FM High School Sports View Feb/Mar '16

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ROSTER

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FEATURES Privilege & Passion to play

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Polite, Caring and Accomplished

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BY Brent Rogness

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A Conversation with Brent Tyler Roehl

BY Brent Rogness

34 answering the rebel call: fargo south’s emily stroup Photography by: nick friesen

Cover

answering the rebel call Fargo South’s Emily Stroup

Fargo Davies’ Jake West BY mark sahli

www.fmsportsview.com Volume 1 No. 1

s c h o l a r at h l e t e s

Shanley’s Sarah Jacobson Directs Traffic and Controls the Court BY merrie sue holtan

FEB / MAR 2016

Coming Home, Giving Back

Moorhead Hockey Coach Jon Ammerman BY adam watts

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catching up Jordan Talge

BY Larry Scott

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05 05 13 13 21 21 29 29 41 41

oak grove: brittany dixon fargo north: nathan hegstad Sheyenne: kody coles moorhead: kassidi steffes fargo south: thomas pflipsen shanley: Andrew hollingsworth park christian: jordan kerr d-G-F: Tyler Oberg west fargo: hallie peterson davies: Jennifer marsh

The “A” List BY brent rogness

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Scholar Athlete > OAK GROVE

GROVERS

Brittany Dixon basketball - diving - track Nickname: Brit Favorite School Subject: Spanish Grade Point Average: 3.96 Groups and Organizations: Key Club, Choir, Student Council, Search, Metro Area Student Ambassadors I Root For: NDSU Track and other sports, MSUM Diving

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Letter all years, President’s List all years Pets: 1 Cat, Kit Kat In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Hopefully headed towards being a doctor and traveling on medical mission trips.

Scholar Athlete > FARGO NORTH

SPARTANS

NATHAN HEGSTAD BASEBALL - SOCCER Nickname: Heggy Favorite School Subject: Physics Grade Point Average: 3.7 Groups and Organizations: Student Council, FCA Notable Academic Accomplishment: Academic Letter, AP Calculus and Physics

I Root For: Minnesota Twins, Vikings Pets: Pug named Zygy In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Either finishing my engineering degree or a job in the math field.

sarah jacobson

B again.

ounce…bounce…bounce.

In the gym. In the driveway. In the house. Dribble drive shoot. Over and over

“Practice makes perfect” doesn’t even begin to describe five-footnine-inch tall Shanley High School senior, Sarah Jacobson, who is captain of her basketball, volleyball and soccer teams.

championship in North Dakota state volleyball last year, the Deacons placed second this year with Sarah playing libero.

This season, Sarah has led Shanley to a 47 game winning streak, blowing some opponents out by 50 points.

She is on her way to breaking the

age, and it bothers her “’just a little” that she is only second in her class.

Discipline and competition start at home Sarah’s competitive nature began as a little kid in her grandfather Jim Smykowski’s Cayuga, N.D., home, while playing whist with her family.

“We have always stressed a humble confidence and drive with our kids to do the best in all they do, socially, athletically, academically and spiritually.”

An avid reader of sports psychology and motivational books, Sarah’s personal graffiti wall could be peppered with words like: Attitude, Action, Persistence. Sweat the small stuff and the big stuff. Go the extra mile and never give up.

As a tough- minded point guard for the Shanley High School Deacons, Sarah helped her team win two Class A North Dakota Girls State Championships her sophomore and junior years during which she received all-tournament honors as well as the most valuable player of the tournaments. Sarah averaged 22 points, 6.3 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game last season. She was a Gatorade high school player as a sophomore and a three-time AllState selection. Winning the state

by Merrie Sue Holtan • Photography by Thru Him Photography

Mom, pat jacobson unofficial Class A scoring record of 2,120. Next year, she has committed to play for Coach Maren Walseth and the NDSU Bison, where she also hopes to major in pre-medicine.

Besides leadership and athleticism, Sarah has a 4.05 grade point aver-

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“It was so intense and loud,” remembers Sarah. “All of us hated to lose including my grandpa. We couldn’t stand it.”

One of the card players and Sarah’s mom, Pat (Smykowski) Jacobson, was North Dakota’s first Miss Bas-

ketball and also played for the Bison. She was an All-Conference and All American player for three years.

She played in four NCAA playoffs and was named one of North Dakota’s Top 50 athletes of the century

by Sports Illustrated.

Sarah’s brother, Anthony (AJ), a former Shanley standout, now plays basketball at NDSU, and as a redshirt freshman played significant minutes for the team which made the NCAA tournament. Dad, David, a family practice physician at the VA Hospital, is quieter, according to Sarah. “But my mom tells me I got my brains from him,” she says.

Of AJ, she says, “My brother and I always have each other’s backs. He’s been a huge help to me and a role model, not only in teaching technique but in behavior and how he presents himself with confidence.”

“We have always stressed a humble confidence and drive with our kids to do the best in all they do, socially, athletically, academically and spiritually,” says Pat, who teaches at Ben Franklin Middle School in Fargo.

“We tell them not to be outworked and make the most of every opportunity and challenge. We have been blessed with goal-oriented and driv-

sarah jacobson en student athletes who understand their talent as a gift from God and their gift back to Him is to make the most of it.”

Pat has also watched heated battles of one-on-one and shooting contests over the years between Sarah and AJ. The siblings point out each other’s weaknesses which Pat believes is good for growth. The family spent earlier summers at the lake where the kids learned to wake board and water ski by age four. Of course, they also spent countless hours on the 30x30 basketball court.

“I remember those one-on-one games and Sarah usually ended up being upset but she never gave up and never stopped challenging me,” AJ says. “I believe her ability to make her teammates better is her best basketball attribute. She is not the basketball player she is today because of luck. It’s the time and effort she has put in.”

by Merrie Sue Holtan • Photography by Thru Him Photography

“It was so intense and loud.

All of us hated to lose including my grandpa.

We couldn’t stand it.”

Sarah on the family whist games that sparked her competitive spirit Up through the system Sarah came up through the Fargo Catholic Schools system first playing at Holy Spirit Elementary School, then Sullivan Middle School and finally Shanley. Prior to that, Sarah barely remembers being without a ball in her hands. In first grade, she became a Bison Buddy and then joined an elementary “Squirts” traveling basketball team.

“I remember always playing up a level,” Sarah says. “I often played

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with the guys and had to have a uniform like my brothers. My family helped to balance me because in the early days, I might get mad at my team. My mom was there for me to teach me about consequences and about what was appropriate and to reinforce that playing was an opportunity and a privilege.”

Sarah points out that the Shanley team works well together and Coach Tim Jacobson (not related) challenges her, pushes her, gives pointers

from film and knows when to help her.

“He can read the moment and takes energy from the team” she says.

In the summers as Sarah got older, she traveled with AAU teams from the Twin Cities such as Northern Lites, North Tartan and Minnesota Fury as well as North Dakota Pro. She does her strength and conditioning programs with Shanley or on her own with her mom helping create her workout program.

“I believe I have some God-given abilities,” Sarah says. “I have been blessed with good cardiovascular endurance. I don’t get out of breath.

Long distance running in junior high was easy for me, and I don’t mind the running in soccer.”

