ST. PAUL, Minn. – Throughout the duration of the spring semester, cspbears.com will feature its spring senior student-athletes who had their careers cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), providing a glimpse into their past, present and future to our followers who were unable to see them compete in 2020.
Due to the ongoing changing legislation with college athletics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring student-athletes are expected to retain a year of eligibility. Some of the CSP seniors have expressed interest in returning for the 2020-21 academic year with the goal of competing for their full senior year. Since it's early in the process, cspbears.com will not differentiate between seniors who will and won't return and instead will profile each senior consistently.
Cole Oslin is a Mora, Minnesota native who has been a part of the track & field and cross country teams at Concordia for the past four years. A double major in history and 5-12 social studies education, Oslin has been a solid demonstration of hard work on the track and in the classroom as a four-time NSIC All-Academic award winner.
His freshman year, Oslin held the school record for the indoor 3000m with a time of 8:511.40 which he broke at his first NSIC Indoor Championships. His career best time in the 3000m was 8:49.83 which he ran in 2018 at the next year's championships. The distance runner's track and field career consisted of nine top-ten finishes. In addition to the 3000m, Oslin ran the one mile (4:29.17) and the 5000 (15:18.73) during the indoor season. In the spring, his outdoor strengths were in the 5000m (15:27.96) and the 10,000 (32:07.45).
Prior to Oslin's final indoor track and field season, he helped lead the CSP cross-country team to a fifth-place finish at the NSIC Championships with a time of 26:29.9 in the 8k. He carried over that momentum to the indoor track when he ran in the 3000m race at the first meet of the season, finishing 11
th with a time of 9:12.35, but wouldn't compete any further due to injury.
Head Coach Sam Johnson on Cole Oslin:
"Cole will be remembered for his resolve and desire to work through adversity during his time at CSP. A high achiever both in the classroom and in competition, Cole battled through a number of significant injuries and a student-teaching placement and handled it all with grace and maturity. Cole's race at the cross country championships this past fall was a big-time, clutch performance that garnered him All-Conference recognition and helped his team secure a 5th place finish."
COLE OSLIN – IN HIS OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
CO: I started running when I was 15. I joined cross country my 10th grade year of high school. Likewise, I joined track & field my junior year of high school.
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
CO: I chose Concordia because the coaches made me feel very welcomed and wanted. I wanted to run at the DII level and compete in one of the better running conferences. I also was wanting to attend a smaller college that is Christ-centered. Being around the Twin Cities didn't hurt either!
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
CO: My favorite memory as a Golden Bear was making the All-Conference team my senior year of Cross Country. After years of setbacks and injury, it was rewarding to experience some success.
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
CO: I'll miss my teammates the most. I made a lot of friends and memories while attending CSP. My distance running teammates have left a big impact on me and they will be lifelong friends.
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
CO: I plan on becoming a secondary social studies teacher. I would also like to coach cross country and track as well.
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
CO: I see myself continuing to teach and working towards my graduate degree. I also see myself competitively running in marathons and enjoying life.
CSP: Who is a staff member or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
CO: This is a tough question to answer because there isn't only one faculty member who left an imprint on my experience. If I had to choose a few, I would select my cross country and track coaches. Jonathan Breitbarth, Matt Buns, Sam Johnson and David Pieper 'Przepiora' all had a major impact on my athletic experience. My coaches provided encouragement and never gave up on my athletic potential and development, despite countless injuries. I learned a lot of coaching techniques and skills from them as well.
CSP: Who is your role model?
CO: My role model is my grandpa. He demonstrated his commitment to his work, goals, and his family. He always made it a priority to go out of his way to help anyone who needed it. He was friendly, caring, and didn't give up easily. He was passionate about life and someone who I try to emulate.
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
CO: Throughout my college career I battled through seven stress fractures, tendinitis, shin splints, and other minor yet frustrating ailments. I missed at least half of each track season all four years due to injury. Despite this, my injuries made me appreciate the imperfections of athletes. You don't have to be perfect or be the best to find success, you just have to love what you're doing. The most unexpected things in life can teach you the most valuable lessons. I learned that mental strength trumps physical strength. Patience is also key and it's important to view mistakes and setbacks as "learning opportunities" for future improvement. Lastly, regardless of what is happening in your life, you are bigger than your circumstance.
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
CO: Cherish each and every moment you have, whether is be in athletics or in collegiate life. Make friends and memories that will last a lifetime. While it is important to get good grades, it's also important to make meaningful connections around campus.
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
CO: I really admire Alina Boyce from lacrosse because she is dedicated to her sport and gives full attention to perfecting her craft.
CSP: Do you have a final personalized message you'd like to share with cspbears.com readers?
CO: I am so extremely grateful for the opportunity I received to extend my running career at CSP. CSP will forever hold a special place in my heart and I am grateful for the lifelong friends I have made from my teammates. See you on the flipside CSP!
