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 7-- The Restless Sixties

| 1960-1961 | 1961-1962 | 1962-1963 | 1963-1964 | 1964-1965 | 1965-1966 | 1966-1967 | 1967-1968 | 1968-1969 | 1969-1970 |

The football program for the fall of 1961 talked about the prospects for 1961. “Many uncertainties fill the air as the Concordia coaching staff surveys the coming season. If Arlo Brunsberg’s knee operation heals in time and if Arlo can maintain the torrid pace he has set the past three seasons, propects will be brightened considerably. Certain problems beset the squad at this time. It is certain that the Cobbers will not be very deep in any position. After the first 15 or 16 men the strength drops noticeably. It is apparent that the first team will have to bear the brunt of this year’s campaign. The freshman squads for the past two seasons have been marked by an abundance of spirit and willingness but a desperate lacking in size and football experience.

Coach Jake Christiansen’s 1961 football team finished with a 4 - 5 over all record and fifth place in the MIAC with a 3 - 4 record. Dick Nelson and Arlo Brunsberg were captains of the team. Sharing the Concordia MVP honors were Ron Pfeffer and Dick Nelson. Arlo Brunsberg was selected on several little All-American teams.

Those on the football roster were Donald Brose, George McDonald, Charlie McDonald, William Ottley, Curt Josephson, Lynn Tharaldson, Dave Johnson, Gary Berg, Bob Salmi, Ronald Pfeffer, Arlo Brunsberg, Marshall Haaland, Bob Peulen, Richard Braun, Darrel Naugle, Dennis Orsen, Dick Nelson, James Herk, C. Arthur Ollie, Paul Ornberg, Paul, Jenson, Ron Beachy, Dan Loucks, Pete Ketola, Robert Hanson, Jerome Nelson, Ronald Myron, Julian Gulsvig, Roy Toivonen, Phil Johnson, Peter Prestegaard, Lyle Stork, Dave Anderson, Virgil Christianson, Ron Henrickson, Richard Torgerson, Mal Undlin, Robert Haines, Richard Young, David Braaten and Delan Tharaldson.

Season scores were:
Concordia 0 NDSU    21
Concordia 16 Macalester   7
Concordia 6 St. John’s   46
Concordia 12 St. Thomas   16
Concordia 20 Augsburg   28
Concordia 26 Gustavus   8
Concordia 14 UND    34
Concordia 44 Hamline   0
Concordia 24 MSTC    23
Conference standings at the end of the season were:
UMD   7 - 0
St. John’s 5 - 2
St. Thomas 5 - 2
Macalester 4 - 3
Concordia 3 - 4
Augsburg 3 - 4
Gustavus 1 - 6
Hamline 0 - 7

..
1961-1962 | Football | M- Basketball | Hockey | Wrestling | Track | Baseball | Golf | Tennis | Gymnastics | All Sports |
The 1961-1962 basketball team improved to a third place finish in the MIAC with a 9 - 7 record, 14 - 10 overall. Sonny Gulsvig was the coach of the team which included Ron Hendrickson, Keith Bangs, Frank Johnson, Les Torgerson, Arlo Brunsberg,, Lyle Sannes, Wayne Odell, Richard Larson, Derrance Peterson, Dick Pett, Glen Wheeler, Gary Larsen and Richard Jacobson.

Dr. Les Torgerson, basketball, class of '62

Scores for the season were:
Concordia 56 NDSU    64
Concordia 68 MSTC    55
Concordia 83 St. Thomas   62
Concordia 64 St. John’s   52
Concordia 56 Hamline   71
Concordia 73 South Dakota State 84
Concordia 85 UMD    74
Concordia 65 Augsburg   80
Concordia 69 St. Mary’s   62
Concordia 66 Macalester   65
Concordia 65 Gustavus   74
Concordia 44 MSTC    45
Concordia 66 NDSU    57
Concordia 71 St. John’s   62
Concordia 71 Hamline   77
Concordia 72 UMD    84
Concordia 71 Augsburg   70
Concordia 84 St. Mary’s   95
Concordia 73 Macalester   74
Concordia 76 Gustavus   74
Concordia 73 St. Thomas   81

Student coach Don Brose led the 1961-1962 hockey team to a sixth place finish in the MIAC.

Available scores were:
Concordia 1 St. John’s   5
Concordia 4 Gustavus   1
Concordia 0 Macalester   12
Concordia 1 St. Mary’s   8
Concordia 2 Augsburg   6
Concordia 4 St. Thomas   7

Those on the roster were Dick Chenoweth, Rollie Mann, Jim L’Heureux, Jack Riedel, Roger Hesby, Tom Halverson, Rick Torgerson, Murray Bergman, Merv Thompson, Dave Anderson, Charlie Sundeen, Pete Ketola, Mel Soderberg, Ernie Rucks and Bill Bossman.

The highlight for the 1961-1962 gymnastics team was winning the Class B Northwest meet. Student coach Joe Clementson led the team. Other members were Dave Hofstad, Gary Sundrud, Wes Strand, Karim Rezai, Lee Lipp, Dave Fjeld, Paul Thompson, Ted Quilitz, Dave Benson, Dave Norum, Jerry Risted and Dick Rogie. Karim Rezai was name the all-around performer in the Class B Northwest meet.