The next wave of Bison In the fall, Sarah will switch from the red and white Shanley jersey to the green and gold of Bison athletics

sarah jacobson

by Merrie Sue Holtan • Photography by Thru Him Photography

“She is not the basketball player she is today because of luck.

It’s the time and effort she has put in.” brother, aj and Coach Maren Walseth. Sarah, with no pressure from her family, says she thought long and hard and wanted to go away to school. She had recruitment calls from several Ivy League schools, the US Military Academy at West Point, and Division I opportunities.

“I really liked Illinois State,” she says. “But thinking about AJ and my mom playing for the Bison and having my family there to watch me, it became clear to me to make the home town decision.”

Coach Walseth, who played basketball for Penn State, has seen Sarah play in a variety of recruitment settings, for both AAU and Shanley. Overall she loves Sarah’s competitive and leadership demeanor, her vision of the floor and the game and her ability to work hard and not avoid challenge. She believes it will be fun to watch Sarah adapt and learn to play freely, up tempo and show what she can do. She wants Sarah to relax and have fun with the game.

“I like how Sarah controls the game,” Walseth says. “She is a natural floor general.

She has a great left hand but will have to learn to pass in a smaller area. There will be challenges to the college transition, but she is confident, smart and more mature than her age.”

Michael Breker, Shanley’s activity director, sums up Sarah Jacobson as a student athlete.

“She is running and lifting on her own time every day after school,” he says. “On the playing floor she is diving, scrambling, running and attacking. In the classroom she has all A’s. There is no doubt in my mind Sara will be successful in whatever road she takes.” FMSV 12 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

As we were going to press, Jacobson broke the all-time scoring record in North Dakota Class A girls high school basketball with a total of 2,135 points. Her record-breaking moment came in a game against Grand Forks in which her team tied the Class A consecutive wins records at 57 straight games.

Scholar Athlete > WEST FARGO SHEYENNE

MUSTANGS

Kody Coles Cross Country - hockey - track - mascot Nickname: Kodes Favorite School Subject: Math Grade Point Average: 4.15 Groups and Organizations: National Honor Society, Prom Committee

I Root For: University of MN Duluth Bulldogs, Minnesota Wild Notable Academic Accomplishments: ND Governor’s School Alumn, Academic Letter, STEM Student In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working at an engineering firm and have a family.

Scholar Athlete > MOORHEAD

SPUDS

Kassidi Steffes Dance Team Nickname: Kass Favorite School Subject: Human Anatomy Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Orchestra Notable Academic Accomplishment: AP Student and lettered in academics

I Root For: NDSU, Vikings Pets: Two Dogs, Sasha and Copper In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Working in something in the medical field.

jake west

W

by Mark Sahli • Photography by Justin Eiler

hen you meet Jake West, a senior at Fargo Davies High School, your first impression might be that of an unintimidating, polite, nice, young man, who is very close to attaining his Eagle Scout status.

oldest of her four boys, “Jake is just an amazing kid. He sets a great example for his younger brothers, and teammates, as well.” She says that his best attribute is his ability to take a negative, or a loss, and turn it into a positive very quickly. She continues, “We are very lucky to have him.”

Throwing out words “Eagle Scout” casually in a conversation, even without knowing all that encompasses that feat, you realize just being around Jake, you would be in good hands. Some of the skills an Eagle Scout has accomplished are: citizenship in the community, the nation, and the world; communication, cooking, emergency preparedness, lifesaving, personal management and family life.

Jake’s wrestling coach, Keenan Spiess, echoes those sentiments and says Jake’s best attribute is his character. “He is a leader and it shows,” says Spiess.

Speaking of family, Jake’s mother, Jennifer, has very high praise for the

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Jake is a captain on the Davies wrestling team, as he was on the school’s football team. He is a past Eastern Dakota Conference wrestling champ and finished sixth at the 220 pound weight class last year. This year Jake is ranked fourth in the state of North Dakota at the 285 pound (heavyweight) class. When you meet or see him for the first time you will say, “What?”

At about 5’9” tall and far from 285 pounds -- he looks to be stretching

“Jake is just an amazing kid.

He sets a great example for his younger brothers, and teammates, as well.”

Jake’s mom, Jennifer

it when he says he weighs about 240 -- he obviously also surprises his opponents.

His mother Jennifer says his size is deceiving and any shortfall is overcome by his fierce competitiveness and overall strength. He has set school records in weightlifting.

As good as he is in wrestling; he declares football as his favorite sport.

He plays both offensive and defensive lineman and has been selected to all-conference teams in past seasons.

Even though his physical stature is far from that of J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, his favorite professional player, his heart, and love of the game are very similar.

jake west

“He is a leader and it shows.”

Wrestling Coach Keenan Spiess The answer when asked about his favorite team or teams is also somewhat surprising, but, like many of his answers, his explanation is very precise and matter-of-fact. His favorite team is Brigham Young University (BYU) football.

His future plans are also very precise and related to BYU. Jake has plans to attend school there, and has already begun the process.

The close-knit nature of Jake’s family explains his decision. Both his parents attended BYU. His mother was very involved with music at the school; perhaps explaining another of Jake’s special talents. He is a very accomplished musical student. He plays the piano and sings. He has been involved with various singing groups through school, some of which some have won state music festival awards. Jake says he was a bass when he was a freshman, but has since become more of a soft spoken tenor.

Jake can also be found early mornings at his church where he is active in many groups and meetings long before school hours. When school does begin, his favorite subjects are history and some of the sciences.

Any long term goals beyond schooling are a bit vague for Jake at this time, but he does know he would like to end up working in Utah or North Dakota. Any place he does end up working would benefit from having this fine young man amongst them.

Jake has a yellow Labrador retriever as a pet, and when asked if he ever learns anything from his pet, he was surprised by the question, but only for a bit. He says his dog is trusting and thinks he is great. The old adage of “Be the person your pet thinks you are,” is not hard to do for Jake West.

It is no surprise. He is what a lot of people think, and that is that Jake West is a polite, caring, and great young man. FMSV

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by Mark Sahli • Photography by Justin Eiler

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Scholar Athlete > FARGO SOUTH

BRUINS

Thomas Pflipsen soccer Nickname: Tom Favorite School Subject: French Grade Point Average: 3.5 I Root For: Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Notable Academic Accomplishments: “A” Honor Roll

I’m Currently Listening To: New Hip Hop and Rap Pets: Two Golden Retrievers, Spice and Izzy Your Role Model: My Dad In Ten Years...I’ll Be: I’ll be much more organized and have my future figured out.

Scholar Athlete > SHANLEY

DEACONS

Andrew Hollingsworth swimming - baseball Nickname: Hollywood Favorite School Subject: U.S. History / Government Grade Point Average: 3.98 Groups and Organizations: Jazz Band, Audition Choir, Teens for Life President (Pro-Life Group at School), Philanthropy and Youth Member

I Root For: UND Fighting Hawks, Minnesota Vikings Notable Academic Accomplishments: 3-Time Student of the Quarter, National Merit Finalist, High Honors Honor Roll 4 Years In Ten Years...I’ll Be: I see myself being a pilot, flying high in the sky. Maybe even as an astronaut in space!

