July 6, 2009
River Forest, IL - Ten years ago, during the summer of 1999, Sean Hendricks was preparing to be a junior defender for the Dominican University men's soccer team. Now Hendricks is defending his country, serving in Iraq as a member of the United States Marine Corps.
"I can't imagine my life without the experiences I've had both as a Marine and at Dominican University," commented Hendricks. "My life wouldn't be the same without the friends I have made and the memories that we share."
Hendricks, a native of Arlington, Tex., chose Dominican University, then Rosary College, after talking with Rosary alum Charlie Butler, a 1992 graduate of Rosary College and former member the men's soccer team. Butler told Hendricks about his experiences as a college soccer player and student at Rosary and referred him to Erick Baumann, a college teammate of Butler that took over the men's soccer program at Rosary as head coach in 1995.
Hendricks spent four seasons with the men's soccer program from 1996-2000. During his career, the Stars amassed an overall record of 69-18-1 with three Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Conference Tournament championships, two CCAC Regular Season championships and one Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) Tournament and Regular Season championships. Included in that span was the 1999 season, when the Stars posted a program best 21-2-0 overall record and earned the program's first and only bid to the NAIA National Tournament as they claimed the District VII Championship.
"I am proud of Sean not only for what he meant to our soccer program," said Baumann, "but more importantly for the individual he has become. It is with great pride that I call him an alum of our institution and the men's soccer program."
Hendricks went on to graduate from Dominican in January 2002 with a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Sociology before returning to Arlington. It was not until March 2006 when he pursued a lifelong dream of becoming a Marine, enrolling in boot camp at the US Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, Calif. Following boot camp Hendricks went to Marine Combat Training on Camp Pendleton before heading to Pensacola, Fla., where he attended Military Occupational Specialty for signals intelligence. Hendricks then returned to Camp Pendleton where he joined his current unit, 1st Radio Battalion. Hendricks first deployment to Iraq did not come until February 2008. He spent seven months in Iraq, not returning until September 2008.
"Physical training is a huge part of the Marine Corps. It helps prepare you for the elements you will encounter in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan as well as gives you the confidence to know that you can complete any task that is asked of you."
Hendricks, currently a Sergeant, is on his second deployment to Iraq and hopes to return to the United States in August or September.
"Marines do what we do for our country, but we also do it for the Marines on our right and our left," said Hendricks.
