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 |

Beginning in the early fifties and continuing for the next 15 years, major building projects on the campus included the fieldhouse, library, three dormitories, a commons, music hall and an administration building.

In addition student enrollment continued to rise as the admissions office increased their recruitment efforts. Athletes were starting to come from cities and towns previously not Concordia-oriented.

Most of the veterans of World War II had now graduated and the new classes of Cobber freshmen were like the former rosy-cheeked, innocent young men and women of the pre-war years.

Coach Christiansen continued his concern for an increased effort to attract quality athletes to Concordia. This was going to be one of his major objectives during this decade.

Football 1950

Ivan Larson, Named Faculty Athletic Representative 1950-1974

The football team in the fall of 1950 began the season with only five lettermen. Coach Jake Christiansen had as his assistants Bob Fritz and Finn Grinaker. The team finished the season with a 3 - 4 record overall and eighth place in the MIAC with a 2 - 4 record.

The roster included Jim Gabrielson, Mel Weikum, Elvin Hanson, Kermit Christianson, Chuck Sagedahl, Mel Eidal, Dave Green, Ken Bladow, Berg, Baken, Ellingson, Johnson, Dave Rostad, Bud Narveson, Dave Simonson, H. Johnson, Ken Strum, Myron Olson, Johnson, Dwight Ellefson, Roger Kolstad, Alden Gjevre, Erling Kolke and Rholl.

Team scores were:

Concordia 12 St. Olaf 18
Concordia 6 Gustavus 47
Concordia 7 Hamline 20
Concordia 13 St. Mary's 7
Concordia 19 Duluth 39
Concordia 26 Augsburg 6
Concordia 35 MSTC 0

At the close of the season, the conference standings were:

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

Because of the draft and the call up of the National Guard, there was a shortage of players reporting for spring football. Jake appealed to the student body for more men to come out for the team.

Men's Basketball 1950-1951

Only eight lettermen returned from the previous season for the 1950-1951 basketball team and some of these had little experience. Despite this, the team experienced a successful season. Their overall record was 12 - 9 and 6 - 6 in the MIAC for a fourth place tie. Jake Christiansen was the coach of the team.

The season's scores were:

Concordia 81 Valley City 71
Concordia 49 Bismarck Junior College 52
Concordia 81 Wahpeton Science 54
Concordia 36 NDAC 67
Concordia 69 MSTC 46
Concordia 63 Jamestown 57
Concordia 74 Augsburg 85
Concordia 60 St. Thomas 53
Concordia 64 NDAC 77
Concordia 69 Macalester 64
Concordia 64 St. Mary's 77
Concordia MSTC
Concordia 66 Gustavus 68
Concordia 47 St. Olaf 45
Concordia 61 St. John's 52
Concordia 45 Hamline 47
Concordia 35 Duluth 32
Concordia 51 Gustavus 71
Concordia 49 St. Olaf 59
Concordia 81 Augsburg 79

Concordia defeated Duluth using stalling tactics. It was Jake's answer to the sagging defense of UMD. After a 9 - 7 Concordia lead, Jake began his stall and Duluth refused to come out and the game came to a standstill. The rest of the half ended with the score 14 - 9 in favor of Concordia with the final score 35 - 32 for the Cobbers.

Conference standings were:

Hamline 11 - 1
St. Mary's 8 - 4
Gustavus 8 - 4
Concordia 6 - 6
St. Thomas 6 - 6
Augsburg 5 - 7
Duluth 5 - 7
St. John's 4 - 8
Macalester 4 - 8
St. Olaf 3 - 9

On the team were Bob Peterson, Ken Severud, Don Smestad, Mac Redmond, Herman Moe, Hod
Nornes, Dave Johnson, John Groven, Jim Gabrielson, Harry Anderson, Vern Lueth, Lowell Odland, Earl Stein, Dick Hegrenes, Paul Johnson, Arlo Kluver and Don Kerlin.

From the Concordian -- "The highlight of the season was the Hamline game. Hamline, who became the MIAC champion and NAIA national champion, narrowly defeated the Cobbers 47 - 45. The night was also an appreciation night for Coach Jake Christiansen who was presented a new car from the alumni and friends.(1)

Men's Hockey 1950-1951

The Concordia hockey team, under Coach Gordon Stensgard, had a record of four wins and five losses. The team finished with a 2 - 4 record in the Fargo Senior League with victories over NDAC and Detroit Lakes. They lost twice to Cook Sign and MSTC. On a trip to Cando, North Dakota the team split, winning one game 7 - 3 and losing 7 - 4. The Cobbers won a 2 - 1 four overtime victory over Cook Sign as part of the Fargo Ice Carnival tournament.

NDAC             W
Detroit Lakes    W
Cook Sign        L
MSTC             L
MSTC             L
Cook Sign        L
Cando             W 7-3
Cando              L 7-4
Cook Sign       W 2-1

Track 1951

Coach Irv Christenson's track team in the spring of 1951 established themselves as a contender in the MIAC.

Team members included Ellefson, Rostad, Randa, D. Green, Skari, Abelson, Simonson, Stensgard, B. Asp, Moe, Kerlin, Dyre, Flaat, Radig, Kolke, Stutrud, Redmond, H. Anderson, C. Green, R. Asp and Klein.

The Cobbers won a triangular meet scoring 62 points, followed by Mayville with 47 and Wahpeton Science with 8 points. They also won a dual meet with Mayville 69 2/3 - 61 1/3.

At the Bemidji Invitational, scores were as follows:

UND 60
NDAC 58 1/2
Duluth 36
Bemidji 25
Concordia 19
MSTC 4 1/2
Mayville 4

Tennis 1951

Player-coach Bill Oakland led the 1951 tennis team to a successful season winning four matches:

Concordia 6 MSTC 1
Concordia 4 NDAC 2
Concordia 5 NDAC 2
Concordia 7 MSTC 0

Squad members were Oakland, Carlson, Norem and Westwood.

Golf 1951

Professor J. A. Holvik again coached the 1951 golf team which consisted of Warren Billingham, Clayton Jenson, Dick Moe, Dick Quamme, and Vernon Johnson.

During the season the Cobbers lost to MSTC 4 - 8 and defeated MSTC 9 1/2 - 2 1/2 and defeated UND 10 1/2 - 1 1/2. In the MIAC meet the Cobbers finished last with UMD winning the meet with an 18-hole average of 81. The team ended the season by placing second in the annual Tainter Meet (All-City).

NDAC won the meet with MSTC coming in third.

Men's Baseball 1951

Lettermen returning for the 1951 baseball team were Dave Green, Harry Anderson, Jim Gabrielson and player-coach Ken Severud. Others on the team were Bob Johnson, Howard Nornes, Wyman Holland, Paul Simonson, Dave Myhre, Rod Grubb, Arlo Kluver, Earl Stein, Vern Asleson, Gordon, Rholl, Clint Hill, Don Kerlin, Paul Garness and Paul Johnson.

The team finished with a 5 - 3 record.

Concordia 3 MSTC 2
Concordia 3 NDAC 8
Concordia 1 NDAC 4
Concordia 8 Wahpeton Science 2
Concordia 6 Mayville 2
Concordia 3 NDAC 2
Concordia 4 Wahpeton Science 1
Concordia 0 MSTC 4

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.