22 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

emily stroup

by Brent Rogness • Photography by Nick Friesen

S

omewhere roaming the halls of Fargo South High School is Emily Stroup, a brilliant senior student with a 3.97 grade point average. After careful consideration, she will soon spend her next four years studying at Oxford.

Oxford, Mississippi that is.

Beyond her academic brilliance is a six-foot, right-handed volleyball virtuoso who possesses a scarce combination of height, athleticism, and finesse. If you could build your prototypical player, most of the required attributes would match those of Emily Stroup.

Amy (2007) each led the Bruins to North Dakota state volleyball titles in their senior season. Her brother Bobby was a standout linebacker on South’s 2004 state championship team. Amy went on to play basketball and volleyball at the University of North Dakota, while Bobby had collegiate football stops at UND and the University of NebraskaOmaha.

Laura was finishing high school when Emily was in kindergarten.

“Laura is 12 years older than me.

I think I went to my first volleyball game when I was one or two months old,” says Emily.

away,” says Amy. “I have it a little easier as a sister. I’m not a parent. I can kinda reach my way in and ask her. I get away with saying more to Emily than others do.”

The Window Breaker The story of Emily Stroup’s rise to volleyball success begins with shattered garage windows.

“For hours on end in the backyard, she’d be hitting the ball off the garage,” recalls Amy. “I think she broke two windows on my parents’ garage. She loved doing it.”

Early on, mom had a sense that Emily possessed something special.

“In 6th grade, her 12 year-old di-

“In 6th grade . . . it was obvious she had some talent above and beyond her age level . . . I remember one of the coaches from the other team had complained . . . that she shouldn’t be playing at that level.”

Mom, Suzanne Somewhere in Oxford, the Ole Miss Rebels coaching staff eagerly awaits her arrival.

And somewhere in Fargo, you’ll find Bob and Suzanne Stroup, parents of a line of Fargo South athletic excellence, dating back to the turn of the century, preparing to say goodbye to their final Bruin. A girl who has evolved from little sister, to window breaker, to bridge builder, to Rebel.

The Little Sister The sheer amount of athleticism in the Stroup family is Manning-like -- a tip-of-the-cap to famous Ole Miss athlete Archie Manning, the NFL legend and father of current gridiron stars Peyton and Eli. Emily’s father played football at the University of Minnesota. Emily’s older sisters Laura (2002) and

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Emily credits much of her athletic success to the guidance of her sisters, who have skillfully walked the line of being constructive mentors and supportive siblings.

“My sisters always give me critiques in both sports after games. The support system they are for me... it’s nice having them. They’ve helped me get where I am now,” Emily adds. “Amy lives in Fargo and has come to almost all the games. Laura, who lives in Minneapolis, gets to all that she can. It’s great having sisters like them.”

As a credible guidepost with plenty of her own on-court experience, Amy has become comfortable knowing when to hold back and when to contribute feedback.

“I have a pretty good read of Emily. Some games, you know to stay

vision, it was obvious she had some talent above and beyond her age level. Even at Carl Ben (middle school), in her 7th grade year, I remember one time one of the coaches from the other team had complained to her coach that she shouldn’t be playing at that level,” Suzanne light-heartedly recalls.

The Bridge Builder As an eighth grader, Emily’s talent became too much to ignore for a Fargo South program desperate for athletes.

The Bruins were coming off nine state tournament volleyball appearances in ten years. However, the newly-built Fargo Davies High School shifted district lines and emptied South’s cupboard of a considerable percentage of JV and varsity players. Looking for someone to step up beyond their years

emily stroup and take on varsity-level challenges, South’s volleyball and basketball programs turned to Emily Stroup to bridge the talent gap.

“When she was in eighth grade, they immediately pulled her up (to the Fargo South varsity). That’s kind of unheard of,” Emily’s mom recalls. “With the split, there was good and bad with that… growing pains when numbers are down and you’re rebuilding a program, but she’s loved playing for South.”

After missing the state tourney in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1994-1995, Stroup helped the Bruins cross back into tournament territory in 2013, her sophomore year, and also in 2014.

The summer lead-in to Emily’s senior season at Fargo South couldn’t

by Brent Rogness • Photography by Nick Friesen

“We try to hold our own a little bit with that argument,” jokes Amy. “Emily doesn’t say it, but we know.

She played varsity for five years and is going to the SEC, so our little state championships don’t really hold their own in comparison.”

Andrea Butler coached Emily’s volleyball team at South for three years and also works with her as an assistant on the basketball team.

She points to Emily’s skill set as a catalyst in restoring the roar to the Bruins Den. “When I took over, having a player like Emily helped establish a winning culture and mindset. She has seen her sisters and brother excel in athletics and she’s seen what it takes,” says Butler, a former twosport standout at rival West Fargo.

“She was more than willing to go

“I like basketball, but volleyball is my true passion. I’m excited to stick with that one and see how it goes,” says Emily. “I think ever since I was little I’ve always liked volleyball more than basketball.”

The Rebel Charting Stroup’s journey to Mississippi takes a surprise detour through South Dakota. Stroup first landed on the radar of the Ole Miss staff when Angela Mooney, a former South Dakota State assistant, invited Stroup to the team’s 2014 May Elite Camp in Mississippi after moving south to join the Rebel staff.

Mooney remembers watching Stroup excel while playing on North Dakota’s biggest stage.

“When I took over, having a player like Emily helped establish a winning culture and mindset. She has seen her sisters and brother excel in athletics and she’s seen what it takes.”

Coach andrea butler have gone more smoothly. As a participant on the USA Olympic Junior A1 Red team, Emily helped her squad to an unforgettable goldmedal win at the USA High Performance International Championship Tournament.

Her final high school season finished with an impressive 18-5 record, but ended prematurely with a heartbreaking, 5-set loss to Grand Forks Red River in a state tournament qualifier. Emily considers this year’s squad the best she played with at South.

Ultimately, Emily’s siblings will always have North Dakota state titles as a unique feather in their hat compared to their youngest counterpart.

Not that it means much.

above and beyond what was necessary for us to turn the program around.”

Amy, who currently works in UND’s athletics department, adds, “She has an arm on her that every college volleyball program wishes they had. She’s a leader who will do really well (at Ole Miss). She’s learned a lot of things that some girls don’t learn until they reach college.”

With a career stat line of over 2000 kills and over 1900 assists, the numbers speak for themselves. If that isn’t impressive enough, Emily has also excelled on the basketball court, achieving the rare doublequadruple of over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

26 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

“While coaching at South Dakota State, I attended the North Dakota high school state tournament in Minot in 2013,” says Mooney.

“That year, there were quite a few talented players competing but

emily stroup

by Brent Rogness • Photography by Nick Friesen

“I like basketball, but volleyball is my true passion.

I’m excited to stick with that one and see how it goes.”

Emily on her sport of choice at the college level Emily just really stood out to me.

She was physical, dynamic and played the overall game really well for her size and age. You could just tell she was a great overall athlete.”

“I sent her an intro letter and questionnaire from SDSU but didn’t hear from her,” remembers Mooney.

Emily eased into her college decision while sorting through recruiting letters and emails. Overtures came locally from North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota, as well as nationally prominent Division 1 programs such as Ohio State and Auburn.

