freshmen whose careers did not start they way they had envisioned upon arriving at Carthage, finishing with a 9-10 record and a 2-5 run in the CCIW. The season sparked a resolve towards making a change that reflected more on the tradition of previous Carthage men’s soccer teams.
The following season the Red Men ventured towards what would be one of the most successful seasons in program history. Entering the 2015 CCIW Tournament as the fourth seed, the Red Men secured the win over Elmhurst College in Penalty Kicks, en route to winning the CCIW Tournament Title over North Central College and the conference’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Championship Tournamen automatic qualifying bid.
The team would achieve another program first, in winning the first round of NCAA tournament action versus Ohio Northern Univrsity, before falling to the eventual NCAA tournament runners up, Loras College, during the second round of play.
The Red Men took their CCIW success a step further, winning the regular season title via a perfect 8-0 and defending their CCIW Tournament Title, making for a historic 10-0 CCIW overall record. From Sat, Oct. 1-Sat, Nov. 5 2016, the team forged the second longest winning streak in program history of 11 games.
The Red Men would also experience a program first in hosting an NCAA First and Second Round Games hosting Benedictine University, Hanover College, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. However, the Red Men would fall to Benedictine in the first round on a penalty kick in overtime.
“They have been on a ride with going from not from qualifying for the CCIW tournament as freshemn to having that 10-0 finish as juniors. For them to have become one of the most successful teams as sophomores and juniors speaks volumes,” said Assistant Coach Filip Dyminski.
The Red Men senior class holds an overall record of 50-28-5 leading up to senior night, but they are not done yet by any means. Tausend broke the record for most career starts by a Red Men with 75 starts, dethroning Max Ziblut’s 74; Tausend will add a 77th start on Senior Night. Tausend also ranks in the Top 5 for Most Assists with 16. Rimkus also made his presence known in the Top 10 on the Career Goals List with 20 goals.
“Being one of the top guys on that list is an honor, but most importantly I want to do what’s right for the team, whther it’s setting up players to score or being the one who scores the goal. The team always comes first. It’s been great to represent hy hometown, have my family and friends see me play, and above all else, find my second family through the team,” said Rimkus.
With one more match left before the announces official seeding for the championship tournament, the seniors will be tasked with defending their two-time CCIW Tournament Championship Title.
“This group of senior men helped continue the storied tradition of success here at Carthage. Most programs measure accomplishment in terms of wins, we measure ourselves by the reduction of loses. This group only lost 7 regular season CCIW matches in their entire career which is a tremendous feat in our league. More than the Conference Championships and NCAA Appearances, these people are important parts of our community off the field and tremendous students. I am proud to know them, proud of what they have accomplished, I am proud they did it here, and most proud of who they are,” explained Head Coach Steve Domin.
No matter the finish, the Class of 2018 will have reminded many of their successors the benefit of committing to the program in their time at Carthage. It is the commitment in which those who stay, will be champions.
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