HIstory continued
In the spring of 1886, the growing curiosity in gymnastics and sports provided the movement to hold a mass meeting on the subject.1 This led to a student petition to build a gymnasium, and the student-sponsored Gustaviana was built in the 1886-1887 school year. In its early years, the building was used solely for exercises and basketball, as well as physical education classes that were built into the curriculum.1
A tennis club was organized in 1892, with an athletic club following in 1896. This club was made up of 40 men, and it eventually turned into the Centennial Athletic Organization in 1900. This group was a student-run body that would schedule football, basketball, and baseball games with other schools from neighboring towns.1 The president of the college at that time, President Wahlstrom, was certainly an important influencing factor in the Americanizing of athletics at Gustavus. President Wahlstrom served from 1881 to 1904, and during that time was credited for moving the college to its permanent location in St. Peter. He also helped the school establish equality for women as well as encourage attendance by non-Swedes.1
November 6, 1902 marked the first intercollegiate football game played by Gustavus. The team played Mankato Normal, later known as Mankato State University.1 Surprisingly, a women’s basketball team was next to follow with their first intercollegiate game against Mankato Normal on February 14, 1903. Not surprising at the time, gentlemen spectators were not allowed at women’s basketball games.1 At this point, the Centennial Association was made up of men and women, and promoted sports for both genders at Gustavus.
In 1903 the Centennial Association arranged an ambitious baseball schedule of nine or ten games that season. The Gustavus versus St. Olaf game that year was of special significance, marking the first intercollegiate athletic competition against another private college. With this, a long and intense athletic rivalry began.1
The development of school spirit and enthusiasm had begun before the turn of the century, but it blossomed in the early years of the new century. Competition in both forensics and athletics helped this emerging college loyalty. On April 4, 1902, a train carried about 250 Gustavus enthusiasts to Northfield for the first state oratorial contest. They returned to St. Peter carrying ebony and gold banners, which lead to the adoption of the college colors.1 Gustavus and other church-related colleges had been confined to mainly narrow and parochial ways and ideas. The interest in competitive athletics and forensics was indicative of a shedding of these old ways and an attempt to breach towards new ideas.
However, this newfound enthusiasm came to a halt in 1904 when President Peter A. Mattson put an end to football because he felt it interfered with religious, moral, and academic life.2 At the June, 1905, meeting of the Augustana Synod, the national body of the Swedish Lutheran Church, a resolution was passed which implied that the “evil” of intercollegiate sports was corrupting the physical and moral character of the students. The decision was made to forbid all intercollegiate competition by the schools in the Augustana Synod, including Gustavus.1
Five restless years passed and in the summer of 1910, after much agitation and resistance from students, the synod voted to remove the athletic ban for all sports except football. Football was not reinstated at Gustavus until 1917. By 1920, Gustavus became a charter member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.3
George Myrum became the director of athletics in 1926, and during his 12 years at Gustavus he made a name for the athletic program. During the 1937-38 school year, he won five state championships through football, swimming, basketball, gymnastics, and baseball. Myrum helped push the College to build a stadium, the first stadium in the region with lights that allowed for evening football games. He also pushed for the construction of a field house.2
New President Walter Lundeen tried to discontinue athletics in 1942 for the duration of the war. Students again resisted this decision, and the board overturned it. However, the victory did not last long; in 1943 the MIAC cancelled all official competition for the war’s duration. Lloyd Hollingsoworth, athletic director under Lundeen, found much success after the war, especially in football. Between 1950 and 1955, Gustavus won six consecutive conference titles in the MIAC. This was instrumental in developing a strong tradition of athletics at Gustavus.2 (Songs of triumph)
From the beginning of the MIAC in 1920 through the 2009-2010 school year, Gustavus has won 227 MIAC titles.3 Currently, Gustavus offers twelve Men’s Varsity sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, hockey, Nordic skiing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field. Thirteen Women’s Varsity sports are offered, including: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, hockey, Nordic skiing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.4
1 Hollingsworth, Lloyd. Gustavus Athletics: A Century of Building the Gustie Tradition. Gustavus Adolphus College.
St. Peter, MN, 1984. Pages 3, 4, 12, 14, 18, 21, 24, 27, 37.
2 “Songs of Thy Triump”: A Short History of Gustavus Adolphus College by Steve Waldhauser.
http://gustavus.edu/welcome/campushistory.pdf
3 Official Website of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, 20 January 2011
http://www.miac-online.org/sports/2007/8/8/records_awards.aspx?tab=recordsawards
4 Gustavus Adolphus College Athletics Website, 20 January 2011
