CONCORDIA COLLEGE ATHLETICS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Men's Hockey - at home vs. St. Thomas - 2:00pm

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8
Men's Basketball - at home vs. St. John's - 7:30pm - Listen Live
 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
Women's Hockey - at Hamline - 7:00pm

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Wrestling - at UM-Morris Cogar Open - 9:00am
Swimming - at St. Mary's Invitational - 10:30am
Women's Basketball - at Gustavus - 1:00pm - Listen Live
Women's Hockey - at Hamline - 2:00pm
Men's Basketball - at Gustavus - 3:00pm - Listen Live

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8
Women's Basketball - at St. Benedict - 7:30pm - Listen Live
 

Football
Final Record: 7-3 Overall, 6-2 MIAC (3rd Place)
Recent News: 12 players named to the MIAC All- Conference Team - See Details

Volleyball
Final Record:  26-8 Overall, 8-3 MIAC (2nd Place) ö MIAC Tournament Champions!!
Recent News: Jacki Barten becomes first player in program history to be named AVCA All-American!! - See Details.

Menâs Basketball
Current Record: 3-1 Overall, 1-0 MIAC
Recent Results: Dana College (NE) 63 at Concordia 92 ö Nov. 28; St. Olaf 68 at Concordia 80 - Nov. 29; Concordia 57 at MSU-Moorhead 63 - Dec. 1
Upcoming Events: at Gustavus on Saturday, December 6 at 3:00pm; at home vs. St. John's on Monday, December 8 at 7:30pm

Womenâs Basketball
Current Record: 3-0 Overall, 1-0 MIAC
Recent Results: Concordia 98 at UM-Morris 67 ö November 25; St. Olaf 49 at Concordia 71 - November 29
Upcoming Events: at Gustavus on Saturday, December 6 at 1:00pm; at St. Ben's on Monday, December 8 at 7:30pm

Menâs Hockey
Current Record: 1-5-0 Overall, 0-0-0 MIAC
Recent Results: UM-Crookston 4 at Concordia 2 ö November 26
Upcoming Events: at home vs. St. Thomas on Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm; at home vs. St. Thomas on Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm

Womenâs Hockey
Current Record: 1-3-0 Overall, 0-2-0 MIAC
Recent Results: Concordia 4 at Lake Forest (IL) 3 - November 29; Concordia 3 at Lake Forest (IL) 4 - November 30
Upcoming Events: at Hamline on Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm; at Hamline on Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm

Womenâs Swimming and Diving
Recent Results: 5th Place at the South Dakota State Invitational
Upcoming Events: at St. Mary's Invitational on Saturday, December 6 at 10:30am

Wrestling
Recent Results: at the 5th Annual Cobber Open - No team scores kept.
Upcoming Events: at the Cougar Open (UM-Morris) on Saturday, December 6 at 9:00am.
 
 

Different Perspective Index: November 25

December 2, 2003

"Family Matters"

This week the Cobber Sports Weekly (CSW) staff thinks about the upcoming holiday season, wonders what makes up a family and passes on the legacy of two members of the Concordia athletic family.

Unbelievably, it is the time of year when we start to think about shopping for presents, and welcome family and friends to tables with large amounts of food piled upon them. Where did the fall season go? It went the way of one volleyball All-American (a first for the Cobber volleyball program), 12 all-conference football players (a first for the Cobber football program) and the addition of season-ending statistics to each student/athletes web page.

The CSW staff had a busy and different Thanksgiving holiday. We were able to cheer for the men's and women's basketball teams as they got off to a successful start, and were able to fully understand what one person can mean to a hockey team. We also had the chance to spend some much-needed time with our families after finally reaching the finish line of the two busiest weeks in the sports information calendar year. After thoroughly enjoying the Thanksgiving feast, the CSW staff had time to ponder all the different people who we have encountered over the past two months and all the special moments we were fortunate to be a part of.

We started thinking, what constitutes a family? Is it a group of people related by birth? Or could it be a group of people that forms a bond because of social, economical or athletic circumstances?

We would like to think, and have others think the same way, of family as being part of a group that is forced to spend any amount of time in close proximity to one another. Most often we think of a family as being related by birth and extending to distant people who we only see on holidays. It's too bad that we don't allow ourselves to think of family as co-workers, fellow church members and teammates. These are only a few of the possibilities of what constitutes the dynamics of "family".

