Men's Basketball
The men's basketball team made the MIAC playoffs for the first time since the 1995-96 season. They won their first game in the postseason tournament by upsetting St. Thomas 86-79 before falling to MIAC champion St. John's in the semifinals. The team posted a 15-11 overall record and finished sixth in the conference with an 11-9 mark. They also won the University of Redlands Tournament in dramatic fashion on the opening weekend of the season. The Cobber team was led by transfer Joe Snowden '01, St. Paul, Minn., who was the team's leading scorer and named to the All-MIAC first team. Kermit Cooper  '01, Freeport, Bahamas, returned after taking a year off to finish his college career in style. Cooper's athletic ability helped the team in several key victories at the end of the season. For his efforts he was named the MIAC Sixth Player of the Year.

Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team quickly adjusted to first year coach Sara Cepek's all-around up-tempo style of play, and came close to making the NCAA playoffs. The team finished the year 16-5 in the MIAC, which was good for fourth place, and competed in the inaugural MIAC women's basketball tournament, winning their first round game over Gustavus 61-58 before losing to regular season champion St. Thomas in the semifinals.

The season was marked by individual milestones, a breakout win over nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh and a season sweep of perennial MIAC power St. Ben's. Senior starters Brandi Myers '01, Glyndon, Minn., and Sara Spears '01, Spicer, Minn., both surpassed the 1,000 point total for their careers, and both were named to the All-MIAC first team. Kasey Bostow '03, Fargo, N.D., supplied the team with inside strength off the bench and was voted MIAC Sixth Player of the Year.

Men's Hockey
It was another championship race for the men's hockey team. The team used the momentum of their NCAA playoff appearance in the 1999-2000 season to start the 2000-2001 campaign with a flash. The Cobbers held onto the top spot in the conference for almost the whole season before finally giving way in the second-to-last weekend of the season to finish in second place with a 11-4-1 conference record. The team hosted St. John's in the first round of the conference playoffs and lost a tight checking two-game series by the identical scores of 4-2. The postseason honors were evidence that the team had a championship-run season. Goaltender Bryan Howard '01, Gold River, Calif., was voted the MIAC Player of the Year and was a repeat member of the All-American first team. Mike Gast '01, Fargo, N.D., and Brady Burgess '02, Moorhead, were also named to the All-MIAC first team.

Women's Hockey
The women's hockey team, in only their second year as a full varsity team, placed sixth in the league with a 9-9 record and posted an impressive 13-9 overall mark. Coach Deb Lien's team was still in the  MIAC playoff hunt until the final weekend. The squad recorded an impressive weekend sweep over nationally ranked UW-Superior and followed that feat up with a stunning shutout victory over national semifinalist St. Mary's. The team set school records in numerous categories and placed three players on the all-conference team. Goaltender Shyla Wilson '03, Cohasset, Minn, defenseman Sandra Johansson '02, Jonstorp, Sweden, and forward Katie Jacques '03, Tempe, Ariz., all received All-MIAC honors.

Men's and Women's Track and Field
The track teams continued to place in the top three in the conference and were living proof that great athletes come from all over the area. The men's team finished third at the MIAC Indoor Championship Meet. It was the fourth consecutive year that the Cobbers have finished in the top three in the conference. The team was led by all-around athlete Adam Strainer '01, East Helena, Mont., who won his second straight Indoor Pentathlon, and also placed second in the Triple Jump. Strainer, also the captain of the football team in the fall, has now won the 2000 MIAC Indoor Pentathlon, the 2000 Outdoor Decathlon and the 2001Indoor Pentathlon, laying claim to being the best athlete in the conference. Other top performers for the men included Chris Goebel '01,  Albany, Minn., who won the 1000 and finished second in the 1500, and Steve Edlund '01, Cyrus, Minn., who finished second in the 3000 and third in the 5000.

The women's team also continued to shine at MIAC Championship Meets, posting their fourth straight top-two finish. The Cobbers placed second at the MIAC Indoor Championship Meet, amassing 120 points behind a consistent performance in all events. The Distance Medley Relay team of Heather Brenden '01, Minot, N.D., Whitney Ostrem '01, Roseville, Minn., Kendra Lee '03, Jamestown, N.D., and Heidi Brenden '01, Minot, N.D., set a new MIAC Meet record and won the event by over 25 seconds to lead the Cobbers at the conference meet.  Heidi Brenden went on to finish second in the 800 at the national meet and become an All-American for the first time in her career.

Women's Swimming
The women's swimming team finished sixth at the MIAC Championship Meet for the fourth straight year. Although the team can't surpass the top five barrier, the individual performances keep improving every year. Shana Letnes '01, Fort Collins, Colo., continued to tear up the pool by earning All-American honors for the second time in her career. She also continued her dominance in the breaststroke in the MIAC by winning the 100 yard breaststroke for the third time in her career and won the 200 yard breaststroke for the second time.  She currently holds pool records at eight of the ten MIAC swimming schools.  Carrie Bunger '01, Bozeman, Mont., finished third in the 1650 freestyle and set a school record in the process. Diver Andrea Ross '03, Pleasanton, Calif., set school records in both the one meter and the three meter diving events and narrowly missed qualifying for nationals.

Wrestling
The Concordia wrestling team used a young squad to place fourth in the MIAC and take home a third place finish at the MIAC Dual Meet. The third place finish at the Dual Meet is the highest finish for the Cobbers since the 1995-96 season when they also finished third. The team was led by Zack Schroeder '02,  Wahpeton, N.D., who finished second at 133 and qualified for nationals as a wild-card participant. It was the third straight year that he has been named All-MIAC. Schroeder was also the first Concordia wrestler to qualify for nationals since Nathan Reiff accomplished the feat back in 1999.  Aaron Swartz '02, Starbuck, Minn., also received All-MIAC honors at 141.  The future for Concordia wrestling is very bright, as all nine wrestlers who competed in the MIAC Championship Meet will return next year.
 

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