Boys’ soccer: From the Queen Mary to nearly 500 wins...
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Rod Petkovic stood on the promenade deck of the RMS Queen Mary. Just a kid. Only 15 or so. Coming to America. The voyage lasted six days over the Atlantic, from France to New York, about 40 years ago. One word still sums up the journey: ‘Unbelievable,’ he says.
Petkovic’s voyage has yet to end, from Serbia to the grand ship to the Southland -- and to nearly 500 wins as coach of Millikan boys’ soccer team. It’s been 26 years of coaching the Rams.
It’s been almost nothing but success as Millikan has had more kids who’ve ended up playing in NCAA Final Fours and finals than any high school in the nation.
This year, nothing’s changed: The Rams are ranked No. 4 in Division I and tote a 15-1-3 record.
No matter what happens this season, or in any upcoming year, Petkovic will hark back to his oceanic odyssey with gratitude, knowing the Queen Mary led him to where he is now -- one of the top prep soccer coaches in California, if not the country.
Petkovic has since returned to the Queen Mary, docked only a few miles from the local soccer fields, and he recalls one memorable visit. ‘When I got married, my wife and I honeymooned on the Queen Mary,’ he says. ‘Because that’s where it all began for me.’
Check out Petkovic’s Rams at No. 3 Long Beach Cabrillo at 3 p.m. Friday in a Moore League showdown.
-- Anthony Stitt
-- Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Queen_Mary