Soccer Standout Offers His ‘Teachable Moment’
(March 17, 2008)
Former men’s soccer standout Nathan Reimer (2002-03) is currently a graduate student at the University of Chicago working toward completing his master’s degree in social science. He recently reflected on how Oakton influenced his life.

Reimer was a defenseman on one of the most decorated teams in Oakton history. Along the way to earning the College’s first ever Skyway Community College Athletic Conference Championship, Steve Brody’s 2003 squad finished the season with a school record 16 wins. Reimer garnered individual accolades as he was named to the Skyway Community College Conference All-Conference Team, as well as the NJCAA Region IV All-Region Team.

“Playing at Oakton honestly was the best soccer experience I ever had,” said Reimer, whose soccer is now limited to occasional late-night sessions at the University of Chicago. “I will always remember my time playing soccer at Oakton. The teams I played on had enormous focus and chemistry. All the players really clicked.”

Looking to earn a doctorate in order to teach at the college level, Reimer credits Oakton’s supporting environment for inspiring his career decision.

“Oakton was a good starting point for me,” he said. “Coming out of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I wanted to play soccer. At Oakton I was impressed that the focus is on teaching. Professors at Oakton aren’t concentrating all their time on writing books or doing research, so they are able to focus on teaching.”

Reimer would recommend the community college experience for any student.

“At Oakton I was able to take various classes while not paying thousands of dollars,” he said. “I would urge incoming students to go into a community college with an open mind and experience as many things as they can. That’s what’s benefited me the most.”

Nathan Reimer

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Men’s Soccer Coach Guides Illinois Select Team to National Title
Oakton’s men’s soccer coach Steve Brody led the Illinois men’s Select Team to a second consecutive United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) national championship at the George F. Donnelly Cup. The tournament was held Jan. 19-21, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Brody, along with former Oakton assistant men’s soccer coach Minos Vlamakis, coached the Illinois men’s Select Team during the three-day tournament. Select teams are composed of the best amateur players in a state’s soccer association.

Three former Oakton players, Adnan Ejupovic (2003-04), Alen Malkoc (2004-05), and Elmedin Zukic (2004), also were members of the national championship team.

Illinois opened the competition with a 1-0 victory over Utah on Saturday, Jan. 19, and defeated Eastern New York, 3-2, the following day. In the finals on Sunday, Jan. 21, Illinois secured the championship with a convincing 6-0 win over North Texas.

Brody and Vlamakis also coached the Illinois men’s Select Team to the 2007 national championship held in Tampa, Florida.

The George F. Donnelly Cup, hosted by USASA, is a high quality tournament featuring elite teams from across the country. The competition is named after George F. Donnelly, president of the former National Soccer League and a prominent figure in promoting soccer in the United States.

Oakton men’s soccer coach Steve Brody (far left) celebrates the national championship victory for the Illinois men’s Select Team at the George F. Donnelly Cup in Carson, California. Also pictured (left to right): former Oakton players Elmedin Zukic, Alen Malkoc, and Adnan Ejupovic; and former Oakton assistant coach Minos Vlamakis.

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Men’s Soccer 2006 Season Summary
The Oakton Community College men’s soccer team finished with a 9-6-1 record and advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV semifinals under fourth-year head coach Steve Brody.

While the Raiders’ postseason run was dashed by College of DuPage in a 4-3 heartbreaking loss, Oakton once again thrived in receiving national and regional recognition. Sophomore defender Jaroslaw Kociolek was named to the 2006 Men’s Division I Junior College All-America Second Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Kociolek anchored Oakton’s stingy defense, which posted a 1.64 goals against average.

“Other coaches recognize that we have a good program and some talented players,” said Brody. “We’re all very proud of Jaroslaw’s achievement.”

In addition to being one of 50 players invited to the NSCAA All-America luncheon in Indianapolis, Kociolek also was named to the NJCAA Region IV Division I Soccer All-Region First Team. Besides Kociolek, forward Sean Palacios, who led the team with 27 points, also was named to the first team. Midfielder Bart Dyczkowski, goalkeeper Esmir Kander, and defenseman Christos Panayi were second team selections.

Kociolek, Palacios, Dyczkowski, Kander, and Panayi also were first team selections to the Skyway Conference All-Conference Team. William Alfaro, Mehmed Mujcinovic, Joe Nicoll, and Tony Stavrapoulos were named to the second team.

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Recapping the 2005 Season
The Oakton Community College men’s soccer team finished the 2005 campaign with a 13-5-0 record, marking the third consecutive year the Raiders posted a double-digit campaign under head coach Steve Brody. Over the last three seasons, Brody has compiled a 42-13-2 record (.737 winning percentage).

With a successful 2005 season under their belts, postseason accolades once again poured in for the Raiders.

Sophomore defender Alen Malkoc (Ft. Worth, Texas/North Crowley High School) was selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as a Second Team All-American. This is the second year in a row an Oakton athlete received this award.

A trio of players was also named to the NSCAA Junior College Division I Men’s All-North Region Team. Malkoc and freshman Elfid Kovacevic (Grandville, Michigan/Grandville High School) were NSCAA Junior College Division I Men’s All-North Region First Team selections, while freshman Elmedin Zukic (Kentwood, Michigan/East Kentwood High School) was named to the NSCAA Junior College Division I Men’s All-North Region Second Team. The NSCAA North Region comprises junior college soccer players from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

The Raiders also placed five players on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV All-Region Team. Malkoc, Kovacevic, and Zukic were chosen to the NJCAA Region IV All-Region First Team, while sophomore Mike Rose (Skokie, Illinois/Niles West High School) and freshman goalkeeper Esmir Kander (Chicago, Illinois/Roosevelt High School) were named to the NJCAA Region IV All-Region Second Team.

For the third year running, an Oakton athlete earned Skyway Conference Player of the Year honors, as this time Malkoc was the recipient. Ten Oakton players also earned Skyway Conference All-Conference accolades, including five athletes named to the first team, the most in the league. Malkoc, Kovacevic, Zukic, Rose, and Kander were Skyway Conference First Team selections. Named to the Skyway Conference All-Conference Second Team were sophomore Emir Hadziahmetovic (Chicago, Illinois/Lane Tech High School), sophomore Vanroy Clarke (Evanston, Illinois/Evanston Township High School), sophomore Jordan Luckey (Streator, Illinois/Streator High School), freshman Christos Panayi (Birmingham, England/Lordwood Boys’ School), and freshman Tony Stavrapoulos (Northbrook, Illinois/Glenbrook North High School).

“We’re certainly well-represented and I’m very proud of all our honorees,” said Brody. “For the second year in a row, Alen’s all-around ability and defensive leadership got the attention of opposing coaches. He’s the type of player that coaches notice. Elfid and Elmedin are certainly impact players and very deserving of their honors, as are all our players.”