In February 2014, Mooney got a new coaching job at Ole Miss. The change of scenery seemed to pique Emily’s attention.

“After assessing the future needs we had here at Ole Miss, it just made sense for me to contact Emily once again,” says Mooney. “I sent her an intro letter and our summer camp information. It was then that the recruiting process with us really took off with her.”

Receiving the all-important blessing from mom and dad helped seal the deal.

“First they approached her to come down to an elite camp. I thought, ‘This will be a good opportunity for her to look at schools down there and make her mind up,’” says Suzanne. “They were looking at her as a setter. On the way home at the airport she told us they pulled her into the office and offered her a full ride for hitting. The coaching staff there was great and asked her to come back with family again because it was such a big decision.”

It was a decision Emily didn’t take lightly, and it was ultimately worth the wait.

“I was actually late signing. It was my junior year. In volleyball, it’s more common for girls to commit during freshman and sophomore years. I went on an unofficial visit (to Oxford) and I really liked it,” says Emily. “My family is always there for me. They always said, ‘It’s your decision and we’ll support you in whatever you do.’ They support

28 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

me and we have so much Ole Miss gear already,” says Emily.

For good measure, mom occasionally checks her daughter’s barometer.

The result is steady every time.

“I’ve asked her since if she’s comfortable with her decision, and she’s absolutely comfortable with it. Ole Miss was the fit for her. I think she’ll be very happy. Far away, but happy!”

In Emily’s opinion, being far away and happy is a little easier when considering the climatic advantages.

“I think it was 11 below here yesterday and I was Snapchatting the girls down there… It’s in the 50’s and 60’s there. I’m really excited for the weather change,” says Emily.

As for Bob and Suzanne, Emily’s graduation from Fargo South will mark the end of an era.

“We’ve had kids there for 16 years in the South basketball and volleyball program. It will be an adjustment next year going to games

and not being nervous,” remarks Suzanne. “I can just pop in when I want. No more pasta feeds or uniforms to wash, but it’s been fun.”

As she closes the book on her decorated high-school career and begins writing a new story of life in the world of SEC volleyball, Emily plans to enroll in second-semester summer classes, beginning in July.

She will have the opportunity to train with Ole Miss teammates and get an academic head start.

“They don’t redshirt (incoming freshmen). I don’t really know for sure, but coach says I have the opportunity to play. I just have to prove myself,” says Emily. “I’ll just work hard this summer and we’ll see what happens.”

A word of warning to Oxford residents, Emily Stroup’s coming to town. You’re running out of time to board up those windows. FMSV

Scholar Athlete > PARK CHRISTIAN

FALCONS

Jordan Kerr Football - Basketball - Golf Nickname: Big Kerr, Kirby (My Brother is Little Kerr) Favorite School Subject: Math Grade Point Average: 4.0 Groups and Organizations: Calvary United Church Volunteer, Choir, Chamber Singers, Knowledge Bowl, National Honor Society

I Root For: University of North Carolina, University of North Dakota, any pro team out of Minnesota In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Recipient of a Masters Degree in aeronautical engineering, working at a company such as Lockheed, Leerjet or even NASA.

Scholar Athlete > DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON

REBELS

Tyler Oberg Football - wrestling - baseball Favorite School Subject: Physics Grade Point Average: 3.97 Groups and Organizations: National Honor Society, Student Council I Root For: University of Minnesota

Notable Academic Accomplishments: Two Time All-State Academic Team for Football Pets: Two Dogs; Maverick and Koda In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Serving in the Military

A CONVERSATION Tyler Roehl

West Fargo > Football

Tyler Roehl is currently the Tight Ends/Fullbacks coach for the North Dakota State University Bison football team. As a standout running back and linebacker for the West Fargo Packers, Tyler led the team to state championships in 2002 and 2003, earning the North Dakota Class AAA Player of the Year honors in his final season. He went on to play collegiately at NDSU from 2004-2008, where he rushed for 2,512 yards and 35 touchdowns as a Bison. Tyler was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in April of 2009. He also attended the Minnesota Vikings rookie mini-camp in 2010. Tyler lives in West Fargo with his wife, Mary.

by Brent Rogness

Photo By David Samson - West Fargo Pioneer

Brent rogness: When I say the words ‘West Fargo Packers Football’, what are the first things that come to your mind?

Tyler Roehl: I think blue collar… a feeling of hard work and a lot of pride in the city. On Friday night, the stadium would be packed, people standing everywhere. You grew up wanting to play football in West Fargo. We had a bunch of guys who played together for a long time. We had 23 or 24 seniors on our team and we won 23 straight games, I believe. We were a bunch of guys working together toward a common goal.

BR: What are some of the games that stand out from your high school career?

TR: The championship games. I remember playing against Bismarck and we always played tough games against them. Those battles between Weston Dressler (veteran wide receiver in the Canadian Football League) and me were a lot of fun.

We got up huge and they came back and we finished it out. One other cool game was against Wahpeton.

My brother hadn’t seen me play yet because he was in the Army Reserves. He came back and watched that one, so that one sticks out.

BR: Talk about playing for longtime football coach Jay Gibson at West Fargo, who’s still there now, and what he means for that program.

30 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

TR: Very excitable. He’s a guy who cares and you know it. He’s got such a good name for himself at the school and in the community.

Growing up in West Fargo, you want to play for Jay Gibson, and you want to do well. He’s a guy that gets a ton of respect. There was one game I was out with an injury against Devils Lake, and I was shadowing him along the sideline and he looks back at me and says, “This is gonna be a touchdown.” And I go, “Come on, you gotta be kidding me.” Next thing I know, it’s a touchdown. He’s just so smart and such a good offensive mind. I enjoyed the enthusiasm and energy he brought.

BR: You mentioned you were among many seniors on the 2003 championship team at West Fargo.

Do you still keep up with some of those guys?

TR: I thought moving on to college; I would lose a lot of those relationships. I ultimately didn’t because I stayed in town and a lot of those guys stayed in the Fargo-Moorhead area. I’ve been able to keep up with them and one was in my wedding.

It’s a little tough during the football season, but we definitely have a good core group of guys that are still able to reminisce a little bit. We have big group texts and still talk some smack to each other.

BR: You also played baseball in high school. Talk about the importance of being a well-rounded high school athlete.

Photo Courtesy of North Dakota State University

TR: I think, the more you’re wellrounded, the more you’re able to train. You can’t put all your eggs in one basket. I’m a huge proponent of multi-sport athletes and I look for that in recruiting. If you’re able to do basketball, and track, and football? That’s awesome. You’re able to get different styles of coaching. I think it’s a huge positive. I really do.

BR: What was the process like for you when transitioning from the West Fargo green to the NDSU green?

TR: When you get ready to go off to college, you think about what it would be like to be away from home. Those opportunities came up, but the opportunity to play in my own backyard at NDSU... they were going Division 1 and I could be a Division 1 football player. That was exciting for me. NDSU recruited me as a fullback, UND recruited me as a linebacker, and (the University of ) Minnesota said I was too short to play Big Ten football. Gus Bradley (now head coach for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars) recruited me here. If you were ever to sit down and have a conversation with Gus, you could tell how enthusiastic and exciting he is to be around. That’s

a program I really wanted to be a part of and be a part of the community. A lot of people probably doubted me, thinking a lot of kids from North Dakota probably aren’t going to be successful (at that level).

