Concordia Inducts Four Individuals and One Team into the Athletic Hall of Fame, Honors Athletes of the Year
by Madison Pitsch
Concordia’s Athletic Department honored four individuals and one team by inducting them into the Athletic Hall of Fame and three seniors from the class of 2017 by naming them Athletes of the Year on Friday, Sept. 22.
Emceed by the director of athletics, Devin Smith, the Concordia Athletic Department chose Chandler Folkerts as the male athlete of the year. Amy Ahlers and Kali Robb were chosen as the co-female athletes of the year. These athletes were voted upon based on their performance on and off the court/course/ring.
Ahlers’ golf career “rewrote the history of the women’s program here,” said Smith. She broke program 18-hole records for a single season with an average of 80.79 and had a career average of 81.89. She won the individual Great Plains Athletic Conference champion and was the GPAC golfer of the year. Ahlers also qualified for the National Tournament. She was a two time NAIA Scholar Athlete and had 32 top ten finishes throughout her career.
Robb’s senior season ended with three NAIA All-American Awards, including the National runner-up in the weight throw. She holds two individual GPAC titles in the shot put and the outdoor hammer event. She was also a member of the 2016 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship Team, which was the first Concordia women’s team to earn a national championship title. Robb holds school records in the weight throw, hammer throw and is second in discuss. She has ten NAIA All-American Awards and 5 individual GPAC titles.
Folkerts’ basketball career was unparalleled in Concordia basketball history. Averaging 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game as a senior, Folkerts also earned awards such as NAIA All-American Second Team honors, honorary captain of the Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska college team, First Team All-Conference, GPAC defensive player of the year and NAIA Scholar Athlete in his last season. In the school’s rankings, Folkerts stands second in rebounds, third in scoring and fourth in blocks
“You represent what is best about Concordia Bulldog Athletics,” said Smith. “You fully exhibit the ideals and core values of our university. Your influence will be forever remembered.”
Dr. Eunice Goldgrabe was the first induction of the Hall of Fame ceremony. Goldgrabe pioneered the path for women’s’ athletics at Concordia. Goldgrabe coached basketball, field hockey, tennis, track and field, softball and volleyball during her time at Concordia from 1967-2011. She has earned awards like the “Pathfinder Award from the Division of Girls” and “Women in Sport of the National Association of Sport & Physical Education.”
“It is an honor to be selected to the CU Hall of Fame,” said Goldgrabe, “but I think the honor really goes to a gift that we can relate personally to in our lives and that is God’s great gift of movement. Your gifts are your thoughtful response to your Creator.”
Jason Jisa, class of 2005, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. He ranks eighth in blocked shots and 10th in steals in Concordia’s history. Jisa earned awards like third team NAIA All-American and team captain of the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska team. Jisa was a two-GPAC defensive player and a two-time first team all-conference award winner. During his time, he was a part of two GPAC tournament championships, two NAIA national tournament appearances, six national tournament wins and a school single-season record of 32 wins in 2004-05.
“Without that opportunity (to go to Concordia) where would I be?” said Jisa. “Would I be standing here? Probably not. I would be doing something totally different.”
Martin Strohschein, class of 2002, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Strohschein ranks among one of the top players in Concordia men’s golf history books. He set the lowest career 18- hole average with a score of 79.95, won all-conference awards for four years and set a single round low score of 68. He won awards for NAIA Scholar-Athlete his junior and senior years.
“It is just a great gift to be with all these people who meant so much to me tonight. It’s a great gift to tell all of you what you did for me in my life,” said Strohschein. “Your investment in me and our time together here at Concordia changed my life.”
Stephanie (Beberniss) Tietjen was inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. In 2003, Tietjen swept indoor and outdoor national championships as well as winning indoor and outdoor GPAC titles in the pole vault. She was a two-time national champ and won six NAIA All-America awards, eight All-GPAC honors and four individual GPAC championships.
“There isn’t enough time for me to express my gratitude to you,” said Tietjen. “This award is your award too (speaking to her coaches and loved ones). My progress and success had a huge part to do with you.”
Finally, the Concordia Men’s Golf Team of 2001-02 was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The team, made up of Martin Strohschein, Matt Blackford, Jon Boll, Bryan Emerson and Kyle Klepacki won three tournament championships and finished second at the GPAC championships sporting a score of 627.
“Each of you have grown and blessed others in significant ways. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into how God has worked in and through you during your time at Concordia,” said President and CEO, Rev. Brian Friedrich in his closing remarks.
