MSU President's Newspaper Column

June 25, 2022

Teamwork makes the dream work!

The 2022 Shrine All-Star camp week and games are in the books! We were honored to host all the related activities at Mayville State University, and we are grateful to the outstanding team of campus and community members who made the week and its grand finale a huge success and enjoyable and memorable experience for the players and their families, as well as the coaches and Shriners.

From the well-attended parade that included the football teams and a nice number of Shrine units, to the sold-out banquet held in the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, to the pre-game activities and the much-anticipated football games, Saturday, June 18 will be long-remembered as a special day. The East came up the winners this year, defeating the West by a score of 14-10 in the 11-man game and a score of 14-0 in the 9-man game.

As they say, “Teamwork makes the dream work!” We owe a huge debt of gratitude to so many, including the Kem and El Zagel Shriners who placed their confidence in us to help them execute a successful event and major fundraiser for their organization. I will attempt to recognize as many members of the team as possible, but I realize that I may unintentionally miss someone. Please accept my apologies in advance.

Shrine and player-parent tailgating festivities as well as pre-game activities were sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems, the Top Hat Lounge, Peterson Farm Seed - T & R Seeds, BASF, the MSU Comet White Hats, Jacobson Studios, and Jake Dickson with Golden Lake Acres.

A plethora of volunteers helped with not only needed services during the game, but also in ways that helped to make the game-day experience enjoyable. Brian Aune and Mike Carr ran the clock. The Mayville-Portland-Clifford-Galesburg Legion did a beautiful job in presenting our nation’s colors. Flag bearers were Rich Peterson, Harlan Johnson, Alan Kville, and Roger Erickson. Mayville’s own Triplicity, Helen Hoyt, Lori Nelson, and Teresa Agnes, gloriously sang our national anthem. The game referees volunteered their services. They were Ron Nord, Jim Stallard, Red Nordick, Craig Hahn, and Bret Burkholder for the 11-man game, and Jackie Gray, Jim Breen, Scott Frederickson, Bret Niles, and Jess Gross for the 9-man game. Dan Overmoe, Rich Klask, Bob Kozojed, and John Peterson made up the downs crew, and Brogen Erickson and Cole Hutter were ball boys.

Many Mayville State employees have worked for months to plan and prepare for this week and their plans were executed with precision and lots of sweat equity. I recognize especially Dan Lorenz and the MSU physical plant crew; Bryan Karolus and the Dining Services staff; Bob Kozojed and the Facilities Services staff; Rob Frederick and the Information Technology team, including Matt Dalrymple and Dean Kostuck; Jay DeCann, Vance Christianson, and the Mayville State softball team; Rocky Larson and the MSU Football coaching staff and players; Mike Koch and the MSU Concessions crew; Collette Christoffers and the MSU Division of Nursing; and Jeffrey Powell and the MSU Housing staff.

Others who deserve our recognition are JBC Commercial Real Estate, Soholt Bakery, Ihry Insurance, the North Dakota High School Athletic Association, the North Dakota Beef Council, Lance Fugleberg and Fugleberg Farms, S & L Computer Services, David and Heather Torgeson and the Delchar Theater, Deek’s Pizza, the May-Port EDC, the various vendors who provided food and refreshments for sale outside the stadium, Jump for Joy Bounce Houses, and Buffalo Wild Wings.

The MSU Comet White Hats Club has been super-supportive of Mayville State’s football program and that group stepped up big for the Shrine Bowl too, hosting tailgating for Shriners and players of parents. Specifically, I thank Adam Erickson, Jay DeCann, Dan Jorgensen, Tim Garrett, Lon Jorgensen, Mark Osland, Randy McKay, Steve Gibson, John Murphy, Mike Carr, Brian Aune, Lance Fugleberg, Mike Kolness, Mike McCall, and Tim Sorteberg, who served as on-site hosts throughout the day. These Mayville State ambassadors most definitely extended Mayville State hospitality at its best.

In closing, I extend my sincere appreciation to MSU Head Football Coach Rocky Larson and MSU Foundation Executive Director Lon Jorgensen, as well as Athletic Director Jay DeCann who joined in a little later. These gentlemen did amazing work in overseeing, directing, and executing Mayville State’s involvement with Shrine Bowl 2022. It was a great win for our university and our community!

I would be remiss in not mentioning the win all of this is for children and their families who benefit from the services of Shrine hospitals and the great work the selfless individuals called Shriners do to make the world a better place. Just as our wonderful university exhibits personal service on a daily basis, the Shriners show personal service in all that they do for society. We are pleased to partner with them on this project.

Click on a thumbnail below then use the arrow key to scroll through scenes from Shrine Bowl 2022 at Mayville State University.

 Photography by MSU student Phil Maritato.