Year in, year out, that hasn’t been true. We’ve proven we’ve been able to play here.

BR: Talk about the first year of college. What was it like for you to get up to speed of the college game?

TR: I felt like I was physically ready.

I was 230 pounds and I played as a true freshman. The speed of the game was fast. I didn’t block a ton in high school, and I was primarily a blocking back (at NDSU). It was coach (Tim) Albin, who is now the offensive coordinator at Ohio (University), who said, “You get good at these couple staple things, and when you’re in there, we’ll make sure those are the things we highlight.” Johnny Frank would play two series, I’d play one. He’d play two series, I’d play one. I thought that was a good mix.

For me to learn from Johnny Frank was huge.

TR: I had a circle of people that cared about me and were there for me. Obviously, my parents have been there for me the whole time.

That really became evident the spring of my true freshman year. It was five practices in and I broke my leg. I had a rod and four screws put in my tibia and that was, up to that point, the most frustrating time to deal with. Having my parents there, my dad at the hospital, my brother slept in the hospital chair there with me. High school friends, parents of friends, a ton of people came to see how I was doing. That meant a lot.

Knowing I had people supporting me on game day in the stands, that was huge too. Being in the community, they were there to support not only the team, but me as well.

BR: A lot of people point to the 2007 win at the University of Minnesota, where you had a huge statistical game, as a groundbreaking victory for the program. Talk about that experience.

TR: It was early. It was an 11:00 game. The 2006 game, losing by that blocked field goal, gave us con-

BR: What was it like playing college football so close to home?

Photo Submitted by Tyler Roehl

FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 31

conversation with brent - tyler roehl

by Brent Rogness

TR: I do. Before I got here, there was a plan in place from Coach Bohl and the staff, which was to work from the framework built in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. That plan was to be a blue collar, blackand-blue type football team. We were going to run the football. I think taking that framework and building upon it into the Division 1 era was huge. Coming in, our recruiting class didn’t know what conference we were going to be in. We didn’t know if we were going to be eligible for the playoffs. We were all coming from the belief this was the right place for us. We had a duty to do, a job to do, and we were going to have a great time doing it under Coach Bohl and the staff.

BR: What else about your time as a player at NDSU stands out to you?

TR: The biggest thing that gets overlooked is the weight and conditioning aspect. That’s all Jim Kramer. Every time a senior talks about him, they get emotional, because he does so much for the program.

I truly believe he’s a big reason why we’ve been successful. For me to be a husky, 230-pound fullback and eventually be a pretty strong, pretty fast, 232-pound tailback, he had a lot to do with that. A huge part of the time you have in college football is with your strength coach. I owe a lot of my success to him.

Photo Submitted by Tyler Roehl

fidence for 2007. We were all confident, yet loose. We were all very humble in knowing we were a good football team, we were undefeated at that point, but were hungry to get that win. So we went out there and cut it loose. We didn’t have any pressure. We were just a bunch of guys who got overlooked and played their tails off and knocked off a Big Ten team. That was special.

BR: Were there other guys on that 2007 team that felt spurned by the University of Minnesota? Was there a real dynamic where they wanted to ‘stick it’ to them in those games at the Metrodome?

TR: I think you could definitely come to that conclusion. They probably wouldn’t come out and say it at the time… but now? Sure. You take two guys for example, Craig Dahl and Ramon Humber, two Minnesota (high school) guys who are still playing in the NFL. They probably felt like they should have been playing at a Big Ten level, but I also know they wouldn’t trade their opportunity to play at NDSU. BR: Your first year as a Bison was 2004, the first of the school’s Division 1 transition period. Do you take pride in helping bridge that gap and putting them on the map as a championship-caliber team that could compete even with the FBS schools?

32 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

Photo By David Samson - West Fargo Pioneer

Top and Bottom Right Photos

By David Samson - West Fargo Pioneer

BR: From your perspective, what does it take to win five straight championships?

BR: You spent some time on the Seattle Seahawks roster as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Can you shed some light on being part of the National Football League?

TR: It was really eye-opening as to how it’s truly a business. When you go into a meeting room, you better understand everything you covered the day before and you better have already started on the playbook for the next day. You’ve got about two seconds to answer a question. You have to know your stuff or else they’re moving on to the next person. The coaches may already think “Okay, he’s not that focused on it.

Maybe we can find someone else.”

But it was cool. I was able to sit in a meeting with their head football coach, Jim Mora, and two rows ahead of me is Matt Hasselbeck and Julius Jones and Justin Forsett… a bunch of guys like that.

Even though it was a dozen or so practices before I got injured, I knew I could do it. It was just soft shoulder pads and helmet in OTAs, but doing team stuff and catching the ball in the flat and running by some people, or on kickoff drill where you’re just running by everyone. In the weight room with all the rookies, I was paired up with Aaron Curry, a fourth overall draft pick, and I was paired with him because I could push him.

Matt Hasselbeck had me and another rookie over for dinner and told us his story, and how his story was hard as a rookie (drafted in the second-to-last round). All the stories are different, but you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time, and I truly believe that. It’s helped me get to where I am right now, understanding football and being more professional as well.

BR: Did you ever imagine being in a situation where you’re coaching the Bison, let alone pushing to a fifth straight championship?

BR: How does it feel to be part of NCAA football history in helping coach the Bison to its fifth straight title?

TR: It is absolutely very special. To be part of a team that never gave up and never listened to anyone who told us we couldn’t. We always believed we could. It is truly a testament to what NDSU football is all about.

TR: It’s really hard. And we all have to be thankful for it right now. As players and coaches, we’re going to work as hard as we possibly can to keep that all going. Injuries, having a call go your way, having the ball roll your way every once in a while… we’re fortunate. We’re going to keep working hard and we’re gonna stay hungry. That’s a credit to Coach Klieman and how he’s maintained preaching tradition and hard work; keep attacking the process every day. He’s the mastermind of working toward a common goal.

He’s doing a heck of a job and I truly enjoy working for him.

The humbling game was our loss to South Dakota. As a staff we said that we can’t take 60 minutes for granted, and I think that propelled us even more this season. There’s a process that’s in place for each season and you’ve gotta win every day, every play. FMSV

TR: I think if you go back, the staff does ‘Ten Questions’ with you as a senior. Jeremy Jorgensen (NDSU Director of Sales and Broadcasting) asked me, “Where are you going to be in ten years?” I said, “I’m going to be a coach for the Bison.” So yeah, I think at the end of the day, I truly am where I’m supposed to be.

Everything happens for a reason. To think we’d have this much success this fast, I don’t think anyone could have told you that. But the plan was put in place for that transition from Division 2 to Division 1 and I don’t think we’ve deviated from that plan one bit. I’m very grateful and thankful for the opportunity I have to coach this team and be a part of it.

FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 33

Jon Ammerman

J

on Ammerman wants to give back to his hometown.

The Moorhead High School history teacher, thirdyear head boys hockey coach, and Moorhead native hopes that through his coaching and teaching he can give back to the community that raised him.

