They just want to play.

After a 10-2 loss to Division II powerhouse Bemidji State, Concordiaās hockey team was all geared up to take "all their frustrations out" on Hamline, according to head coach Steve Baumgartner. Hamline canceled.

Needless to say, practices for this weekendās game have been "intense," according to Baumgartner. Baumgartner hoped the team would do better in last weekās loss. "We were just intimidated. There were people who didnāt want to be there, and the guys were overall frustrated," Baumgartner said.

According to junior winger Steve Gallien, Concordiaās lack of zone coverage defense contributed to the 10 goals scored on Concordia. "We beat ourselves," Gallien said.

Concordia travels to Bethel this weekend. The Cobbers saw Bethel earlier at the Thanksgiving Tournament. The game ended in regulation as a tie. In a shootout, Concordia edged Bethel 8-7 although they went into the third period down 7-4. "In that game, we played into their hands, but since then, weāve made some real improvements," Baumgartner said. "Our guys are chomping at the bit to go down there."

Two of the more noticeable improvements include the addition of freshman Rob Gramer and junior Josh Arnold. Gramer, a defenseman, transferred from the University of North Dakota, and Arnold, a center, transferred from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Both UMD and UND are Division I schools. "Whenever you can add players of their caliber, itās fun, and it also makes other players better," Baumgartner said.

According to him, the new players will cause some roster adjusting, but that is still in the process of being worked out. "They [Arnold and Gramer] bring experience and leadership to the rest of the team," Gallien said.

The injuries that troubled the team in early Dec. have cleared, according to Baumgartner. Junior goalie Peter Hamilton recovered from mono, while backup goalie Chris "Truckstop" Horgen has missed most practices due to mono. "We are very, very close to being a very good team," Baumgartner said. "We just have to take it to the next level."

Return to Jan 17 index of The Concordian Sports

Wrestling : Mental Game Key for Cobbers
Darrell Ehrlick, 1/17/97

After a strong close to 1996, the Cobber wrestling team was defeated by Valley City State University grapplers Tuesday night at Concordia.

The 27-12 loss was the first meet the Cobbers participated in since mid-December. Concordia planned on the North Country meet hosted by the University of Minnesota-Duluth, but didnāt attend due to the weather.

"Iām disappointed in the outcome [of the Valley City meet]. I thought we should have wrestled better than we did," head coach Doug Perry said.

Perry believes the reason for the defeat was lack of mental intensity and wrestling defensively, not offensively.

"This is all part of that mental game we need to work on," Perry said.

This weekend, Concordia grapplers take on Fergus Falls.

"Theyāve [Fergus Falls] gotten a lot better," Perry said. "It certainly wonāt be a walk-over."

Preparation for this weekendās meet includes reviewing the Valley City meet and trying to improve intensity, according to senior Kevin Jackson.

"Weāre going to be talking about the mistakes we made," Jackson said.

Two additions to the wrestling team may help a banged-up squad. Junior Charlie Nelson (HWT) and sophomore Chad Nicholas (167 lbs) joined the team at the beginning of the semester. Nicholas transferred from Montana State University-Billings.

"Itās nice to have them both, and it works out because we can fill all the weight classes," said sophomore teammate Nathan Reiff.

Nicholasā reason for transferring was due in part to his older brother, Shawn, who wrestles for Concordia.

"The team is good compared to anyone I wrestled with in high school," Chad Nicholas said. He hasnāt wrestled in three years.

Injuries to the team include Reiff (shoulder), Colby Marich (hand) and Shawn Nicholas and Jeremy Hernandez (turf toe). Marichās injury could keep him from competition, according to Perry. However, it was not known at press time if Marich would be scratched.

Turf toe is a condition in which the toes become tender and irritated when stubbed on the mat.

Return to Jan 17 index of The Concordian Sports

Cobber Men's and Women's Track & Field: Cobber Track Looking to be in top five
by Jennifer Gayvert Jan 17, 1997

With Winter sports in full swing, the Concordia menās and womenās track and field teams open up their competition. The indoor season began last weekend with the Alumni meet, a chance for coaches to see what theyāve got and for players to see what they can do.

Womens:

After finishing in the top five in both indoor and outdoor competition last year, the womenās track and field team plans to do even better this season.

"We believe that we have a realistic shot at second, especially at the outdoor competition," said head coach Marv Roeske.

Roeske wants to see the 35-member team stay in the top five through-out the season and to continue to set personal records when possible. The Cobbersā toughest competition will be from St. Thomas, but Carleton, St. Johnās and Gustavus will also appear in the top five.

Keeping the Cobbers competitive will be people like senior field star Renee Erickson, a three-time national champion in the javelin throw. For this season, Ericksonis aiming for an unprecedented fourth national trophy.

"She won the national title last year by 15 feet. Sheās a school record holder and sheās Academic All-American. She carries some pretty heavy credentials," said Roeske. Also returning to the Cobber roster is junior long-jumper Sarah Siverson. Siverson competes in a variety of events besides the long-jump, making her a strong asset to the team.

She is also the Cobbers main pole vaulter, which is an event relatively new to Concordia. Although not an official MIAC event until next year, vaulting is something Siverson hopes to continue improving.

"Itās an event that is exhibition," she said. "Itās one of the events that doesnāt get as much attention."

Incoming rookies may also be a strong point for the team. At the Alumni meet, freshman Karin McGregor jumped her way into a spot on Concordiaās all-time top 10 jumper list.

