Fall 2003 - Northwestern College

N o r t h w e s t e r n C l a s s i cA l u m n ie w sM i n ip ro f i l eby Duane BeesonTwo years ago,Jacob Koczman’01 becameNorthwestern’sfirst nationalchampion in NAIAtrack. Today he isracing towardprominence at anelite level, preparingfor the 2004U.S. OlympicTrials.After winningthe NAIA indoor600-meter andoutdoor 400-meter titles as a Raider senior, the biology-health professionsand chemistry major left competitive training behindand focused on working at the University of NebraskaMedical Center and studying for the MCATs. He alsoprayed and thought deeply about entering the next level oftrack competition, and joined the Indiana Invaders inSeptember 2002.Sponsored by Nike, the Indianapolis-based professionalclub is comprised of college graduates who are chasingthe Olympic dream. As an Invader, Koczman gets freecoaching, shoes and gear, as well as travel expenses forcompetitions. He works full time as a research technician atIndiana University’s medical school and trains in theevenings and on weekends.At NWC, Koczman spent his first three years playingKoczman keeps his eyes on prizebasketball in the winter and running track in the spring.Only as a senior did he focus his athletic talents exclusivelyon track, which led the Invaders’ coach, Greg Harger, to sayKoczman was “more question than answer” when he joinedthe team.After a year of intense training and competition,Koczman has made quite a statement. This summer, hequalified for next July’s Olympic Trials in the 800-meterrun, clocking a career-best 1:47.72 to place first at thenational club team championships. That effort moved himinto the top 18 nationally in the 800, only 1.5 secondsaway from the top four. And Koczman’s time represented athree-second improvement since he joined the Invaders.“He listens very well and is not afraid to take on thedisciplined challenges required for high-level training,” saysHarger, Koczman’s coach. “The 800 is the most complicatedevent from a physiologic basis, and it is the most dynamicallyintense event from a tactical sense. Jacob has the intellectand the competitive fearlessness required to thrive inthis environment.”Koczman says his training has been a challenge—bothphysically and mentally— but rewarding. “When you runin college, you’ve got the team pride thing. When you’re byyourself like this, you have to dig down a little deeper andknow this is what you want to do and why you’re doing it.But anytime you push yourself to the limit and achievesomething you’ve never done before, it’s a great feeling.”Koczman, who has deferred his medical school admissionat the University of Iowa for a year, says he hopes tocontinue training. “My main motivation is to use the giftGod has given me for His glory. As long as I can do that, I’llkeep running.”C o rey and Cindy (Wiekamp ’97)P r i n s, daughter, Kaylee Jo, joinsKianna (3).Jason and Tish (Bergeson ’97)We d g b u ry, daughter, EmmersynG r a c e .Kristi (Reimers ’97) and C h r i sWright ’97, son, Caden Michael,joins Alison (5) and Brady (3).Jill (Godeke ’98) and Matt Hugen ’98,d a u g h t e r, Alissa Lorr a i n e .R o b e rta (Van Milligan ’98) and K r i sVander Zwaag ’97, daughter,Amelia Grace, joins Katryna (3)and Sofia (2).Missy and Chris Winterboer ’98,d a u g h t e r, Emma Marie.Mike and C a rmen (Biesheuvel ’99)L a w, son, Charles Aidan.Erin and Betsy (Russell ’99)M c F a d d e n, daughter, Molly Kay.Melissa (Crawford ’00) and L a n c eBaatz ’96, daughter, Ellie Rae.Dana and Pat Brenneman ’01,d a u g h t e r, Maci Faith.Christie (Veen ’01) and Sid Bulthuis’ 0 0, son, Trygve Art h u r.Sarah (Anderson ’03) and Noah Metz’ 0 2, son, Jeff rey James.M a r r i a g e sTrygve Johnson ’96 and KristenDeede, St. Andrews, Scotland.Janelle Koolhaas ’98 and Jose AngelLopez Dominguez, Ocosingo,M e x i c o .Kristine Van Zante ’98 and DaveC o rn e l d e r, Pella, Iowa.S h e rry Groen ’99 and MonteKoopman, Colton, S.D.Sarah Everts ’00 and Curtis Rodgers,Washington, Iowa.Sarah Kennedy ’01 and Ti m o t h ySchoenfeld ’03, Des Moines.Gina Wenzel ’01 and Andre wG reene, Orange City.Meagan Wells ’03 and Mike Wa l l i n g a’ 0 1, Orange City.The couples are residing in the city listed.2 9 ▲ F a l l 2 0 0 3