Senior Salute - Erik Porter
The Cobber "Senior Salute" series is a way to honor all the Concordia spring sports athletes who had their senior season come to an abrupt halt. We want to highlight one senior each day to thank them for all their hard work, dedication and Cobber spirit they have show over their careers in maroon and gold.
Cobber Senior Salute - Erik Porter - Men's Tennis
What is one of the top things you will miss about being a Cobber athlete?
Without a doubt, what I will miss most about being a Cobber athlete is the other guys on our team. For all four of my years as a Cobber, my teammates were always people I was proud to be around. I was proud to be a part of a group of people who always won and lost with class. Off the court, we fostered such a strong sense of community and friendship. As we’d play our matches and observe opposing teams’ players, it became immediately clear that they didn’t have the same group dynamic as we did. While other teams’ players would isolate themselves before matches, we’d all hang out together, laughing and joking and messing around. This team has given me so many friendships for which I will forever be grateful.
What is something you are going to miss about Concordia College – away from athletics?
Something I’ll miss about Concordia is how much my friends infused the daily rhythms that I developed throughout my four years. Because we have a small campus, and because we all have similar class schedules, we’d always spend “in-between” time together. I’d walk to classes with my friends, I’d eat at DS with my friends, and I’d do homework with my friends. I’d come home for the night, and I’d see my friends. That’s a very special thing to me, and I’m sad to such a friendship-centric phase in my life come to an end.
What is one of your favorite highlights/memories from your time playing athletics/being with your team?
It’s tough to say. There are countless off-the-court memories of being with the guys that I will never forget, but in terms of on-the-court memories, a highlight has to be our run to the MIAC playoffs in 2018. We had an awesome core of seniors, we had one of the best players in program history in Isaac Toivonen, and we had clutch team wins against Bethel, St. Olaf, and Hamline. In fact, against Bethel, we had a comeback for the ages. We had just come back from Spring Break, we were all exhausted and sore and sunburned, and we got smoked in doubles play, so we were down 0-3. With just two singles wins, the Royals would have dashed our playoff hopes, but we won every singles match and won the team match 6-3. It’s still the only time I’ve ever seen a team get swept in doubles and win.
What is one of your favorite memories from Concordia away from athletics?
I was fortunate enough to be a member of The Concordia Orchestra for three years and perform with the choirs at the annual Christmas concerts. One of the most memorable moments of the experience was the final performance at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. I sat in the back row of the winds section, and every year, as the chimes dinged three final times and the lights went out, I’d hear the seniors of The Concordia Choir sniffle and try to hold in their tears. It was so inspiring to see how much being a part of that group meant to them. This year, our performance at Orchestra Hall was Dr. Rene Clausen’s final Christmas Concert, and this time, I heard the choir’s sniffles after almost every song. As Dr. Clausen conducted the last part of that performance, he cupped his hands and held them over his heart, and with tears in his eyes as they held the final note, he looked at his choir and made the ASL sign for ‘I love you’ with his fingers. It was so moving, and I will never forget it.
What are your post-graduation plans?
They’re pretty up in the air. I’ll graduate this Spring with degrees in English Writing and Mathematics, so I have options, but I’m not sure what path I’d like to take with them yet. I’ll either continue my education at a graduate school, or I’ll find a job—pretty detailed plan, right? This summer, I’m coordinating the youth tennis program for my hometown’s park district, and I’m giving tennis lessons to some high school players in the area.