Season scores were:
Concordia 66 UND 46
Concordia 62 UND 49
Cobber Invitational - Concordia 48, UND 34, Fargo YMCA 28

Co-captains Ron Pfeffer and Roger Leopold led the 1961-1962 wrestling team to a second place finish in the MIAC. Ron Pfeffer was a conference champion and Harlan Leopold went on to win third place in the NAIA national tournament.

The season results with a 6 - 3 - 1 overall record were:
Concordia 8 MSC    26
Carleton Meet - seventh place
Concordia 18 UND    18
Concordia 13 Augsburg   28
Concordia 28 St. Thomas   11
Concordia 24 NDSU    10
Concordia 6 St. John’s   27
Concordia 35 Mayville   2
Concordia 31 Macalester   4

Finn Grinaker was the coach of the team which included LeRoy Thompson, Fred Volkman, Bruce Nokleby, Roger Leopold, Ron Pfeffer, Harlan Leopold, Raleigh Lillemoe, Al Smaagaard, Dale Anderson, Ernie Knapp, Paul Wangberg, George Carleton, Ron Offutt, Jerry Gunderson, Dan Loucks, Paul Jensen, Einar Aarsheim, Earl Hauge, Jim Herk and Darrel Naugle.

The 1962 baseball team was coached by Bill Quenette and finished the season with a 5 - 3 record. On the team were Al Harstad, Jim Jenson, Charlie McDonald, Mickey Hoiem, Curt Josephson, Robert Blank, Rollie Mann, Mel Undlllin, Wayne Odell, Keith Bangs, Harold Johnson, Arlan Swenson, John Streed, Dave Braaten, Del Olson, Wayne Sondreal, Lyle Sannes, Terry Erickson, Lyle Nelson, Ron Heppner, Arlo Brunsberg, Don Brose and Vern Toso.

Scores for the season were:
Concordia 4 Hamline   7
Concordia 4 Morningside   6
Concordia 5 Northwest Missouri 1
Concordia 6 Northwest Missouri 4
Concordia 6 Nebraska   1
Concordia 3 Nebraska   5
Concordia 2 St. Thomas   0
Concordia 5 St. Mary’s   2
Concordia 1 St. Mary’s   9

Irv Christenson returned from graduate work to handle coaching duties for theee 1962 season. The thinclads made a late start due to a wet spring and were confined to the dirt track in the gym in their early practices. Several meets were also canceled. Coach Christenson’s track team ended up in fifth place in the MIAC meet. The track roster included Pete Hastings, Bruce Nokleby, Jack Riedel, Dave Birklid, Elmer Bonnell, Murray Bergman, Jeff Boss, Phil Gulstad, Julian Gulsvig, Bob Lindberg, Thorpe Running, Wally Sorum, Tom Hunt, Rollie Martinson, Mark Jeppson, Gary Larson, Bob Arboleda, Doug Perry, Al Rud and Larry Tanhoff.

The season results were:
Concordia 43 St. John’s 73
UND Invitational - Dickinson Teachers 70, UND 49, Concordia 10
St. Thomas Invitational - River Falls 70, St. Thomas 56, Concordia 54
Augsburg 22
Hamline-Gustavus-Concordia Triangular - Concordia won

Members of Coach Don Krause’s 1962 tennis team were Dick Pett, Gerald Sandness, Curtis Sigdestad, Dave Olson, Terry Svingen, Ray Anderson, Dick Lee, Dale Knutson, Don Knutson, Gary Rohls, Dan Quello and Mark Holten.

Season scores were:
Concordia 2 NDSU    7
Concordia 2 Augsburg   5
Concordia 0 Hamline   7
Concordia 0 Gustavus   7
Concordia 4 MSC    5
Concordia 1 St. John’s   9
Concordia 5 Bemidji   1
Concordia 4 Bemidji   3
Concordia 2 MSC    7
Bemidji Invitational - sixth place.

Paul Sanderson led the 1962 golf team shooting 613 in the MIAC, which was two shots off the winning score of 611 to put the Cobbers in fourth place in the meet. Coach Finn Grinaker’s team was 7 - 0 in conference dual meets. Those on the roster were Paul Sanderson, George McDonald, Pete Lysaker, Rick Sletten and Glen Thoreson.

Team scores were:
Concordia 10 1/2 Hamline   4 1/2
Concordia 10 Gustavus   4
Concordia 10 St. Thomas   4
MSC Invitational:   MSC - 403, UND - 409, NDSU - 410, Concordia - 413,
        St. Cloud - 418, Bemidji - 421, Morris - 453
UND Invitational - fifth place
Bemidji Invitational - fifth place

Chapter 7

1. Joel Watne, Concordian, November 11, 1960.
2. Glen Temanson, Concordian, December 2, 1960.
3. Pete Hastings, Concordian, September 12, 1961.
4. Concordian, October 21, 1966.
5. Concordian, April 5, 1968.
6. Neal Jeppson, Concordian, April 19, 1968.

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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.