Published: November 27, 2009 12:53 am      

Park’s hard work pays off in big way

HOOPESTON — It’s not all that uncommon for high school, and even some college athletes to participate in more than one sport.

And with dedication, a strong work ethic and proper training, many of those same student athletes are beginning to take the next step by adding a fourth sport in the relatively short, three-season school year.

Area sports fans were introduced three years ago to the success of Schlarman standout and 2006 Commercial-News Volleyball Player of the Year Ali Omahen who excelled in both volleyball and swimming.

Bismarck-Henning junior Ian Park can now add his name to the area’s group of successful four-sport athletes as this year’s Commercial-News Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

“The coaches help a lot,” Park said of splitting time during the fall season between the Bismarck-Henning football team and the Hoopeston Area/Bismarck-Henning soccer team. “I love playing football just as much as I love playing any other sport I am in. Both (football) coach (Mark) Dodd and (soccer) coach (John) Klaber are really lenient and I wouldn’t be able to do any of that without them.”

After getting the appropriate time in with both teams required by the IHSA, Park shifts much of his focus to soccer, though continuing to dedicate adequate time as part of the Blue Devils’ football squad.

“Ian’s just a natural athlete,” Klaber said. “Every so often, coaches just find those true athletes that excel in many sports. He benefits a little bit from being from a smaller school where he has the ability to play in many (sports) and does well in all of them. But that also goes to show how much work he’s willing to put in.

“It hasn’t been a problem at all (sharing time between football and soccer). It’s really worked smoothly. I give credit to him and coach Dodd both for helping to make that work out well.”

As soon as the soccer and football seasons are both complete, Park immediately joins the Bismarck-Henning boys basketball team, and then transitions right into track and field where he narrowly missed advancing to last year’s state finals in the 300-meter hurdles.

Park attributes much of the success in each of his sports to staying active throughout the year, especially in soccer where conditioning is key.

“I don’t know if it’s anything but a good thing,” Park said. “Not to jinx myself or anything, but I’ve never been injured. I think that if I wasn’t so active throughout every season, I don’t know that maybe I wouldn’t have been injured sometime.

“It’s definitely helped keep me fit. I never have to do any running on my own because whatever activity I am participating in, I’m running with that team. With fitness and strength, it’s definitely helped me.”

But there’s no question that his biggest impact so far this year has been with the HABH Cornjerkers, helping them to their second straight regional championship appearance and third Vermilion Valley Conference title in four years.

Working in tandem with Little Illini club teammate Kraig VanWieringen — who was also among this year’s top Player of the Year candidates, along with teammate and goal keeper Tyler Davis — the Cornjerkers came within one victory of tying the program’s record for wins in a season (17).

“We get to be together all year, so it helps to get to know each other and build chemistry as players,” VanWieringen said. “When me and him are together, we can usually pass off of each other because we both have pretty good ball-handling skills. We can usually work off of each other, get those 1-2s, and work the ball down the field.”

The leadership and skills of both HABH athletes nearly helped the Cornjerkers stage a remarkable comeback in this year’s Mahomet-Seymour Regional Championship against the host Bulldogs. But time ultimately became their enemy, resulting in a 3-2 loss.

Klaber has seen a progression in Park’s game throughout the season and expects him to be nothing short of a team leader again next year.

“This year, he kind of took it on his wing more to help develop some of the younger talent,” Klaber said. “In the past, he might have gotten frustrated if something wasn’t going right. Now, instead of using that as a negative, he pushes kids to get better and takes the time to work with kids to see what they are doing wrong and to improve.

“He always demands the best. You need that on a team, someone that is just going to grab the bull by the horns (in a losing effort) and say hey, we’re not done yet. We’re still in this.

“We’re looking for even greater strides for him next year because he and Kraig VanWieringin both make a very formidable combination. They compliment each other well. I think that is a large part of the success they’ve both had this year.”