We are in a retrospective mood because of an emotionally draining week for the Cobber athletic family (and I am being sincere in the use of the word family in this case). Nothing strikes more deeply than a death in the family. It doesn't matter if the person lived to be 105 or just 20 - the loss is always sudden and always painful. Such was the case when two different people from different cities and different backgrounds died suddenly over the course of the past 10 days. The one thing they had in common was that they were both part of the Concordia athletic family. Early last week, the father of Concordia baseball, and former hockey player, Luther Kangas, died due to a disease he had been battling.  And then on Tuesday, November 25, sophomore softball player Emily Neutzling was killed in a car accident on her way home from Concordia to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. In both instances, the athletic family was left to feel the pain and, more importantly, celebrate the lives of these two special people.

It's too bad that we often get caught up in the grief to fully realize how special being part of a family really is. Even if the feeling lasts a day, a year or even many years - the bonds that people form, and the legacy that each one passes on, is something to be treasured, not put under a bushel and hid like the last piece of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. We are blessed with special people for an undetermined amount of time, a time that should be celebrated in life and after life.

Time for a detour. Who ever came up with the word "death" for the act of passing over in this life was really a "glass half full" person. The staff at CSW would much rather use the terms "went into remembrance" or "passed their legacy". They cut to the real spirit of what goes on and lets people understand it's not life that you are losing, but how you've spent that life and the legacy and remembrances you are leaving.

Back to the main road. In each case of remembrance this past week, the people who passed their legacy touched so many lives that they will continue to live for a long time to come. They will be celebrated in each day - with each outstanding play that a son makes. They will be celebrated with the success that an entire team encounters. They will be cheered every time the son makes the family proud by pushing on and just being himself. Their lives will be highlighted every time a first-year player is welcomed to the team because that is what Emily loved to do. They will be remembered for what they gave and what has been given back to them each day from now on.

The Kangas' have a tremendous family spirit that ranges from aunts and uncles to cousins, second cousins and down the line. They were blessed with a person that left his legacy in the presence of his son. His son has blessed the Concordia athletic family by being a down-to-earth, hard working, "there should be more people in life like him" athlete, student and person.

The Neutzlings were blessed with a daughter who was genuine, nice and always open to meet new people (qualities that most adults should have a lot more of - especially at this time of year). Emily was in turn blessed with a family who "got it". They knew what life was, and how special being together really was/is. Even if it was for a short time, they lived their family life to the fullest and were rewarded with a special gift that will keep giving back long after a life has passed on. They will be given the gift every time they see a Concordia athlete smile and laugh with their teammates. Every time a Cobber does something awkward and makes her teammates and coaching staff howl with delight. And more importantly, they will see Emily's legacy every time they encounter an athlete who congratulates their teammate when they are up and picks their teammate up when they have fallen upon hard times. Emily blessed the Concordia athletic family by being the student/athlete and teammate who make sports at Concordia such a great place to be around.

That's what life, and passing your legacy, should be all about - making sure that the world will be a better place and will see you every time something good happens. If that is the case, then leaving this life should be celebrated. It should be full of laughter and smiles because that is what the person who has gone into remembrance would want.

At least that is what the two beautiful people who left the Cobber athletic family would want. The CSW staff will definitely think of John Kangas and Emily Neutzling in the coming months.

Every time we hear the golden voice of Luther boom out at the hockey games we will be reminded of genetic gifts that are passed  from one generation to the next.

Another pleasant detour. If you have not heard his voice at the men's hockey games, you should. He is worth the price of admission. He possesses the best voice that the CSW staff has ever heard on a person that has not been in the business for over 10 years!

Back on track. We will also be reminded of what a father means every time that Luther runs out to his position on the baseball diamond and every time he gives that extra effort in a practice or game.

We will be reminded of Emily whenever we watch a softball game and one player "high fives" another player after a great play, or lends a helping hand after an error. We will also celebrate Emily's legacy each time we watch practice and things aren't going well and a player has the courage to step up and smile and utter the words "keep pushing, we'll get through it."

Thanks for taking the time to read about two special people who enriched the Cobber athletic "family". They have gone into remembrance and will be celebrated for many, many years to come.

(Writers note: This piece was written in honor of Emily and John, and also to give me a chance to remember some of the members of my "family" that have gone into remembrance. May they all rest in peace and have their legacies honored with each passing day.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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