Siblings Make Family Weekend Special
Moorhead, Minn.--- Skim up and down the Concordia football roster and you'll most likely see a trend – several identical last names. Unlike the Williams' boys that played for the Minnesota Vikings a few years ago, these last names are all linked. The Concordia football team has five different sets of brothers.
Five.
The family connection that runs deep at Concordia is a perfect way to celebrate this weekend's Family Weekend festivities which started in 1935.
In recent years the athletic department has seen many sets of siblings who have attended Concordia and participated in Cobber athletics.
Basketball at Concordia has seen its fair share of sibling's run through the men and women's program. Brandon Fisher and Alley Fisher were standout basketball players on the men and women's basketball team. Tom Fraase followed in his brother John's footsteps in coming to Concordia to play basketball for the Cobbers. Erin and Jenna Januschka had the opportunity to play at St. Cloud Cathedral and again at Concordia.
The sibling connection doesn't stop at basketball and football. The Cobber baseball team has Erik Hiedeman and Jack Hiedeman, brothers from Breckenridge.
But the football team has five sets of brothers on this year's roster alone.
Four juniors have younger brothers on the team. Matt Ahrndt, Landon Moline, Alex Grove and Josh Berg all have brothers who are freshman on the team. Aaron Ahrndt, Pierce Moline, Austin Grove and Alex Berg all followed in their older brothers' footsteps.
For the Groves, the family connection runs even deeper. Their father, Steve Grove ('89), played football for Concordia in the late 80's starring at fullback for the Cobbers before moving to Willmar.
Landon Moline is grateful for the opportunity to share the field with his younger brother for one more time.
"I think it's an opportunity that not many people get. It's a good opportunity to play college football, but to play with my brother at the same time is unbelievable," stated Landon.
The Molines are from Buffalo, MN.
For Josh Berg and his younger brother, Alex, it was all about staying home. The tandem played together at Fargo Shanley High School, a football power in North Dakota, and won a state championship together in 2013.
Berg (Josh) commented, "Staying close to home has been one of the best decisions of my life. Playing with my brother is awesome. It's cool because we play on opposite sides of the ball so I get to watch him play."
With parents Jim and Nancy living not far from campus, they enjoy their sons being in the same place as well.
Josh went on to say, "They love it. They can travel to the same game, watch us play together again, it makes things a lot easier for them."
There is another impactful sibling duo from New London-Spicer. Though Chase Austvold is a senior on the Cobber wrestling team, his brother, Treyton Austvold, is a freshman on this year's football team.
When talking about the connection between the two, Chase said, "Trey and I have always been best friends. We grew up doing everything together so one of his main motivations in coming here was my being comfortable here."
There is one set of brothers that stands out from the others – the Raftevolds. When scanning the roster you will find, not two, but three Raftevolds. The trio attended high school at Fargo South. Senior Austyn Raftevold is in his final season playing for Concordia but the name will continue on as twin brothers Dallas Raftevold and Dylan Raftevold are also sophomores this season.
Austyn Raftevold could not help but smile when discussing his brothers' decision to attend Concordia. "It's an awesome experience getting to play college football, but doing it with your brothers is special. I feel like I had a lot of influence in them coming here. It's a comfort thing. They knew what Concordia is all about before they got here."
For parents, it's Family Weekend every weekend. Austyn Raftevold mentioned, "I think they really enjoy it. It's a family event every Saturday that we are all part of. "
Offensive coordinator Aaron Willits can relate to all of the brothers playing together as he had the opportunity to attend school with his younger brothers while at Knox College (Ill.). Willits' middle brother played baseball while his youngest brother played football. At the time it was not a big deal to Willits, but as time went along he realized how special it was to have his brothers there.
"Especially when my younger brother came it became a pride and tradition thing at Knox," said Willits.
From a program aspect, being able to bring in multiple student-athletes from a single family has paid dividends. It starts foundationally at the top with Head Coach Terry Horan. Prospective student-athletes come to Concordia and part of the tradition instantly. They go home and tell their brothers and other family members about their experiences and in turn they follow in those footsteps.
The family ties run deep in Cobberville and not just with athletics. Family weekend is special at Concordia for many reasons.
It's generational.
Many families started right here in Moorhead. Students have grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents who have all attended Concordia. The local family connection makes Concordia unique and gives the campus a Family Weekend all year long.
The annual Family Weekend celebration is not just about athletics. Sure, there are football and soccer games on Saturday afternoon but those are just a small part of what makes up the family tradition at Concordia.
The football team has a motto that perfectly sums up the family atmosphere on campus -"Together We Will."
Cobber Brothers Newlywed Game Video