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.
 

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Today's Senior Spotlight is Wheaton, Illinois native, Marcus Gustaveson from the track and field team. Gustaveson was a two-sport athlete at Concordia as he played with the football team in the fall and was a thrower for the Golden Bears during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. The Business Management major was a strong point contributor for CSP, tallying 42 top-five finishes and eight wins throughout his time in the throwing circle, and graduates as the school record holder in the discus.
 
Gustaveson is a five-time ALL-NSIC thrower, earning his first All-Conference honors as early as his freshman year. At the 2017 NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, he placed second in the shot put with a throw of 15.98m (52'5.25") where he was named to the All-NSIC team for the first time and made himself a strong contender for the national meet. He also earned points for the Golden Bears in the discus throw that year, taking eighth with a throw of 43.32m (142'1"). In 2018, Gustaveson landed in the top two again for the shot put with a PR of 16.00m (52'6") and moved up the ranks in the discus with a fifth place finish and a 45.95m (150'9") mark.
 
At the 2019 NSIC Outdoor Championships, Gustaveson broke the school record in the discus throw with a massive throw of 51.08m (167'7") and placed second in the event. He also brought in some points in the shot put with an eighth-place finish and a mark of 15.63m (51'3.5"). He earned his first indoor All-NSIC honors this season after winning the shot put with a personal best mark of 16.98m (55'8.5"), which was just two inches short of breaking the school record. He also broke his PR in the weight throw at the final meet of the indoor season with a toss of 15.55m (51'0.25") to take 12^th.
 

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Head Coach Sam Johnson on Marcus Gustaveson:
"Marcus had an immediate impact on our team as a freshman and his indoor season this year culminated in a conference championship in the shot put, just missing a chance at qualifying for the national meet. Throughout his time at CSP, he balanced being a member of both the football and track & field teams and gave his body everything it could handle for a chance at individual and team success in athletics."
 

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MARCUS GUSTAVESON– IN HIS OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing­ your sport?
MG:  My junior year in high school because my two best friends Andy and Sam convinced me to try it out.

CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
MG: I like the city environment, where there is always something to do.
 
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
MG: Either my freshman year football season, the game against Duluth, or my freshman year outdoor conference meet and having a big PR in the shotput to take second place.  

CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
MG: Definitely the people. I've made a lot of lifetime friends throughout my years here.
 
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
MG: Possibly grad school, where I will be able to complete my final outdoor track season as well as get my MBA.
 
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
MG: Working as well as possibly coaching.  
 
CSP: Who is a staff member or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
MG: Coach Currier made a big imprint on my experience here at Concordia. Whenever I needed anything, I could always go to him, as well as he would reach out to his athletes frequently to check in on us. My throwing coach, Lina Baker, also made a big impact on my experience at CSP. She changed me from an average thrower, but really made me appreciate the sport and all of the details that go into it.
 
CSP: Who is your role model?
MG: For me, my grandpa has been a role model my whole life even though he passed away when I was in high school. He lived a life that I hope to replicate one day.
 
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
MG: Talent will only get you so far. Work ethic is the most important thing in all sports.  

CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
MG: Don't take the college experience for granted, make the most out of your opportunity.
 
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
MG: Chris Garrett from the football team. The kid has the hardest work ethic I've ever seen. He has every right to be cocky, but still remains incredibly humble at all times.