Concordia Athletics Inducts Five Into Hall Of Fame
MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/16/23)--Concordia inducted five former standout student-athletes into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday as part of the annual Homecoming weekend celebration.
Former women’s track and field 5-time All-American Maria DeBoer, 2-time All-Region softball pitcher Erin (Gunderson) Flann, 5-time MIAC All-Conference honoree in football and baseball Ryan Hebrink, 2-time All-Region baseball honoree Jeremy Hinderks and men’s track and field All-American Kyle Johnson were all honored as the newest members of the Hall of Fame.
Maria DeBoer ‘00
Concordia is a family affair for Maria DeBoer — her father and three sisters are Cobbers, as are many extended family members and friends. For her, the college is a special place that highlights what DeBoer values most — family, education and faith.
A native of Pine Island, Minn., DeBoer has a stellar record of athletic achievement. She was a five-time All-American and MIAC champion in women’s track and field. Her throws helped the Cobbers win the MIAC Indoor Championship in 1998 and 1999 as well as the MIAC Outdoor team title in 1999. She earned All-American honors in the discus and was a five-time NCAA Championship Meet participant. She won the MIAC discus title in 1999 and placed third in the NCAA National Meet. Her athletic accomplishments culminated with being a seven-time All-MIAC honoree.
After completing her bachelor's degree in biology and exercise science, DeBoer earned a master's degree in kinesiology at Kansas State University. She then accepted a position in the pharmaceutical industry and today is executive director of Worldwide Established Brands at Bristol Myers Squibb in New Jersey. Her work is helping to transform patients’ lives and has included such diversified assignments as sales, management, training, marketing and team leadership in both U.S. and worldwide markets. DeBoer credits her dedication to excel in sports as teaching her the skills, lessons and perseverance necessary to build a highly successful and fulfilling career.
Erin (Gunderson) Flann ‘02
A dominating pitcher and skilled all around player, Erin (Gunderson) Flann is the only two-time NFCA Midwest All-Region award winner in Cobber softball history. She is among only a few players in Cobber softball to earn back-to-back MIAC All-Conference honors.
She holds records for most career wins and lowest career earned run average. In the 2000 season, she set Cobber records for games pitched, lowest earned run average, most wins, and strikeouts. In her career she won 42 games, recorded the most shutouts; and finished seasons with the highest batting average, on-base percentage, and most home runs. A biology major, she was a three-time Academic All-MIAC.
A native of Princeton, Minn., Flann earned a master's degree in physical therapy from the Mayo School of Health Sciences. She now works for the Southwest West Central Cooperative as a physical therapist for four school districts including BOLD high school at her home in Olivia, Minn. Flann excels in devising personalized treatments to help students and young athletes improve their physical function and recover from injury.
Flann is married to fellow Cobber Hall of Famer Derek Flann ’03, and they have three children, Owen, Emmitt and Kaitlyn. As parents who are supportive of their children’s near daily athletic events, the Flann family’s activities revolve around high school sports. Owen and Emmitt play football, basketball and baseball, while Kaitlyn plays volleyball, basketball and softball. Flann coaches summer league youth softball and teaches pitching. She is also president of the BOLD football booster club and a leader of softball boosters.
Ryan Hebrink ‘04
Sports has had a major impact on Ryan Hebrink’s life, and his quest to learn how the human body works in movement was central to his goal of becoming a physical therapist.
At Concordia, Hebrink found influential mentors who guided him toward his career. He was a standout two-sport athlete who earned MIAC All-Conference honors five times in football and baseball. As quarterback, he was the football team’s Most Valuable Player three straight season. He is the all-time record holder in offense with 6,422 total yards.
Hebrink was a three-time football All-MIAC honoree, and in baseball he twice earned ABCA All-Region honors as a short stop and pitcher. He also owns the Cobber career record for home runs. After graduating he played a season of professional baseball with the FM Redhawks in the Northern League.
After Hebrink completed a doctorate in physical therapy from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and began his physical therapy career in Willmar, Minn. In his hometown of Sacred Heart, Minn., stewardship is a way of life for him. Hebrink is head coach of the high school football team, and is a volunteer assistant coach for basketball and baseball. His community service includes serving on the church council, volunteer fire fighter and the medical response unit. He continues to enjoy playing baseball for the Sacred Heart Saints town team.
Hebrink and his wife Brittany, a fellow Cobber, are the parents of Hudson, Hampton and Adeline. As a family they are regular participants in school, community and church activities, and they enjoy exploring God’s outdoor country through snowmobiling, biking and hiking.
Jeremy Hinderks ‘04
The opportunity to play two sports while receiving outstanding preparation in a health-related field are what caused Jeremy Hinderks to enroll at Concordia. As an athlete, he wanted to learn the physiology connections between the brain and body and how performance could be optimized so athletes could reach their highest physical potential.
Hinderks was a powerful force for the Cobber football and baseball teams in the early 2000’s. He is the only player in the history of the baseball program to be named MIAC Pitcher of the Year. He was also a two-time ABCA All-Region award winner and he owns the school records in career wins and appearances.
On the football field he was a three-year starter at fullback in the Cobber’s famous triple option running game. He led the team in touchdowns in 2003 and rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in his career.
Before entering graduate school, he played a season of professional baseball in the Northern League with the Winnipeg Goldeyes and Joliet Jackhammers.
After earning a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree, Hinderks now operates Hinderks Chiropractic in his hometown of Renville and also Willmar, Minn. He willingly contributes to his community as a volunteer firefighter, service on the city council and economic development committee, and is manager of the Sacred Heart Saints town baseball team. He and his wife Jackie, are the parents of three children, Braylon, McKenna and Brody. As a family, they are active in worship liturgy and music at their parish church.
Kyle Johnson ‘93
In a work career centered on youth, Kyle Johnson is truly committed to helping young people grow in their faith, make good decisions, and enjoy happiness and safety in their lives. For 10 years he was youth minister at Lutheran churches in Forest Lake, Hutchinson and South St. Paul, Minn. Leading mission trips to multiple states, he helped young people see the benefits of service to others by assisting with home renovations, food kitchens and food delivery. As an admissions counselor at Hamline and Augsburg universities, he helped students plan their futures. Johnson is now transportation director for multiple school districts in the Twin Cities metro area, working daily to ensure the safety of children.
A native of Harcourt, Iowa, Johnson was an All-American two-sport athlete for the Cobber track and field and cross country teams. He earned All-American honors when he finished runner-up in the 800 meters at the 1993 NCAA National Indoor Meet – missing out on a national championship by only .21 of a second.
He was a two-time NCAA National Meet qualifier and two-time MIAC champion in the 800 meters. He was also a valuable three-year member of the cross country team.
Johnson and his wife, fellow Cobber Jenifer ’93, are the parents of two boys, Noah and Jonah, and live in Stillwater, Minn. He continues to enjoy running, competing in various distances and marathons. He believes the mental discipline of distance running helps him focus on being the best husband and father he can be.