“I’m glad to be home,” said Ammerman who was a defenseman for the Spuds for three seasons and graduated from Moorhead High School in 2005. “I had a really good high school experience, one that I wanted to come back to. Not just hockey-wise but the school culture is a positive one. I wanted to give back to the community and the program that I was a part of.”

It is important to him to continue a legacy in Moorhead hockey of not only molding successful hockey teams, but good students and community leaders as well. He attributes this to his predecessors and

by Adam Watts • Photography by Nick Friesen

mentors in the Moorhead hockey community including his former hockey coaches Dave Morinville and Terry Shercliffe. Ammerman hopes to create a generation of hockey players that will follow in his footsteps as a community leader and continue the success of Moorhead hockey the same way he is following his mentors.

“They’re a lot more than just hockey players,” he said. “They’re important to our community and our community has provided for us a lot and it is important for them to give back - not only now while they’re in high school, but after.”

A big part of Ammerman’s strategy to create hockey players who can give back to the community is an emphasis on academics. He, along with assistant coach and fellow Moorhead High School teacher Tony Kunka, check their player’s grades and attendance on a daily basis. This has proved effective

as the Spuds won the academic state championship in Minnesota sporting a cumulative team grade point average of 3.81.

“The rink is just an extension of the classroom,” Kunka said. “It’s continually teaching. It’s still working with the kids. If it’s not the classroom, it’s the rink. You’re always trying to help the kids and make them good people and it’s all that we’re trying to do as a hockey program.”

Now the Spuds hope to follow up their academic success with onice success. Moorhead lost in the section championship game each of the last two seasons, missing the state tournament by one game.

Missing out on the state tournament was tough for the coach to take.

Making the tournament is a personal goal for him as a coach, but even more than that he wants his players to have the experience of

”I wanted to give back to the community and the program that I was a part of.”

Jon Ammerman on coming back home to Moorhead

36 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

playing in a state tournament.

“I had that experience as a player and I know what that meant to my friends and my family and to the hockey community in general - to Moorhead,” Ammerman said.

“And I want my kids to have that experience.”

In order to improve from the section championship losses of the past two seasons and to progress to the state tournament, the Spuds are focusing on fundamental skills and puck possession.

“We really focus here in Moorhead - this isn’t something I started but something we’ve always believed in fundamental skills,” Ammerman said. “Puck handling and puck possession are important. If you can’t handle the puck - if you can’t make plays, it’s tough to play at the next level.”

”Hockey is a simple game and teaching is the most important thing about it. The skill level might be different but the concepts are still the same.”

Coach Ammerman If the Spuds’ emphasis on fundamentals and puck possession work and they make the state tournament, they will be following in the footsteps of Ammerman’s childhood heroes.

“As a kid my favorite hockey players - that’s one thing that I think is neat here about our culture - my heroes weren’t NHL players, they were high school hockey players,” he said. “I remember as a kid going and watching Matt Cullen and Ryan Kraft and Brian Nelson and those players playing in the state high school hockey tournament.”

While he always knew that he wanted to come back to Moorhead eventually, Ammerman’s journey took him away from his hometown for several years.

After graduating from Moorhead High School in 2005, he played a year of junior hockey for the TriCity Storm and the Indianapolis Ice of the United States Hockey League.

After a season playing juniors, he earned a scholarship to St. Cloud State University where he played for four seasons from 2006 to 2010.

After graduating with a social studies education degree, he immediately applied for a teaching job in Moorhead but did not get the position.

Instead, he took a job in Windom, Minnesota where he was appointed the head hockey coach.

FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 37

“Puck handling and puck possession are important. If you can’t handle the puck - if you can’t make plays, it’s tough to play at the next level.”

Coach Ammerman

“I was fortunate that I got to be the head coach right out of college,” he said. “So I was a 22 year old or 23 year old - however old I was - as a head coach at a high school. That’s not a thing a lot of kids get to experience.”

After two years in Windom, Ammerman applied for and was offered a teaching job at Moorhead High School. When he was hired he did not know he would be able to take over as head coach and just hoped to coach at the youth level.

Coaching in Windom (population 4,646) presented challenges for the young coach; not the least of which was low participation. The hockey team had 15 total players in JV and varsity, including three goalies. Moorhead has over twice as many players, rostering between 35 and 40 each year, and had 65 try outs in 2015.

“I came here as a teacher,” he said. “I just wanted to be closer to home. I knew that I’d eventually have an opportunity to coach somewhere, whether it’s youth hockey, or be an assistant or help out at some level.”

Another challenge was coaching players who were involved in a hockey program that Ammerman describes as being in its infancy. He had players that did not have the benefit of growing up in a program like Moorhead, which has been building a legacy for over 50 years.

“It made me realize that really you just need to slow down,” he said. “Kids in Moorhead, kids in Windom, kids in Edina, they’re all learning the same thing.

Hockey is a simple game and teaching is the most important thing about it.

The skill level might be different but the concepts are still the same.”

38 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

Fortunately for Ammerman, the head coaching position opened up as he returned to Moorhead and the young head coach was selected to fill it.

Since taking the job in 2013, Ammerman, who is now 28 years old, has brought a fire and passion to the position and is poised to continue Moorhead’s hockey legacy.

“He is able to relate to the kids,” Tony Kunka said. “He can get them fired up.

That’s good. It’s the passion that he brings and it’s good for the kids to see that passion. Deep down, the kids see how much he cares about them.” FMSV

Law & Order: F o r m e r S p u d , C o b b e r Ta c k l e s N e w A d v e n t u r e s i n P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t

I

t has been more than a decade since his last memorable defensive play, a jarring tackle or a nifty pass breakup, perhaps, but memories of that special senior season still resonate brightly for Jordan Talge, the one-time secondary whiz for Moorhead High School and Concordia College.

dropping plays from both teams, including several on the storybook last-minute drive and ended with a clutch field goal from a guy [Brian Halverson] who would go on to be our all-time leading scorer. I’ll never forget it as long as I live, and it’s going to be something that all the men on that team are going to share forever–we did it!

A practicing member of the legal profession as an associate at Susman Godfrey LLP in Seattle, Wash., Talge was a four-year fixture in the Cobbers’ defensive backfield.

He saved his best for last in the memorable season of 2004 when Concordia returned to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference summit, gained satisfying payback by dispatching of some pesky natural rivals and returned to the NCAA Division III post-season party. Dreams of a national title evaporated with a 42-40 loss to Occidental College in the semi-finals, but even that loss could not tarnish a special season.

There were other red letter days for Talge and his pals as well, including the annual showdown with crosstown rival MSU Moorhead.

“Every memory from the 2004 season is a special one, from the first day of camp to our final game in the Fargodome,” said Talge. “The best, of course, was our win over St. John’s. It had all the classic themes– St. John’s was the defending national champion and hadn’t lost a conference game in three years. It was a road game in the bitter cold with a wind so fierce that the coin-toss winner chose to defend a goal rather than take the ball; it featured dozens of jaw-

“I think every senior on our team had ‘Beat the Dragons’ on his list of goals for the season. As a Moorhead guy I really wanted to win the Powerbowl, especially at MSUM. We hadn’t won at (Alex) Nemzek in several years and it meant a lot to go out on top (30-7). It kills me to know that current players on the two teams don’t get to play each other. Hopefully, it will get back online someday.”

