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Marist junior Kamil Kokot is like a Swiss Army knife.
In football, Kokot is a kicker, kick returner, punt returner, receiver and defensive back. He played both quarterback and running back in grade school.
Meanwhile, in track, Kokot has competed in the 110-meter hurdles, the 300 hurdles, the 100 dash and the high jump. He also has been on two relay teams.
“My parents always wanted me to get good grades, play multiple sports and always be busy,” he said.
He is living up to that, for sure.
His track coach, Zachary Maslanka, likes the Swiss Army Knife analogy.
“It’s perfect,” he said. “Another phrase that comes to mind is that he is a jack-of-all-trades. But when I think of jack-of-all-trades, I think of the whole phrase ‘jack-of-all-trades and master of none.’
“But he is truly phenomenal at everything. He really knows how to do it all.”
Last spring, Kokot was the only sophomore in Illinois to qualify for the Class 3A state meet in the 110 hurdles, where he finished 20th with a time of 15.33 seconds.
Not bad for someone who just took up hurdling as a freshman.
“Everything fell into place,” said Wayne Holloway, Marist’s sprints and hurdles coach. “Had he made the finals, it would have been a blessing, but he still finished as the top sophomore in state.
“Coming back as a junior, he’s going to make the finals.”
Kokot’s junior season, however, ran into a few hurdles away from the track.
One of them was the death of cross country and track coach Jon Gordon, who died Dec. 9 at age 51. Gordon had coaxed Kokot into competing in the hurdles.
His death rocked the whole team.
“It was definitely rough at the beginning,” Kokot said. “I was on my way to the hospital to visit him and I got a call that he passed away. It was definitely very hard for me.
“It was hard for my teammates because he did a lot for us. We’ll never forget him.”
Kokot will never forget his conversations with Gordon about getting into hurdling.
“I was very hesitant at the beginning,” Kokot said. “But after sophomore year, I was very grateful he told me to do the hurdles my freshman year.
“I never imagined I would be going to the state meet in hurdles.”
Maslanka, who was an assistant cross country coach with Gordon, is trying to keep the team focused, even though he misses Gordon.
“He was such an interesting guy with all of his quirks and comments, and I just loved it,” Maslanka said. “I almost feel like I’m getting to know coach Gordon better after the fact just from the way the boys ask me questions.
“John knew everything and could tell you what times guys ran at meets in previous years.”
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Another hurdle that was a little easier for Kokot to overcome was the way the football season ended.
York beat Marist 27-21 in a double overtime on Nov. 5 during a Class 8A second-round playoff game.
In the second OT, the RedHawks tried a fake field goal. Kokot was tackled short of the goal line, and minutes later, York ran the ball in for the winning score.
Afterward, Marist coach Ron Dawczak said he would run that play again because Kokot “is our fastest guy.” Senior defensive lineman Jamel Howard also took the blame for the loss.
At the same time, Kokot took responsibility as well, but he has moved forward.
“I’m not blaming teammates or anyone else,” Kokot said. “It is what it is. You learn from it and do better next year and work harder. It’s in the past and it’s a lesson for me.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
