Winter '93-94 Cobber Seasons Wrap-Up

 

Winter '93-'94

Concordia's winter sports season was marked by significant success and bright hopes for the future.

A young Lady Cobber basketball team posted a 16-4 MIAC record and reached the NCAA Tournament for a record 12th consecutive year. The Cobber hockey team went 9-6-1 and came within one goal of claiming an MIAC playoff spot. The junior-dominated Running Cobber men's basketball team set the stage for a strong 1994-95 season by posting an 8-2 record their second trip through the MIAC.

In indoor track Tracy Berntsen '95 Hermantown, MN, led the women's team to a third-place finish. Lydia Kabaka '94 St. Cloud, MN, and Aaron Banks '96 Lynd, MN, went on to earn All-America honors at NCAA Nationals. And wrestling's Dean Nielson '96 Hinkley, MN, posted his second All-MIAC season by finishing 2nd in the league's heavyweight division.

Construction on the new Olson Fitness Forum is now running ahead of schedule. And, with the baseball an dsoftball teams wrapping up their southern trips and summer golf events being scheduled, the end of another exciting Cobber sports year can not be far off.

Erica Hanson-Reid Leads Women's Basketball Back to NCAA Tourney

Forward Erica Hanson-Reid '94 Fargo, ND, led the Lady Cobber basketball team to tie for second-place in the MIAC and berth in the 48-team NCAA Division III tournament. The Cobbers fell 65-61 to MIAC champion Bethel in the first round of the NCAA Tourney, ending another successful season for second year head coach Bob Kohler.

Hanson-Reid completed her third All-MIAC season as the team's leading scorer (15 points per game) and rebounder (8.2 per game). She ended her career as the Lady Cobbers' sixth leading scorer (1240 points) and sixth best career rebounder (686). She was also named to the All West Region team and was honorable mention for All-America honors. Her teams compiled a 4-year MIAC record of 64-16

Junior guard Merrilee Rutherford '95, Helena, MT, joined Hanson-Reid on the All-MIAC team. Rutherford led the MIAC in assists and averaged 10.5 points per game. Junior forward Jennifer Hale '95, Worthington, MN, was named Academic All-MIAC for the second time on the strength of 7.8 points per gameand a 3.85 GPA in Biology. Rutherford, Hale and center Jody Tulibaski '96, Pennock, MN, (8.5 points per game) will return in '94-'95 to a team that graduates just two seniors.

Inniger and Joerger Spark Men's Basketball in Late Surge

After beginning the season with an all-underclassmen starting lineup and 2-11 record, the Running Cobber basketball team posted 8 wins in their final 10 MIAC games and established themselves as a strong contender to make next year's MIAC playoffs.

Coach Duane Siverson's Cobbers, who finished 10-10 in the MIAC, 10-14 overall, were led by All-MIAC guard Brett Inniger '95 Fargo, ND, and team MVP David Joerger, a sophomore point guard from Staples, MN. Inniger scored 15.1 points per game while Joerger's 5 assists per game led the MIAC.

Junior forwards Kurt Motschenbacher '95 Glyndon, MN (12 points per game), Pete Balmer '95 Theif River Falls, MN (10.3 ppg), and Tony Weick '95 Wheaton, MN (9.1 ppg), rounded out a strong starting cast that returns in tact for next year's campaign.

All-American Marc Terris Helps Hockey Post Winning Season

All-American Marc Tereis '94 Regina, Saskachewan, helped a talented Cobber team get within a goal of the MIAC's 4-team playoffs. The Cobbers finished tied with Augsburg for 4th in the league. But two early losses to the Auggies left the Cobbers out of the playoffs.

Terris earned his second consecutive All-MIAC award with 13 goals and 15 assists. He was joined on the All-MIAC team by fellow forward Jason Kerr '95 Regina, Saskachewan. In addition to Terris, the Cobbers will lose several key players to graduation, including No. 2 scorer Dennis Petronack (White Bear Lake, MN), Academic All-MIAC defenseman Steve Nelson (Colombus, IN), forward Jason Christenson (White Bear Lake) and center Darren Zinger (Coronation, Alberta).

But, in addition to Kerr, coach Steve Baumgartner has several key player returning, including leading scorer Greg Salvevold '97 Moorhead, (14 goals & 17 assists), Mike Hashbarger '96 Fargo, ND (28 points) and John Kosobud '96 Fargo, ND.

Berntsen, Kabaka, and Banks Set Pace in Indoor Track

All-American Tracy Berntsen's MIAC indoor track performance included a title in the 55 meter hurdles, 3rd place finished in the heptathlon and the 200 meter run, and a 6th in the 400 meter run.

Berntsen had considerable help from teammate Lydia Kabaka, who was 2nd in the triple jump, 3rd in the 55 meter hurdles and 4th in the long jump. Kabaka advanced to NCAA National Meet in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where she placed 4th in the triple jump.

MIAC shot put champion Aaron Banks set a school-record of 54'10" to place 2nd at that NCAA Division III National Meet.

Also honored on the men's indoor track team were two Academic All-MIAC performers, distance runner David Pipho '94 Moorhead (3.62 GPA in Biology) and hurdler Ryan Biel '94 Valley City, ND (3.88 GPA in Elementary Education).

Olson Fitness Forum Nears Completion

Construction on the new Olson Fitness Forum moved at a good pace over the winter, allowing Cobber couches to take recruits on tours of this spacious and versatile complex. Present indications are that the facility should be completed well before the beginning of classes this fall. Everyone her is anxious to see and try out the finished product. A formal dedication of the facility is being planned for Homecoming weekend.

As always, we continue to appreciate your warm support for Cobber athletics and we look forward to seeing you in the near future.

- Armin Pipho

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