ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia University, St. Paul will publicly dedicate the new Athletics Performance Center on Wednesday, September 27 at 10:30 a.m. during chapel hour. As part of the dedication, CSP has also announced the secured naming opportunities for the new facility.

The facility is located 1407 Marshall Avenue (St. Paul, MN 55104) with parking available across Marshall Avenue in Lot D. Following the dedication ceremony, light refreshments will be served and tours of the facility will be available.

The turfed training area will be named the Getzlaff Training Field, the weight room will be the Rubbelke Weight Room and the goal of $10,000 for the baseball/softball batting cages has been reached in honor of late baseball assistant coaches Jim Wiesner and Jed Kosmoski.

"The Athletics Performance Center gives us an opportunity to offer our student-athletes and recruits a first class facility from which they can maximize their abilities," said director of athletics Mark "Lunch" McKenzie, who also enters his 19th season as head baseball coach. He continued, "Between our strength & conditioning coaches and athletic training staff, we are offering an incredible opportunity to put our athletes in great shape to get on the field and the ability to stay healthy enough to stay out there. It really enhances their God-given abilities to maximize their potential. As a coach, the fact that we have those resources is fabulous and allows for more recruiting and fundraising because our student-athletes are being taken care of by experts in first class facilities."

The Getzlaff Training Field is named in memory of longtime CSP coach and administrator Dennis Getzlaff, secured on behalf of his family. It's a 7,800 square foot area with navy blue turf and a gold CSP logo and will serve as a year-round venue for conditioning sessions, batting practice, skill instruction and more. "Dennis Getzlaff was a permanent fixture for years when I got here. He was a great man, a natural leader and he treated everyone fairly and kindly. His son, Kent played (basketball) here, and the family have been tremendous supporters of CSP athletics and the University. It's fabulous that we can permanently honor Dennis and his family in naming this incredible facility after them and we look forward to keeping the Getzlaff family close to Concordia for years to come."

The Rubbelke Weight Room is named in honor of former CSP softball coach and director of athletics Tom Rubbelke, who retired from his position as AD prior to the 2016-17 academic year after over 30 years of service. "It's a testament to Tom that he was able to serve his 30-plus years here in several different capacities and to make a lasting impact on everyone in every role he held. He's well-respected and loved and it's tremendous that administration will honor him and his family in this manner."

McKenzie concluded on the batting cages, "We appreciate the support from alumni and outside people to honor Kos and Jimmy Wiesner by providing the facility (APC) with two beautiful batting cages which is the place where Kos & Jimmy spent most of their time at practice for years. More importantly as we think about their legacy, it's where they spent most of their time together, too."

GETZLAFF TRAINING FIELD
Coach Dennis Getzlaff filled many roles since coming to Concordia in 1988. Dennis served as Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs, Athletic Director, and Director of Promotions and Events in addition to coaching volleyball and men's basketball. As a volleyball coach, he posted a 53-36 record, winning the 1991 National Small College Championships and one UMAC crown. In a dozen years as head basketball coach, he finished with 132 victories, a program record of CSP's four-year college era (1967-present) that still stands today. His basketball highlight was the 1993-94 team that became CSP's first 20-win campaign in program history, finishing 20-9 including a perfect 10-0 conference record. He coached the Comet basketball team from 1988 and into the Golden Bear era, coaching the first NCAA Division II team in 1999-2000. Getzlaff passed away on February 14th, 2002 after a battle with cancer. In his memory, his family created the Getzlaff Memorial Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Getzlaff Scholarship, presented annually to a student-athlete chosen by the CSP athletics department and the family. Through the success of the Getzlaff Memorial Golf Tournament, the family was able to make a donation to secure Dennis' legacy for the Getzlaff Training Field.

RUBBELKE WEIGHT ROOM
Tom Rubbelke, affectionately known as "Rubes," spent over 30 years at CSP first as a softball coach then in administration as the assistant athletic director for compliance before being named director of athletics in the winter of 2004, serving in the role for 12 years. The award-winning AD was named 2011-12 NACDA Under Armour Region Athletics Director of the Year, presided over a 2012 Day of Heroes football game that won a 2012 NCAA Game Environment Award, and received multiple mayoral, gubernatorial and senate proclamations on behalf of promoting and recognizing student-athlete achievements on a large scale. As athletic director, Rubbelke was committed to the student-athlete experience and the Golden Bears captured an NCAA (all divisions) record seven volleyball national championships, earned 12 appearances at the Division II championships (Elite Eight or equivalent), 19 Sweet Sixteen appearances, 34 NCAA Tournaments and 26 Northern Sun championships (regular season & tournament). Rubbelke and his staff served as region host for seven NCAA regional tournaments and numerous conference championship events but was highlighted by serving as back-to-back host for the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division II volleyball championships. He was an influential member of the Northern Sun, NCAA and NACDA as well as serving on the DII ADA Board of Directors. He is third on the softball program's all-time wins list, where his teams produced a 220-124 record including a 56-24 mark in NSIC play, two trips to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen including a region championship and trip to the Elite Eight.

WIESNER & KOSMOSKI BATTING CAGES
Jim Wiesner served as assistant coach to Mark "Lunch" McKenzie's baseball program for 17 years, maintaining his affiliation with the program until he passed away in May of 2017. With CSP, Wiesner was involved with practice organization, game management and was the team's bench coach. His wisdom was incalculable, spending 37 years as the visiting clubhouse and equipment manager for the Minnesota Twins as well as 25 years in the same role for the Minnesota Vikings. During his time in the big league clubhouse, Wiesner's locker room housed two Major League All-Star Games, four American League Championship Series (including the first two ever), one NFL championship game and three World Series'. In his nearly 40 years of service to professional sports, Wiesner collected an All-Star ring and three World Series rings. With his 1987 and 1991 World Series rings, Wiesner had the privilege of meeting sitting Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He's had the opportunity to shake hands with three sitting presidents, later adding George W. Bush to a list that includes his all-time sports hero, Muhammad Ali. He wore number 43 in honor of his good friend and longtime Minnesota Twins coach Rick Stelmaszek.
 
Jed "Kos" Kosmoski built a special 20-plus year relationship with Concordia director of athletics and head baseball coach Mark "Lunch" McKenzie going back to Lunch's time at Minnetonka High School. When McKenzie was hired at CSP, just a few years later Kos was named special assistant to the head coach on the baseball staff, serving eight years with the team until he passed away in August of 2017. During his time at CSP, Kos developed a strong reputation as a great team player for all of Concordia's sports teams with his work ethic and enthusiasm shining to the campus community. Kos had determination to pursue his passion of working in sports and McKenzie described him "as not having special needs, but special abilities." Initially a baseball staff volunteer, Kosmoski earned his way into a part time position as a weight room manager under previous director of athletics Tom Rubbelke. His career also including being a key team assistant at Wayzata High School and Armstrong High School prior to joining the Hamline University hockey program where he earned three MIAC championship rings while serving in a similar role at Hamline as he did with CSP during the same time period. A fitting tribute to a man who had such a positive impact on all who he came in contact with, the Concordia and Hamline communities celebrated his life together at a packed Gangelhoff Center in September of 2017.