Concordia Sports - The First 100 Years by Finn Grinaker

by Vernon Finn Grinaker
| Return to Index | Chapter 1 | 1903-1921 | 20's | 30's | 40's | 50's | 60' | 70's | 80's | 90's |

Chapter 6 -- The Fifties - A Time of Change

| 1950-1951 | 1951-1952 | 1952-1953 | 1953-1954 | 1954-1955 | 1955-1956 | 1956-1957 | 1957-1958 | 1958-1959 | 1959-1960 | Looking Back -- The Fifties |

Football 1959

Jake Christiansen coached the 1959 football team to a 7 - 2 overall record and second place in the MIAC with a 6 - 1 record. Assistant coaches were Finn Grinaker, Rod Grubb and Sonny Gulsvig. Captains of the team were Jim Christopherson and Bill Greenan.

Jim Christopherson '60,
Football

Scores for the season were:
Concordia 20 NDAC 29
Concordia 21 St. Thomas 20
Concordia 36 St. John's 6
Concordia 14 Augsburg 6
Concordia 14 Gustavus 36
Concordia 22 Duluth 0
Concordia 58 Hamline 0
Concordia 30 Macalester 6
Concordia 54 MSTC 14

The team roster included Jerome linser, Dave Spong, Dennis Albertson, LeRoy Meyer, Dick Roragen, Ed Christopherson, Roger Anderson, Don Suko, Don Brose, Al Gunderson, Marland Nohre, Ron Pfeffer, Wally Olson, Arlo Brunsberg, Jim Christopherson, Al Larson, Dave Braaten, Dick Nelson, Bud Aaker, Adrian Anderson, John Brenden, Gary Nelson, Don Peitsch, Gordon Jeppson, Dave Bromstad, Eldon Braun, Bill Greenan, Lynn Tharaldson, Dan Saarinen, Roger Adair, Dennis Morstad, Jim Hausmann, Gary Carlson, Bob Markwardt, Jack Nelson, Dave Anderson, Virgil Christianson, Dave Skeim, Bob Young, Wes Lokken, Bob Haines, Dick Young, Don Lokken and Dave Gorder.

Conference standings were:

Gustavus 7 - 0
Concordia 6 - 1
Duluth 4 - 2
St. John's 4 - 3
St. Thomas 3 - 3
Augsburg 2 - 5
Macalester 1 - 6
Hamline 0 - 7

Men's Basketball 1959-1960

The 1959-1960 basketball team, under Coach Sonny Gulsvig, had an 8 - 15 overall record and a 6 - 10 record in the MIAC. On the team were Ken Small, Lyle Sannes, Roger Adair, Bob Marquardt, Dennis Morstad, Arlo Brunsberg, Dennis Arndt, Les Torgerson, Dick Young, Darwin Gorder, Dick Pett, Paul Pederson, Glen Wheeler, Tom Wolhouse and Dave Braaten.

Basketball scores were:

Concordia 65 MSTC 58
Concordia 69 UND 76
Concordia 71 Gustavus 78
Concordia 61 St. Thomas 59
Concordia 68 St. Cloud State 72
Concordia 53 MSTC 58
Concordia 99 St. John's 83
Concordia 65 Hamline 70
Concordia 60 Duluth 67
Concordia 74 Macalester 79
Concordia 79 Augsburg 83
Concordia 72 NDAC 81
Concordia 75 St. Mary's 60
Concordia 101 Western Illinois 76
Concordia 89 Gustavus 81
Concordia 71 MSTC 73
Concordia 71 St. Thomas 65
Concordia 61 St. John's 64
Concordia 64 Hamline 78
Concordia 82 Duluth 84
Concordia 73 Augsburg 88
Concordia 75 St. Mary's 85
Concordia 76 Macalester 71

Men's Hockey 1959-1960

The Cobber hockey team opened their second season in the MIAC with a game against Duluth and the score was tied 2 - 2 at the end of the second period. Bud Duluth erupted for seven goals in the third period to win the game 9 - 2. Other scores were:

Concordia 2 Duluth 9
Concordia 2 Hamline 5
Concordia 0 St. Thomas 13
Concordia 2 Macalester 17
Concordia 2 Gustavus 8
Concordia 2 Augsburg 4
Concordia 1 St. John's 12
Concordia 3 St. Mary's 4
Concordia 1 Bemidji State 14

Lack of numbers and academic eligibility problems hampered the team as they ended with an 0 - 9 record. The roster included Richard Chenowith, Murray Bergman, John McFarland, Ron Luoma, Keith Springer, Bert Orrok, Roald Finanger, Don Brose, Roger Hesby, Charles Sundeen, Mel Soberg and Dave Anderson.

