Concordia Sports - The First 100 Years by Finn Grinaker

by Vernon Finn Grinaker
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Chapter 5 -- The War Years

1940-1941 | 1941-1942 | 1942-1943 | 1943-1944 | 1944-1945 | 1945-1946 | 1946-1947 | 1947-1948 | 1948-1949 | 1949-1950 | Looking Back -- The War Years |

The decade of the forties brought with it a great deal of turmoil and uncertainty for the athletic program at most colleges and universities around the nation. Some of the major problems were lack of manpower to fill out the rosters of the teams, transportation difficulties due to such things as gas rationing and the shortage of coaching personnel.

Many colleges had military units training on their campuses and these servicemen were eligible for competition in sports.

Due to the persistent efforts of Coach Christiansen, the program of athletics at Concordia, even without the help of any military unit stationed at the college, was continued although sometimes on a limited basis.

After the war hoards of GI's enrolled in colleges across the country, mostly due to the GI bill. Now coaches who were used to teaching 18-year-olds in their first year were facing mature young men probably averaging 23-24 years of age. Many were battle-scarred veterans, some married, but most of them eager to get on with their lives.

Co-captains Alden Setness and Martin Kranz led the 1940 Cobber football team to an overall 4 - 4 - 1 record and fifth place in the MIAC with a 2 - 3 won-lost performance. This was Coach Joe Rognstad's last football team at Concordia.

Kenneth D. Willey, '42, Football 1938-1941

The roster included Megrund, Fisher, Isackson, Sillers, Bauck, Willey, Bjugstad, Dale, Severtson, Howard, Dyste, Brodin, Mickelson, Carriere, Jolness, Hopeman, Dyke, Lutness, Setness, Carlson, Fautek, Becker, Kranz, Torvend, Hallquist, Sorben, Mullon and Carlson. A typical starting lineup would be:

Finn Becker LE Mike Peinovich RE
Alan Hopeman LT Rupert Bauck RT
Percy Johnson LG Alden Setness RG
Pete Soberg C Marshall Dyke QB
Phil Fautek HB Ray Hallquist HB
Ken Willey FB

The team's results were:

Concordia 46 Valley City 6
Concordia 7 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 38
Concordia 19 Bemidji State 19
Concordia 7 St. Mary's 27
Concordia 7 St. Olaf 0
Concordia 6 MSTC 0
Concordia 19 Hamline 0
Concordia 0 Gustavus 21
Concordia 0 Macalester 12

Conference team standings for 1940 were:

Gustavus 5 - 0 - 0
St. Thomas 4 - 1 - 0
Macalester 3 - 1 - 1
St. Mary's 3 - 2 - 0
Concordia 2 - 3 - 0
St. John's 1 - 3 - 1
Hamline 1 - 4 - 0
St. Olaf 0 - 5 - 0
Augsburg 0 - 5 - 0

Coach Joe Rognstad's final season as a basketball coach ended with a 12 - 12 overall record and 7 - 5 in the MIAC, good for fourth place. Captain Bob Walstrom was selected on the Alll-Conference team. Craig Hertsgaard was second-team All-Conference and Marshall Dyke was named honorable mention.

The roster included Craig Hertsgaard, Bob Walstrom, Harold Poier, Tom Amberry, Dick Melby, Alan Hopeman, Marshall Dyke, Phil Fautek, Bob Carriere, Hartvick Strand, Buel Brodin, Mike Peinovich and Albertson.

The 1940-1941 basketball statistics were:

Concordia 41 Jamestown 36
Concordia 32 NDAC 36
Concordia 30 Dakota Wesleyn 32
Concordia 41 Augustana 37
Concordia 42 SDSU 47
Concordia 29 Valley City 27
Concordia 40 MSTC 35
Concordia 31 Bemidji State 39
Concordia 45 Augsburg 33
Concordia 41 Macalester 45
Concordia 39 St. John's 44
Concordia 36 St. Thomas 38
Concordia 52 MSTC 53
Concordia 46 St. John's 40
Concordia 27 Hamline 44
Concordia 34 St. Thomas 32
Concordia 41 MSTC 34
Concordia 42 Augsburg 35
Concordia 37 St. Olaf 32
Concordia 33 St. Mary's 50
Concordia 56 Gustavus 49
Concordia 46 MSTC 48
Concordia 59 NDAC 67
Concordia 49 St. Olaf 47

The conference standings for the 1941 basketball teams were:

