Leavenworth Times Honors Frank Mazeitis

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - The Immaculata High School men's soccer team failed to produce the on-field success that its fans were hoping for during the 2006 season. Yet those same fans were never left in the dark when it came to news about the Raiders.

All the credit goes to coach Frank Mazeitis.

Unlike the vast - vast - majority of prep coaches, Mazeitis reported game results and team news to the Leavenworth Times faithfully throughout the season. He simply never missed a beat, despite Immaculata's 2-14-1 record.

For his efforts, Mazeitis, who also serves as an assistant coach for the Immaculata High School women's soccer team, was awarded the first-annual Leavenworth Times Friend of the Media Award on May 21 at the Kansas Media One Information Center.

"We decided to create this award in an effort to recognize coaches who go above and beyond their duty of reporting results," Leavenworth Times Managing Editor Scott Lowder said. "We rely on every coach to work with us in a professional manner in order to ensure we get the results and game information in a timely manner for the paper."

Mazeitis was willing to go the extra mile in reporting news for both the men's and women's soccer programs. The veteran coach would often drive to the Leavenworth Times office following dates staff reporters could not attend and report directly - with scorebook in hand and quotes ready to go.

And a friendly smile on his face.

Mazeitis, who became head men's soccer coach at Immaculata in 1996, felt he was only doing his duty.

"I always thought it was part of the job," Mazeitis said. "It's just one of those things that coaches do, but I wanted to do it, too. I just thought it was part of the job."
Mazeitis never complained about a lack of coverage from his hometown newspaper. He didn't have to. Neither did Raiders fans - thanks to Mazeitis' tireless efforts that ensured Immaculata soccer coverage would be available in the Leavenworth Times.

"I love to read the articles," Mazeitis said. "I critique myself. I'll see something in the paper, and I'll think maybe I could have said something differently or put it better. The athletes like it, too. Especially when (a Leavenworth Times reporter is) interviewing them. This is a small town but to be interviewed by the press and the local media, it bursts their buttons."

Mazeitis helped coach the Lady Raiders to a 4-10-1 record in 2007 - including a second-round berth in pre-KSHSAA tournament play.

The Leavenworth Times, which covers the athletics programs at Immaculata, Leavenworth, Lansing and Pleasant Ridge high schools, plans to honor another prep coach as its Friend of the Media following the conclusion of the 2007-08 school year - and for many years to come.

But Mazeitis will be remembered as the first recipient.

And a potential repeat honoree.

(Doug Magill, assistant sports editor for the Leavenworth Times, contributed to this report.)