There remained another major challenge for Concordia as well. Bethel University was beginning to reap some serious benefits from an encouraging building program and payback was surely part of the Cobbers’ collective mindset.

“Our 2003 team had the talent to win a conference championship and Bethel ended that dream, beating us on our home turf.

A native of Alexandria, Minn., Larry Scott spent 40 years as sports information director at Minnesota State University Moorhead before retiring in 2009. A 1963 graduate of Alexandria High School, Scott received a BS degree in English from Moorhead State in 1967 and was appointed the first fulltime MSC SID in 1969. Scott was named sports publicist of the NIC as well in 1970. Scott filled a three-year term (1984-87) as a college division representative on the Board of Directors of the College Sports Information Directors of America. Scott was presented the Ike Pearson award as NAIA SID of the Year in 1990 and inducted into the Dragon Hall of Fame in 1988, the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1991 and the NSIC Hall of Fame in 2015. Scott won 107 national awards for athletic publications, including 25 “Best in the Nation” certificates and is an adjunct professor in the MSU Moorhead Mass Communications department. A member of the MSUM football broadcast team, Scott has worked 501 consecutive Dragon football games since 1967 40 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

by Larry Scott

Scholar Athlete > WEST FARGO

PACKERS

Hallie Peterson Swimming Nickname: Hal Favorite School Subject: Marketing and Science Grade Point Average: 3.5 Groups and Organizations: DECA, FMY Gators Swim Club Pets: A Dog (Shih Tzu) Named Maggie

I Root For: NDSU (Football), UND Everything (I’m going there), the Vikes and Twins Notable Academic Accomplishments: Presidential Academic Award In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Hopefully doing something with marketing and continuing to swim.

Scholar Athlete > DAVIES

EAGLES

Jennifer Marsh golf - soccer Nickname: Jen Jen Favorite School Subject: Math, Biology Grade Point Average: 4.0 Notable Academic Accomplishments: Academic All-State Nominee, AP Scholar Award Your Role Model: Older sister, Kathleen

I Root For: Duke Men’s Basketball, Dustin Johnson I’m Currently Listening To: Pretty much anything, Ellie Goulding, Beyonce, Rap, Country In Ten Years...I’ll Be: Either playing pro soccer or research in geology.

Catching up / Jordan Talge It was a devastating loss, by far the worst of my career. To get revenge in 2004 was incredibly satisfying, it also paved the way for us to go undefeated and win the conference. I think my three favorite college football teams will probably always be the Cobbs, the Washington Huskies, and whoever is playing Bethel.”

Talge started in all 10 regular season games for Concordia as a senior, tied a school record for interceptions in a single season and ranked 15th nationally. He led the MIAC in interceptions (8) and passes defended (17) and was credited with 42 tackles, including 31 unassisted and 11 assisted tackles. Talge was saluted as the MIAC Defensive Player of the Week and named to the D3football.com Team of the Week and the Football Gazette Team of the Week.

His splendid play did not go unnoticed. He was named a finalist for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy as the NCAA III Player of the Year.

He was named to the D3football. com All-American First Team, the Football Gazette All-American First Team, the All-MIAC First Team and the Associated Press Little AllAmerican Second Team. Talge also collected CoSIDA Academic AllDistrict laurels.

humbling and fun to know my name will be listed alongside theirs, and if the 2004 Cobber defense lined up across from any of their teams I’d expect a shutout and pick six!”

The Talge football fable began at Moorhead High, and when his career with the Spuds expired, he began his search for the right landing space.

“The final three schools I considered were Concordia, St. Olaf, and Macalester. I always tell potential recruits looking at MIAC schools they can’t make a bad choice. It’s the same great advice I received when I was in high school, and with that in mind I knew I should just go where I felt most comfortable. How could I feel more at home than at my hometown school? Coach [Terry] Horan was a big part of my decision, of course. I really believed in his vision for his new program, and obviously a lot of

“It sounds clichéd, but all the individual accolades are really just a reflection of the quality of our team.

If we hadn’t had such a great year in 2004 I wouldn’t have received any of the honors I did, but of course I’m very proud of each individual honor.

To this day I list every one of them on my law firm bio and feature the hardware front and center in my office.”

While the awards were appreciated, Talge admits to being uncomfortable when compared to earlier Cobber legends.

“Most of those guys who wore the maroon and gold before me defy comparison; we’re talking about professional-level athletes who dominated Division III and/or the NAIA. I wouldn’t ever compare myself to their individual talents and achievements, but it’s certainly 42 SPORTS VIEW JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

by Larry Scott talented 2001 high school seniors– who ended up being my classmates and best friends–did the same.

Talge brought a sufficient amount of anticipation and self-confidence to his first Cobber pre-season camp and quickly adjusted to college football.

“I believe as soon as you start feeling you’ve got the right stuff, you’re ripe to get burned. That next play could always be the one where you’re exposed, where your bubble gets burst.

Whether that makes sense or not, it’s how I played until the last play of my career. The same mentality creeps into my professional life to this day. I loved the challenge and I loved to be on the field.”

There were many valuable lessons Talge learned from his coach, especially the Cobber gospel according to Horan.

“It’s hard to believe how many things Coach Horan told us that apply just as well off the field as they do on it and that I still think about regularly in my career and family life: You can do it; its right here [points to heart]. “This is one of my favorites, and he must have said it every single game day. Do you have the heart to do this, do you have the passion? Because the really meaningful things in life take an awful lot of heart to accomplish.”

Freshmen, sophomores, juniors: don’t wait for next year; do it now.

“Complacency is so hard to fight.

Do it now, great advice.”

Together we will. “This has been the team’s slogan for a decade and I’ve started using it to refer to my growing family. Sometimes it would be easier to bring just one or two of our three daughters on an outing or to a ballgame, but together we will.

We’re all going! It’s the recognition that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, that doing something together will always be more meaningful than trying to do it individually.”

Do your job, pick each other up, stay positive and good things are going to happen to you. “The good things are going to happen to is the best part of this advice and what makes it so widely applicable. It is so easy to resist buying into something, whether a job or a new development in your family life. You might go along with it, but it’s hard to totally buy in and never look back. That’s what Coach Horan got us to do in 2004, a total buy in from everyone on the team.”

Horan remains grateful for Talge’s past and present contributions to the lore of Cobber athletics.

“I knew Jordan was a standout high school athlete and leader when I took the job at Concordia and I needed to reach out to him right away when I took over in January of 2001,” said Horan. “He blew me away with how competitive and smart he was and it didn’t take us long to figure out we

needed to get him on the field. He came in as a QB, but we needed his services on our defense right away.

He made the move and started for us early within his first year. Jordan was also an incredible recruiter for us, very personable, and really sold Concordia to all of our prospects.

“His incredible attention to detail with being fundamentally sound, and his never going to lose, not on my watch type attitude, was infectious to everyone, says Coach Horan. “Two plays that really stand out, his interception against Bethel really broke the game open and his pounding hit on a receiver from Wartburg in the playoffs still sends chills down my back.” Horan continues, “Jordan is super competitive in everything that he does and incredible with people too. We don’t have finer people come through our program and what a treat for me to coach him. He is someone I trust, respect, and admire.”

