Gaspari can relate to Geneva's turnaround

One would be hard-pressed to find two high school football teams who have enjoyed more recent success than Batavia and Geneva.

Over the past five seasons, including this year, Geneva has compiled a 42-12 record with four consecutive state playoff appearances and a pair of Class 6A semifinal berths.

Batavia, which has experienced just two losing seasons since 1991, is fresh from its first appearance in the 6A state championship game.

When the neighboring rivals meet in Batavia Friday night for the 90th time in their long-storied history, there will be plenty at stake

While the Vikings have already clinched the Western Sun Conference title and wrapped up a playoff berth before October's arrival, they'd love to cap a perfect regular season with a win on Batavia's home field.

The Bulldogs, who will likely join Geneva as a 2007 postseason qualifier, hope to extend their recent mastery of the Vikings. Batavia has won 11 of the last 12 meetings.

Contrary to popular belief, winning hasn't always been the norm for these two schools.

In fact, there was a time not so long ago when a 2-7 mark was seen as progress.

"When I tell people that we once were 1-8 (for three straight years back in the 1980s), some literally think I'm making it up," said Batavia coach Mike Gaspari.

During Rob Wicinski's first four years as Geneva head coach, his Viking teams won just five games -- total.

"We weren't thinking about winning games, we were thinking about getting a first down, winning a series, then winning a quarter," said Wicinski.

Throughout the tough times, Wicinski remained positive -- and patient.

"You have to be persistent and you have to believe in the system," said Wicinski. "And it took a lot of maturity on my part. When you're a young buck, you want success right away. Having already been a head coach before (at Niles North) really helped me here."

Wicinski has a hand-written note under his mirror that simply reads, 'enjoy.'

"When I came to Geneva, I talked about enjoying the process," he said. "I had already been to the desert without any water."

After the Vikings went 1-17 in his first two seasons, Wicinski was thirsting for success.

"I remember going up against the teams in our conference like Minooka, Plainfield Central and Oswego and just getting pounded," he recalled. "There were times when I wondered, 'what did I do?'

"But I also knew that Geneva once had a lot of success (Jerry Auchstetter's Vikings enjoyed 19 consecutive winning seasons from 1967-85). I learned that there might have been some residue left from those years."

During Wicinski's fifth year at Geneva -- in 2003 -- the Vikings finally climbed above the .500 mark at 5-4 but failed to make the playoffs.

"Looking back, it might have been the best thing that happened to the program," said Wicinski. "I still feel horrible about those seniors not making it (to the playoffs), but the next year that became our rallying cry -- one more rep…one more yard…one more first down…one more win.'"

Gaspari also remembers the difficult times -- when the Bulldogs went 8-37 in his first five years at the helm from 1985-89.

"You have to overcome a tremendous amount of apathy from within the community," said Gaspari. "I remember when we had a tough time getting the players to wear their jerseys to school on Fridays. The kids were embarrassed and the numbers were low.

"You learn what you're all about and you persevere. You have to stick in what you believe, try to keep your coaching staff in place and keep the proper perspective."

Coincidentally, Geneva played a role, albeit not purposely, in the early stages of Gaspari's coaching career at Batavia.

"You have to remember that they were a powerhouse and had beaten us 20 straight times," Gaspari said. "The next year (1988), we won two games, including a victory in our Homecoming game for the first time in 11 years and beat Geneva in our final game. That was a huge steppingstone for the program."

A bigger breakthrough came three years later in 1991 when the Bulldogs finished 7-3 and reached the playoffs for the first time.

"I think it started in 1989 when we had a bunch of sophomores up on varsity," said Gaspari. "We finished 3-6 but were just 11 points from being 7-2. We were 4-5 the next year and then had the 7-3 team."

After falling just shy of a playoff spot in 2003, Geneva posted an 11-2 mark and reached the state semifinals one year later.

"I also had a No. 9 on my team," Wicinski said of former Vikings quarterback Alex Pokorny. "He definitely was a key ingredient to our success."

Three years later, the winning has continued as the Vikings have compiled a 19-2 record the past two seasons.

"Now we have different problems, different issues to address," said Wicinski.

True, but winning makes it a whole lot more fun.