| Summary: | January 23, 1981 the concordian page 9 sports Dedicated trainers will be sorely missed by Mark Streed Each year college coaches across the country face the task of finding replacements for their graduating seniors. Often there are starters, captains and all-conference performers that are difficult to replace. However, next August, when the Cobber sports machine gets revved up for another year, two totally dedicated young men will be missing. Though neither has played a single game it is safe to say that student trainers Bob Bjornstad and Scott Ahlstrom have con-tributed to many Cobber vic-tories. "They've done an outstanding job for the whole athletic depart-ment the last four years. Their ex-pertise and exceptional attitudes have benefitted not only the athletes but also the coaches." commented athletic director Ar-min Pipho. "The job that Bob and Scott have done justly deserves recognition," he added. For those who aren't active in sports, a trainer may simply be "the guy who carries the water," The fact that they do much, much more doesn't say as much as "how" they do it. Their promp-tness and efficiency are impec-cable, diagnosis correct and rarely do they fail to heal an athletes* "owie." Bjornstad has been a trainer since his sophomore year at Moorhead High School and he was asked how he first got in-terested. "The Moorhead athletic director asked me if I wanted the job. It sounded pretty good so I went to a training clinic at Mankato State where the Vikings were having training camp. At that time I never thought I'd be doing this for seven years," Bob explained. Ahlstrom had a similar indoc-trination to athletic training. As a sophomore at White Bear Lake, he was approached by a coach about the job; Scott accepted and participated in the same Mankato clinic Bjornstad attended. Ahlstrom also went to several seminars given by the St. Anthony orthopedic center dealing with various athletic injuries. Both agree that their biggest thrill in sports was having a part in the 1978 national football cham-pionship at Concordia. While in high school both of them were in-volved in the state football playoffs, with White Bear Lake winning the title in 1976. "I guess Injured wrestlers split 2 Last week the Cobber wrestling squad split two conference mat-ches. In a triangular meet at St. John's University, Concordia defeated Gustavus 24-23 and lost to the host Johnnies 25-15. The close Gustavus match was highlighted by Junior Leif Wallin's pin at 142. Wallin was one of four double winners for the day. Others winning two were junior Phil Bungum, freshman Wade Christensen and freshman John Butenhoff. Sophomore Murdick McLeod also contributed a fine showing on the mat. Coach Finn Grinaker had this to say, "I thought the team wrestl-ed well as we won six matches against Gustavus and five with St. Johns. However, we were for-tunate to win over Gustavus." The biggest obstacle for the matmen has not been their op-ponents but the injury jinx that has struck them. Starters Larry Feldt (torn mus-cle in forearm), Christenson (knee), DuWayne Kilbo (rib car-tilage) and Butenhoff (torn knee ligaments) are all out for various periods of time. This weekend the Cobbers face perennial conference champions, Augsburg, and also a tough Hamline team. The triangular starts at noon in the Memorial Auditorium. OFTEN IMITATED NEVER DUPLICATED 310 Center Ave. Moorhead 236-0550 1629 University 232-8908 not too many guys have won both a state and national champion-ship," commented Ahlstrom. One part of their duties that escapes the notice of most is the attention some athletes need. "Oh, it's not just athletes, either. College people in general are away from home and need someone to tell them what to do and how to feel better. They like to know so-meone cares, so Bob and I do our best," Ahlstrom explained. As the school year draws to a close so does a seven year chapter in the lives of two young men. Next year Bob hopes he will be "teaching, coaching and probably taping." Scott, on the other hand, plans to enter graduate school in Arizona, ultimately hoping to enter the field of international business. Concordia will miss Bob Bjorn-stad and Scott Ahlstrom. Their talent, infinite patience, sense of humor,- ability to "pack away the food" and total inability to make a jump shot have added much to Cobber athletics. Sonny Gulsvig, in one of his most astute moments, concludes with "Boy, are we ever going to miss them next year!" Student trainers Bob Bjornstad and Scott Ahlstrom [Scott p h o t o ] MAKE TRACKS FOR VINLAND 1st Annual Red River Loppet ^ Ski Race and Skiathon Saturday, February 14, 1:30 p.m. Meet-Dike West, Fargo * 16 kilometers * $6.50 Registration Ribbons and awards'for all age categories * Beautiful color patch awarded to all finishers. This event is both a Ski Race and a Skiathon. Everyone is most welcome to participate as a racer or simply tour the course in the Skiathon. Sponsored by -Concordia College Sons of Norway -Kringen Lodge, Fargo •1980 Minnesota Ski Expedition Across Greenland For registration contact; Skiathon Committee Paul Erlckson, Advisor P.O. 22, Concordia College (218)299-3640 Vtnland National Si Center SONS OF NORWAY OUTREACH PROGRAM 3675 Ihduhapt flo#tt L(x*tto, Minnesota 55357, USA
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