POPLARVILLE, Miss. — A stalwart defender and an elite chance creator, Pearl River soccer alum Stephen Kulikowski has earned his rightful place among the best-of-the-best.
On July 25, Kulikowski will be inducted into the Pearl River Athletics Hall of Fame presented by Keith's Superstores at Hollywood Casino & Resort in Bay St. Louis.
He will be joined by fellow inductees, football and basketball legend Larry Brackins, legendary women's basketball coach Polly Kirkland LeVert, and football star Stevie Moody. PRCC will also honor Eric "Poncho" James, the Wildcats' first-ever mascot, as this year's Spirit of a Wildcat recipient. Additionally, Pearl River will recognize its 2004 MACJC and NJCAA National Champion football team, the 1994-95 Region 23 Champion women's basketball team and the 1994-1995 MACJC and Region 23 Champion men's golf team.
Once referred to by his coach as the "best stopper in the state," Kulikowski turned a position change into a career that has placed him in rare company. In his time as a Wildcat, he scored 16 goals and bagged 20 assists in his sophomore season alone, helping lead the Wildcats to MACJC and Region 23 Championships.
"Dr. (Adam) Breerwood called me and wanted to be my first phone call, and I wouldn't want any other person to call me to tell me that I was in there," Kulikowski said on hearing of his induction. "I was blown away, I was speechless. I wasn't your prolific goal scorer. When you think of a soccer player, in this realm of caliber, you think of a goal scorer. You don't think of a guy who plays defense.
"I didn't think that it was something that I was, I'm not going to say capable of getting, but I just didn't expect it, honestly."
HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
Kulikowski arrived at The River following a decorated career at Saint Stanislaus. Kulikowski was a three-year starter at sweeper for the Rock-A-Chaws while being recognized as an All-State performer twice and All-Division three times for coach Andy Kivlan.
"It kind of started in my sophomore year," Kulikowski said. "I thrived under Coach Kivlan. I enjoyed him as a coach."
Kulikowski's play was not just being noticed in Mississippi. After his junior year of high school, he was selected to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the national level and was named Third Team All-American at a National Soccer tournament at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
"I was lucky enough to be selected to play in a national high school association soccer tournament at Disney's Wide World of Sports," Kulikowski said. "I was honored with a third-team All-American selection."
LIFE AT THE RIVER
Coming out of high school in 2002, Kulikowski had to choose between offers from four-year schools or playing with his high school teammates at The River. PRCC's head soccer coach and current President, Dr. Adam Breerwood's pitch made the decision an easy one.
"I did have multiple offers, some smaller NAIA schools, but what sold me with coach Dr. Breerwood's vision," Kulikowski said. "He wanted a group from Stanislaus together to win the first state championship for Pearl River. All of my best friends were going to Pearl River, so I signed to be a Wildcat."
The decision to attend Pearl River and a position change put Kulikowski on a path to reach Dr. Breerwood's state championship goal. Upon arriving at The River, Kulikowski was moved from the sweeper position, as the last line of defense, to a stopper position in front of the defensive line. The switch opened the field for Kulikowski, and his production reached new levels.
"At Pearl River, I didn't play the sweeper position. I played more of a stopper position, so I got to make a lot of offensive runs and that opened my game up to more scoring opportunities," Kulikowski said. "It really spread me out all over the field. I scored a few goals during my freshman and sophomore years, but I took pride in the assist category. In just my sophomore year alone, I think I had 24 assists, and I really took pride in that, more than anything."
Kulikowski said his success at his new position was directly related to the guys he had playing behind him on defense.
"They made my job a lot easier, especially the defense behind me. I knew I had such a good defense behind me," Kulikowski said. "I was able to make those runs, particularly, because of Bryce Breland, Brandon Baas, and Cameron Lovitt. Those guys, those three guys right there, were some of the best defenders I think I've ever played with."
Kulikowski has fond memories of his time as a member of the Wildcat soccer team. He recalled scoring the winning goal against rival Gulf Coast and defeating Hinds on their field to secure the MACJC championship.
A story that sticks out to Kulikowski is when Dr. Breerwood called on him and a few teammates during their freshman year. They were asked to help recruit players from one of their high school rivals.
"Dr. Breerwood wanted me and a couple of other guys to recruit some players from Oak Grove. We hated Oak Grove in high school, so it was very unique to be able to help form the next recruiting class," Kulikowski said. "You had all a whole bunch of Oak Grove players and a whole bunch of Stanislaus players playing together in my sophomore year. And I guess that's what they say, opposites attract. We became a really formidable soccer team."
CAMPUS LIFE
Kulikowski is grateful for his time at The River. He looks back with fond memories of life on campus with his teammates, which forged lifelong friendships.
"I met one of my best friends, he was from Florida and was in my wedding," Kulikowski said. "John Briscoe, I met him at Pearl River. He's still one of my best friends today."
Another teammate, Bryce Breland, whom Kulikowski has known since he was three, remains a good friend to this day.
Kulikowski looks back at the lifelong friends he made on campus. There was always something to do, from hanging out listening to music in the courtyard between the dorms to having a disc golf course on campus. Some of his best memories, though, come from an activity not allowed on campus at the time.
"We weren't allowed to fish in the ponds, but I caught some really big bass," Kulikowski remembered. "It was fun. There was a smaller pond across from where the tennis courts used to be. One night, I threw a couple a couple top waters out, and I saw this fish trailing it, and I knew it was a big fish, and then he hit, and it was like a 7-and-a-half-pound bass."
LIFE AFTER PEARL RIVER
After graduating from Pearl River, Kulikowski earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State in Business Administration.
After Mississippi State, he moved to Atlanta and worked in the landscape industry for 5/12 years. He moved back to Mississippi and continued to work in landscaping. Kulikowski transitioned to the insurance industry, where he has spent the past eight-plus years. He currently works for the Scotti Catalano State Farm office in Diamondhead.
Kulikowski met his wife, Stacy, at Mississippi State, and they are the proud parents of two future Wildcats, their son Gavin and daughter Logan.
HOW TO NOMINATE
Know a former Wildcat who you believe should be considered in the future? Nominate by visiting https://prccathletics.com/hof/Hall_of_Fame_nomination_form or visiting PRCCAthletics.com/HOF and clicking the nomination form link at the top of the page.
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