Hamline 12 - 0
St. Mary's 9 - 3
St. Thomas 8 - 4
Concordia 7 - 5
Gustavus 7 - 5
St. Olaf 4 - 8
Macalester 4 - 8
St. John's 2 - 10
Augsburg 1 - 11

The Concordian reported some interesting history of the MSTC-Concordia basketball series. A year after the beginning, the Moorhead Daily News donated a trophy to be given to the winner each year with permanent possession gained after winning in three successive years. The Dragons have the only permanent award which was earned in 1938. Some interesting notes about the series: only three overtime games were recorded, one in 1932 with Concordia winning, in 1941 with the Dragons on top and this year's 53 - 52 extra-period game, which the Dragons won. This was also the highest score recorded in the series. The lowest score was in 1928-1929 when Concordia won 17 - 13.⁽¹⁾

Karl Lawrence, a 1926 graduate, was appointed head basketball coach at Colgate University. At Concordia he earned 12 letters in football, basketball and baseball.

"Concordia's gym will soon be equipped with the new fan-shaped backboards. Costing $45, the new backboards will provide the Cobber gym with one of the first sets in the area."⁽²⁾

Application was made for the formation of a chapter of the Sigma Delta Psi athletic fraternity at Concordia. For admission into the fraternity a student must pass tests for various athletic achievements.⁽³⁾

Three lettermen returned for the 1941 track team -- Alan Hopeman, Harvey Perman and Garland Lockrem. Arne Kvallen, Rudy Skogerboe, Vernon Kern, Doug McArdle, Rupert Bauck, Cecil Peck, Don Jesperson, Craig Hertsgaard, Drell Bernardson, Hartwick Strand and Milton Temanson made up the rest of the squad.

Meet results:

Valley City 65
Concordia 45 1/2
Wahpeton 43 1/2
Harvey Perman won the 100 and 200. Alan Hopeman won the high jump and Garland Lockrem was first in the high hurdles.

NDAC 62
Concordia 52
MSTC 29

Concordia 59
MSTC 39

Wahpeton Science 68 1/4
Mayville 65 3/4
Concordia 28
Alan Hopeman led the Cobbers earning points in the pole vault, shot, high jump and high hurdles.

Five men competed in the MIAC meet:
Harvey Perman 100 and 200
Garland Lockrem Hurdles
Desmond Jerde 440 and 880
Milton Temanson Pole Vault
Alan Hopeman Pole Vault

An article in the Concordian mentioned that spring sports, especially track, need an earlier start than our climate permits. An indoor track is more important to schools in this area than for those farther south. One of the greatest disadvantages of lack of facilities is the slump that athletes fall into during the two or three week period which immediately follows the basketball season.⁽⁴⁾

Coach Marshall Dyke greeted nine veteran baseball players for the opening practice of the 1941 season. They included Bud Lerohl, Melraine Mickelson, Bob Walstrom, Stan Cooper, Craig Hertsgaard, Harold Severson, Phil Fautek, Buel Brodin and George Norlin.

The schedule was limited and two games were played against teams from the Northern League -- Class D major league affiliate.

Concordia 1 Crookston Pirates 17
Concordia 1 Fargo-Moorhead Twins 7
Concordia 8 MSTC 7
Concordia 4 Fergus Red Sox 3
Concordia 3 Mayville 0
Concordia 5 MSTC 8
Concordia 10 MSTC 9

The baseball team practices on a nearby field which is rough as a relief map of the Rocky Mountains. With a backstop and a little blading, this field could be made more usable. A baseball diamond on the campus would foster greater interest. The location of the field which is two blocks south of the campus is in close accordance with the proposed diamond of the planned athletic stadium.⁽⁵⁾

Chapter 5

1.
2. Concordian, November 28, 1940.
3. Concordian, February 13, 1941.
4. Concordian, May 8, 1941.
5. Concordian, May 15, 1941.
6. Concordian, March 5, 1942.
7. Concordian, November 13, 1941.
8. Concordian, May 14, 1942.
9. Concordian, February 25, 1943.
10. Concordian, May 20, 1944.
11. Concordian, May 24, 1946.
12. Concordian, October 27, 1948.
13. Concordian, November 1, 1948.
14. Concordian, April 1, 1949.
15. Concordian, June 1, 1948.
16. Don Sponheim, Concordian, March 24, 1950.
17.
18. Howard Wagner, Concordian, March 31, 1950.
19. Concordian, March 17, 1950.
20. Concordian, , 1950.

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