Concordia provided more than just a memorable football experience for Talge.

“It’s hard to parse out football from the rest of my Concordia experience because they’re so intertwined.

But obviously the school provided the kind of challenging academic environment that helped me be a creative thinker, hopefully a quality writer, and a dedicated student. It really paid dividends for me in the first few years of my professional career in politics and allowed me to thrive in graduate school later on.”

A rare internship opportunity during his senior year opened a future career path for Talge.

“I was extremely lucky during the second semester of my senior year, just weeks after our season ended, to move to Washington, D.C., and intern for Senator Norm Coleman in the spring of 2005 as part of the Lutheran College Washington Semester. By interning, I was able to set myself up for a full-time job as soon as I graduated. I worked for Senator Coleman from 2005 until 2008 when I started law school.

FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 43

Catching up / Jordan Talge

by Larry Scott on Ice team before the 2004 season, and I’ll always remember that he said ‘we cleared the bench on every goal.’ We embraced that same mentality in 2004 and celebrated hard for every positive play and every win that year. I try to do the same thing now when good things happen in my cases.”

“It was the best job I will ever have.

I worked on a fascinating array of projects from the federal response to the I-35W bridge collapse to our military strategy in the Global War on Terror. I got to meet President Hu Jintao in Beijing, have dinner with General David Petraeus in Baghdad and even lobby executives at Ford’s headquarters in Michigan about the St. Paul Ranger truck plant. I also happened to be in D.C. at a fortuitous time: I staffed the Senator at over 60 hours of Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings when Vice President Biden was still the Committee Chairman and President Obama was an up-andcoming Committee Member. It was an incredible experience and will always be the foundation of my professional life.

Talge has often been asked about a future run in politics.

“I’d like to get involved in politics and policy again someday. I still follow it pretty closely and I miss the public-service aspect of it all. The rancor and divisiveness has certainly tempered my enthusiasm for the political world, and I know many of my former colleagues feel the same way, but I don’t think my passion for it will ever be fully extinguished.”

“I left Senator Coleman’s office because I had received an NCAA PostGraduate Scholarship my senior year and needed to apply it within three years of graduating from Concordia. (Wife) Karen and I settled on Seattle and the University of Washington Law School.”

Talge relished his experience at Washington, and was able to return to competition.

“Just like at Concordia, I was fortunate to have a lot of terrific classmates and collaborators and ended up serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Law Review. I graduated as a member of the Order of the Coif (top 10% of my graduating class) and received the Dean’s Medal as the graduate combining the highest academic achievement and outstanding contributions to the law school community. And most importantly, I was a member of Judgment Day, our intramural sports team that won the seven-on-seven football championship in 2010 and repeated as basketball champions in 2010 and 2011. I graduated in 2011.

“After graduating, I spent one year clerking for the Honorable Richard C. Tallman, a federal judge who sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the

Despite a taxing workload, Talge always finds time for family adventures.

Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit handles appeals of federal cases from the western states--- California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. Judge Tallman has been an outstanding mentor to me, similar to Coach Horan and Senator Coleman.

“When I completed my clerkship I started work in private practice for the law firm Susman Godfrey LLP at the firm’s Seattle office. The firm specializes in commercial litigation.

In the few short years I’ve worked for the firm, I’ve enjoyed a wealth of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes cases across the country. From arguing at complex hearings in patent-infringement lawsuits to representing plaintiffs in antitrust class actions to leading settlement negotiations with Fortune 500 companies, I’ve

44 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

enjoyed a wealth of experience since joining Susman Godfrey in 2012.”

Talge insists there is a positive correlation between his football days and the challenges of the job today.

“I always feel better about a task or a part of my job if I can turn it into a sports analogy, so I approach important tasks in my cases--- hearings before a judge, important depositions, or other key presentations--- like game day. I probably repeat ‘the separation is in the preparation’ thirty times to myself every time I prepare for a big event, or ‘practice like you play’ when reciting an argument in front of a mirror. I’m not nearly as superstitious as Coach Horan, but I have my game day rituals. I also celebrate when things go well, something that is often overlooked in the professional world. We met with Dave Christian of the 1980 Miracle

“Karen (Concordia ‘05) is a nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and we have three awesome little girls, Lillian Cecilia (“Lil”), age 3, and identical twins Hattie Pearl (“HP”) and Alice Paulette who will turn two in February. We also have our trusty Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Ferdie, pretty much the glue that holds it all together. We had a terrific year of adventures in 2015; snowshoeing and hiking at Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker, attending many Mariners games (including a Mariners-Twins game at Safeco where Torii Hunter threw Lil a foul ball), attending the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, hitting all but one of the UW home football games, and spending whatever time we can on our nineteenfoot Sea Ray, the Waboose, which we keep in the water year-round in Lake Union just a few minutes from our house.” FMSV

Hunter Lucas

DAVIES > cross country After taking second place in the Eastern Dakota Conference race, Lucas heartily represented the Eagles with a strong showing at the 2015 North Dakota Class ‘A’ state boys cross country meet in Grand Forks. He finished in third place with a time of 16:10 to cap off a fantastic junior season. Fargo South junior Munir Isahak (12th) and Davies senior Jacob Henne (13th) were the next-best finishers from Fargo at the state level.

Kenna Taylor

moorhead > volleyball A senior at Moorhead High, Taylor led her team in kills (393) and digs (409) on the season, paving the Spuds’ path to a section title and a trip to the 2015 Minnesota Class 3A state tournament. Taylor was voted Most Valuable Player by her teammates and was named All-State Honorable Mention. She will play in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association All-Star game this summer.

Collegiately, she continues her career at Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.) next season.

Davis lawley

Fargo South > Tennis As a sophomore, Lawley is already leaving his mark on the Bruins’ tennis program. After besting West Fargo Sheyenne’s North Knewtson (6-1, 6-1) for the Eastern Dakota Conference title, he went on to defeat Knewtson in a rematch (6-0, 6-1) to claim the 2015 North Dakota Class ‘A’ boys state championship.

Jen Dufner

West Fargo > cross country A junior cross country standout at West Fargo High School, Dufner’s time of 14:41 was enough to earn her a fourth place finish at the 2015 North Dakota Class ‘A’ girls state meet. Freshman Bridget Henne of Fargo Davies finished in 10th place, making her the only other Fargo-area racer to crack the top ten at the state level.

blake kragnes

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton > football Excelling at quarterback and defensive back, Kragnes guided the Rebels to an impressive 10-2 record and a trip to the 2015 Minnesota Class 3A state semifinal, where they were eliminated by Jackson County Central. The senior threw for 1257 yards and 19 touchdowns, while adding 627 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on the season. Kragnes has committed to play football for Terry Horan at Concordia College next season.

Aaron syvrud

Shanley > soccer On a soccer team stocked full of talent, Syvrud was one of the senior leaders for a Shanley squad that finished the season 16-3-2, falling just short to Bismarck (by a score of 2-1) in the 2015 North Dakota state title game. Syvrud was decorated with All-State first team and All-Tournament honors in his final season for the Deacons.

46 FM SPORTS VIEW FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016