Besides talent, Roeske believes the teamās strength is in unity. Because of road trips and other bonding experiences, Roeske sees the team as having a great ability to encourage each other. This is a useful skill since track meets rarely draw overwhelming spectator support.

Despite their strengths, the team is young, and Roeske feels it needs experience. More people on the team would also be helpful, allowing more depth in events.

The team is planning on competing tomorrow at the Bemidji Invitational, a meet comprised mostly of Division II schools. Roeske expects this meet to be good competition, forcing the team to compete at its top level.

Menās track depending on veterans, team relays

Despite low MIAC ranking this year, the Concordia menās track team expects to be one of the top contenders in the conference. According to Garrick Larson, sheer numbers may help the team.

"Weāre almost triple the size we were when I cam here three years ago, and thatās probably our biggest advantage," said Larson. "Itās hard to compete in 22 events with 19 guys."

Larson admits that his goals are high, but feels the team has enough strong veterans and rookies to meet his expectations. One such veteran is senior captain Ryan Williams, a decathlon and pentathlon specialist who should bring in points for the team.

Despite a history of injuries, senior sprinter Adam Lovehaug should also be a contender in the conference. Lovehaug, also a captain, has placed competitively since his freshman year, but has been injured for the past two conference meets

"I want to do well at the conference meet and place in the top three in my events," he said. "I just have to hope I get lucky and not get hurt."

Rookies expected to do well include sophomore Dan Buccholz and freshman James Springer. Buchholz is another decathlon athlete, and Larson feels Buccholz will have a big role in bringing in points.

"Heās very athletically gifted and is just starting to develop now. I think he will have a role in who wins the decathlon," said Larson.

Springer is expected to shine in field events such as the shotput and the hammer throw.

Larson expects relays to give the team an edge in the meets. Cobber runners typically do well in relays, events which come at the end of meets and can decide placing. Despite the size of the team, age distribution is not equal, and that could hurt it. The team had many strong seniors, but few juniors to step up next year.

In the MIAC St. Thomas is the reigning champion, with 14 championships. Other teams that will be strong include St. Johnās, Carleton and Gustavus. Larson wants to see his team land in the top four and predicts that St. Johnās may stop the Tommies from winning again.

Return to Jan 17 index of The Concordian Sports

From the Archives From the January 21, 1972, issue of The Concordian Sports section:

"The Concordia Hockey Band got plenty of practice playing the school song inlast Friday nightās game against St. Johnās played at the Fargo Coliseum. In a game which saw several records fall, the Cobber hockey team walloped St. Johnās, 17-1. St. Johnās did not prove to be the team they were slated to be."

Return to Jan 17 index of The Concordian Sports

Success Motivates Blickre to Achieve
Selmer Moen 1/17/97

In February 1992, Brock Blickre was a spark-plug sophomore wing on the first Minot High state hockey team. Minot was the first team to take the state title outside of the Eastern Dakota Conference ö quite an achievement in the arena of Grand Forks-dominated hockey. Blickre, now a sophomore winger at Concordia, says "that moment was my biggest achievement as a player so far."

When reminded of his triumph in Grand Forks, the big smile that breaks across Blickreās face testifies to his pride. Now Blickre would also like to relive it at the college level. Blickre got his start playing hockey when he was just four.

"My parents signed me up with everyone else, and I just like it more and more as I kept playing," he said.

Early on, this helped Blickre develop his hockey skills and his motivation. As he got better, he began focusing on being the best he could be. "I guess thatās the goal of any player ö to be the best possible player," said Blickre.

Following his high school success, Blickre joined a hockey team in Billings, Mont. During this time in the juniors, Blickreās game changed as he adjusted to the new style. "In the juniors, itās a lot faster and rougher. It takes different skills to play at that level," he said. "I never used to check in high school, and then in the juniors I had to start checking."

Blickre also developed more finesse with stick-handling. After a season there, Blickre had a two-month stint with the F/M Bears, in which he first became aware of Concordia.

After his two seasons in the juniors, Blickre made the decision to come to Concordia midway through last season. He was impressed with the chance to play hockey at Concordia and also "go to a good school." "My mom really thought it was a great school, so my parents encouraged me to come as well," he said.

Blickre was impressed with the young talent that head coach Steve Baumgartner already had at Concordia. It is this collection of young players that Blickre said creates the chemistry that makes a winning team. "Different guys bring different things to the team because they all have different experiences," he said.

Blickre feels that all the extra games he played in the juniors greatly helped him at the college level. "Some [players] come straight from high school, and then others have junior experience. It gives us a lot of different talent," he said. Blickre feels that blending that talent is key to Concordiaās success. "When guys can figure out their role, we have the ability to win."

Chemistry only goes so far, though, and Blickre admitted that the Cobbers have mental breakdowns too often. "We play well for most of the game but then we have a 2-to-5-minute breakdown," said Blickre. "Good teams will take advantage of that." Blickre does have great hope, though, for the Cobbers. "Weāve improved a lot and we have developed the confidence it takes to win," Blickre said.

The Cobbers are proving Blickre to be correct, already outdoing last seasonās win total. Blickre has high hopes for Concordia hockey, if the present improvement can continue. "Weāve got the talent; now it just has to come together," he said.

If Blickre has anything to do with it, they will continue to come together, and Blickre can wear that triumphant smile once again.

Return to Jan 17 index of The Concordian Sports