Eric Lundberg Joins Athletic Training Staff 

by Angela Bell 

This year, Concordia added Eric Lundberg to the staff as assistant athletic trainer. Lundberg works closely with the football, wrestling, tennis, dance and cheerleading teams, but hopes his work at Concordia stretches farther than taping ankles and instructing athletes to “ice, elevate and repeat.”

Lundberg’s history as tri-sport high school athlete in Clear Lake, South Dakota, and collegiate football player for the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers is what drew him to the field of athletic training.

Although his high school didn’t have an athletic training program, Lundberg wanted to find a profession in which he could help individuals on a daily basis. Lundberg was exposed to sports medicine after sustaining a severe ankle sprain. He was referred to an orthopedic clinic in Sioux Falls and the staff impressed him with the level of care and consideration they had for his well-being. He worked with the training staff at Dakota Wesleyan University to become more familiar with the field.

Lundberg received his bachelor’s degree in 2014 with a major in athletic training and a minor in mathematics. He received a Master of Science degree in advanced athletic training in 2016 from North Dakota State University, and was hired by Concordia in July.

“I can easily say that I enjoy the people here the most,” Lundberg said. “I have wonderful athletes and coaches that I enjoy working with on a day-to-day basis and a great administrative staff. Randy (Baack) and Stacy (Dahlkoetter) have welcomed me with open arms, educated me on the inner workings of the sports medicine department and have continuously helped me in this transition to allow me to do the best job that I can do.”

Lundberg enjoys connecting with an individual on a daily basis by asking how his or her day is going, where he or she is from and other personal connections.

“Unfortunately, during times of injury, these interactions are somber,” Lundberg said. “I also enjoy helping those individuals through those troubling times and helping them overcome their injury.”

Lundberg recognizes the people that have helped him get to where he is.

“I cannot express how thankful I am for those individuals,” Lundberg said. “I want to thank those individuals who have helped prepare me to be the best that I can be…I hope I have helped those individuals as much as those who have helped me.”