SEWARD, Neb. – Five individuals and one team will officially join elite company this fall as members of the Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2019. As announced on Monday (Aug. 26), the latest group of inductees will include Ronald Bork ’70, Gentri (Brown) Tollefson ’07, Erik DeHaven ’01, JaMaine Lewis ’08, Michael Saalfeld ’09 and the 2005 Bulldog softball team. These honorees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held the night of Friday, Sept. 27 in conjunction with homecoming weekend on campus.
The Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to pay tribute and give recognition to former athletes, coaches, teams and others who have made exceptional contributions to the athletic programs at Concordia, and who exemplify the Christian principles to which Concordia adheres. For more information about the Hall of Fame, and for information on how to nominate someone, click HERE. The Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is responsible for voting on new inductees each year.
Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2019
*More complete bios for each new Hall of Fame member will be released following the induction ceremony in September.
Ronald Bork ’70 (cross country/track & field)
- Cross country Team MVP all four years.
- 1968 co-Tri-State Conference individual champion.
- At time of graduation, held cross country school records in the three-mile (15:20), four-mile (20:18) and five-mile (28:52) runs.
- At time of graduation, held the following course records: Concordia three-mile, Concordia four-mile, Nebraska Wesleyan four-mile, John F. Kennedy College four-mile and Midland College four-mile.
- First athlete in school history to break 10 minutes in the two-mile run.
- At time of graduation, held track and field school records in the two-mile (9:55.7) and three-mile (15:44.2) runs; lettered three times in track and field.
Gentri (Brown) Tollefson ’07 (soccer)
- Four-time GPAC All-Conference (first team in 2006).
- 2006 NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.
- 2006-07 Concordia Senior Female Athlete of the Year.
- Two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
- Tallied 47 goals and 27 assists over 62 career games as a Bulldog.
- Member of 2004 team that owns school record for most goals scored in a season (80).
Erik DeHaven ’01 (football)
- As a linebacker, recorded 110 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks as a senior on 2001 co-GPAC championship team and NAIA Playoff qualifier.
- 2001 honors: Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska Defensive Honorary Captain, first team All-GPAC and National Weekly Football Gazette NAIA All-American.
- Named second team All-NIAC in 1998 and honorable mention All-GPAC in 2000.
- Notched 238 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks over five years as a Bulldog (redshirted in 1999).
JaMaine Lewis ’08 (football)
- Three-time GPAC All-Conference (first team in 2006 and 2007).
- Victory Sports Network 2007 NAIA second team All-American.
- 2007-08 Concordia Senior Male Athlete of the Year.
- 2007 Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska Honorary Offensive Captain.
- Holds school single-season rushing record (1,265 yards in 2007).
- Racked up 2,731 rushing yards (fifth in school history) and 25 total touchdowns (sixth in school history) in his career as a Bulldog.
Michael Saalfeld ’09 (track & field)
- Two-time NAIA individual national champion (2008 indoor 800 meters; 2008 outdoor 800 meters).
- Six-time NAIA All-American.
- Current school record holder in the 800 meters indoor (1:50.08) and outdoor (1:49.11).
- GPAC Most Valuable Performer of the 2008 conference indoor championships.
- 2008-09 Concordia Senior Male Athlete of the Year; six-time individual GPAC champion.
- Member of teams that recorded five top 15 finishes at NAIA national championship meets.
2004-05 Concordia Softball
- Head coach Frank Greene’s 2005 Bulldogs went 36-19 overall and won the GPAC regular-season title with a 20-4 conference mark.
- School record for most victories in a single season.
- Greene: GPAC Co-Coach of the Year and NAIA Region IV Coach of the Year.
- 11 All-GPAC honorees, including first team selections in Judy Alswager (all-region choice) and Rebecca Shaffer.
- Spurred by a pitching staff led by Alswager (18-7, 2.61 ERA) and Sarah Bergen (15-7, 2.33 ERA).