Senior Center Chandler Folkerts Ready for His Final Basketball Season as Bulldog

Photo by Jordyn Sturms

by Abigail Wisniewski

Senior center Chandler Folkerts loves basketball.

It is because he loves basketball that he spends his summers getting ready for the season in the weight room and conditioning, plays in a summer league in Omaha, shares his love of the game with kids by coaching the Sunday Night Basketball League, and strives to be a leader for his teammates on and off the court.

In the 2015-16 season alone he racked up 588 points, has started in all but one game throughout his career as a Bulldog and has accumulated honors and rankings on both the local and national scale.

“Despite all the success and accolades he’s earned so far, he remains extremely humble and a great teammate,” men’s basketball coach Benjamin Limback said in an email interview.

While the statistics that the 6-foot-8 senior has brought to the program will land him a spot high on the program’s all time scoring, rebounding and blocked shots lists, Folkerts is also leaving his mark on the program with his example of leadership.

“Chandler has always been a leader by example,” Limback said. “But now as a senior, he has started to become a much more vocal leader as well.”

One of Folkerts’s goals for his final season is that the team will finish in the top four in the GPAC.

“That’s always the goal,” Folkerts said. “Because then you get a home-seed in conference tournament, and from there a lot of things can happen in the post season, whether it’s an at-large bid or a really good shot at winning the conference tournament.”

Knowing that this is his final season has helped push him to go out strong. To motivate his teammates to play with the same intensity, Folkerts tries to set an example by playing hard against them.

“Just playing hard against them will get them to play hard against you,” Folkerts said.

The Bulldog basketball program has also left its mark on Folkerts, who has a deep appreciation for his teammates and how his faith has been built during his time at Concordia.

“I’m going to be close friends with these guys forever, there’s no doubt about it,” Folkerts said. “I think just building those relationships set a stage for (relationships) to grow, with the guys that have graduated and even with the freshmen now. It’s only been a year, but it’s been a really good opportunity to get to know them and share Christ and share values.”

Folkerts’ love of the game stems from the challenge and satisfaction that comes with things working on the court.

“There’s just something about when everything clicks and it’s going well. It’s so hard to beat that feeling. You’re always striving for that,” Folkerts said. “You’re obviously not there the whole time, otherwise it wouldn’t be (a) special thing, but just being able to connect with four other guys on the court and make something happen.”

Though this may be his last season, Folkerts will carry the work ethic he has learned and his lifelong love of the game with him.

“I think it goes to show (what) discipline and hard work…can do for you outside of life,” Folkerts said. “With basketball you get a return on your efforts. That’s what my parents have taught me. That’s what this has continued to teach me.”

“Student-athletes like Chandler don’t come around too often,” Limback said. “He is the total package—excellence on the court (and) in the classroom and high character. He has been a major part in how our basketball program has improved over the past three years.”