Celebrating 100 Years of Irish Football

With football being born into Hackett in 1923, this year, 2023, Hackett Catholic Prep celebrates the 100th anniversary of Irish football by honoring the leaders, champions, and achievements in the 100 years of Irish football.

In 1923, Fr. John R. Hackett formed the first Hackett football team called the Gibbons Hall Gibbonites, whose home field was at Kalamazoo College. The Gibbonites played a seven game season, with a record of 4-3. Two years later, the Gibbonites became the Fighting Irish, and being coached by Harve Freeman, won their first ever state championship in 1929, and went on to win two more state championships under Freemans coaching. Later, in 1965, Harve Freeman was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame, and Hackett’s gym was named in his honor.

In 1939, the Fighting Irish moved their home field downtown, to what is known today as the Soisson Rapacz-Clason Field. Irish football still plays at this field. In 1941, Ted Pavelec was the first Irish alum to play in the NFL, playing for the Detroit Lions, then in 1950, a second Hackett alum, Chuck Schoolmaster, got drafted by the Baltimore Colts to play in the NFL. In 1943, alum Norb Reisterer became the new coach, but only coached for three years before Bill Rajkovich took over the program in 1946. Under the leadership of Rajkovich, the Irish won their next state championship in 1949.

After coaching for nine years, Rajkovich retired, and Dick Soisson began coaching with the addition of John Rapacz in 1956. The two coached together for 34 years until Soisson retired in 1990, and Rapacz passed in 1991. The Irish won two state championships under their leadership, the first in 1963 and then again in 1971.

Mike Jansen, a member of the 1971 championship team, says that playing for Soisson and Rapacz was “exciting due to their reputation.” He explained how in 1971 the Fighting Irish did not belong to a conference, so the inability to win a conference title made them hungrier to win the state title. So when they won, Jansen described it as “very satisfying.”

Soisson and Rapacz instilled a culture of success throughout the Hackett Football Program, and because of their success, both coaches were inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Hackett's home field, the Soisson Rapacz-Clason Field, was renamed in their honor.

In 2014, the Fighting Irish combined with the Kalamazoo Christian Comets and became Kalamazoo United, which is what Hackett football remains to this day. Mike Smith, a former Hackett player and current United Football coach says that “no matter if you're from Kalamazoo Christian or Hackett, we can come together and be successful”, so even though Kalamazoo Christian is our rival team in other sports, the football team still creates great relationships. Senior Eli Backman says that “combining with K Christian added a different level of friendship and family to Irish football”.

Over the years, Irish football has been molded into a successful, winning program by great players, coaches, and teams. “Everyone comes in knowing this is a winning program”, said Smith. Despite its relatively small size compared to opponents, the culture and attitude within Hacketts football program over the years allows them to take on challenges and be successful.

Currently, the Kalamazoo United Titans are on a two game win streak and are 4-2, as they take on Constantine this Saturday at 1 PM. They will look to extend their win streak and make the playoffs for the eighth time in the last ten years. “Savor every moment of it”, Jansen says, “It’s over before you know it.”