Wrestling 1959-1960

Four starters returned to Finn Grinaker's 1959-1960 wrestling team. On the roster were Dave Carlson, Ross Churchill, Dave Nelson, Earl Hauge, Ardell Knudsvig, Dave Johnson, Bruce Nokleby, Monroe Leraas, Mark Nielson, Brian Wermager, Ron Nellermoe, Renee Fuglestad, Dick Bergeson, Dale Anderson, Hi Lund, Wally Ness, Al Smaagard, Paul Neilson, Ron Pfeffer, Dan Loucks and Don Pietsch.

The season results were:
Carleton Invitational - 8th place out of 14 teams
Concordia 35 MSTC 8
Concordia 14 NDAC 17
Concordia 18 Augsburg 21
Concordia 26 UND 13
Concordia 12 St. Thomas 26
Concordia 8 NDAC 22
Concordia 14 Macalester 23
MSTC Invitational - 6th place out of 7 teams
Concordia 19 Gustavus 20
Concordia 13 Bemidji State 28

At the conference meet the scores were Macalester - 64, St. John's - 63, St. Thomas - 53, Augsburg - 42, Gustavus - 27, and Concordia - 22.

Gymnastics 1959-1960

Coach Dick Jackson's gymnnastics team broke even in dual meets with a 3 - 3 record. They defeated Bemidji and Luther while losing to the Fargo YMCA and Mankato State. At the Northwest meet in Minneapolis, the Cobbers were fourth in Class B & C. They ended the season by placing second in the Red River tournament.

Baseball 1960

Coach Sonny Gulsvig coached the 1960 baseball team to a 3 - 8 record overall and a 2 - 5 record in the MIAC. This was the first year for the team in the MIAC after a long absence. The team included Dan Loucks, Dick Johnson, Charlie MacDonald, Howie Nellermoe, Ed Beyer, Roger Adair, Tim Skinner, Ron Heppner, Maro Anderson, Arlo Brunsberg, Lyle Sannes, Gary Greenfield, Ray Hendrickson, Don Grages, Jerry Kahlager, Dell Olson, Larry Swanson, Jerry Harter, Don Brose and Dennis Lyngen.

The scores were:

Concordia 8 UND 6
Concordia 3 UND 6
Concordia 2 St. Cloud State 4
Concordia 8 Gustavus 9
Concordia 0 Gustavus 4
Concordia 8 St. Mary's 2
Concordia 12 Macalester 8
Concordia 3 Augsburg 5
Concordia 7 NDAC 17
Concordia 5 St. Thomas 8
Concordia 5 St. John's 10

Golf 1960

Three lettermen reported to Finn Grinaker's 1960 golf team. Members of the team were Captain Lee Sanderson, Dale Heacox, Wayne Sletton, Adrian Anderson and Don Opgrande.

Season results were:

MSTC Invitational - NDAC - 419, UND - 421, MSTC - 422, Concordia - 435, Bemidji - 451 (Lee Sanderson shot a 79)

NDAC Invitational - 8th place out of 9 teams

Concordia 7 1/2 St. John's 7 1/2

UND Invitational - 4th place

Concordia Invitational - NDAC - 386, UND - 397, MSTC - 410, Bemidji - 417, Concordia - 430

Tennis 1960

Six returning lettermen reported to Coach Don Krause's tennis team. Members of the squad were John Jorgenson, Dan Dussere, Dick Green, Malin Stakston, Den Small, Denny Shepherd, Brian Wermager, Dean Knutson, Dale Knutson, Roy Anderson, Curt Sigdestad, Gary Stark and Dick Pett. The season results were:

Concordia 0 Hamline 4
Concordia 0 Augsburg 9
Concordia 4 MSTC 5
Concordia 1 St. John's 8
Concordia 2 UND 6
Concordia 6 MSTC 3
NDAC Invitational - 5th place out of 9 teams
Concordia 4 NDAC 5
Concordia 5 MSTC 3

Track 1960

Student-coach Jim Greenan led the 1960 track team. On the roster were Don Suko, Ron Eilers, Roger Hesby, Jeff Ross, Don Just, Walt Olson, Pete Hastings, Bennett Larson, Wally Sorum, Ray Alt, Phil Gulstad, Darwin Gorder, Dave Hofstad, Ron Pfeffer, Thorpe Running, Wes Lokken, Bill Greenan, Jerome Nelson, Dave Smith, Jon Willard and Jim Greenan. Available scores were:

Concordia 25 UND 79
Concordia 65 Bemidji State 65
Concordia 52 St. John's 70
Looking Back at the Fifties

Chapter 6

1. Concordian, February 11, 1951.

2. Concordian, April 4, 1952.

3. Concordian, October 17, 1952.

4. John Groven, Concordian, October 17, 1952.

5. Concordian, October 17, 1952.

6. Concordian, September 23, 1953.

7. Dick Whitaker, Concordian, January 24, 1958.

8. Concordian, March 25, 1959.

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These pages are maintained by Jerry Pyle - pyle@cord.edu and Finn Grinaker - cgrinaker@juno.com. These pages are copyrighted © and may not be published or reproduced without the express permission of Finn Grinaker.