Title means much to many

DANVILLE, Ill. — For a number of people associated with the Southwestern Community College men’s basketball team, this run to the NJCAA Division II national championship took on different meanings.

Members of the 1998-99 national tournament team, and their coach, who made the trip to Danville Area Community College beamed with pride at the accomplishments of this team.

The leader of this team was able to share this moment with his father, a championship coach at the high school level in Iowa.

A long time Spartans coach soaked it all up, appreciating what this team meant to the school and athletic department.

For a longtime successful Iowa prep basketball coach, it had a different view of it all, but was quite special.

For the person sitting on the end of the bench, helping the players stay at their peak, she was able to share in this ride.

Each have their own perspective on what this title means to them.

Family moment

There was a special moment for Southwestern Community College men’s basketball coach Todd Lorensen Saturday night.

Him, his son Hudson and his father Fred stood near half court for a picture after the Spartans’ win in the NJCAA Division II national championship game over Louisburg College, of North Carolina.

Three generations of Lorensens celebrating Todd’s special night.

For Todd, the moment was even more special, joined by his father, a state championship winning coach at PCM.

“He’s my number one fan. He’s my mentor,” Todd said.

The feeling of pride Todd had as he shared an embrace with his top fan sitting in the stands of the Mary Miller Center at Danville Area Community College could not be measured.

“It’s an immeasurable feeling,” Todd said. “I know he’s got a ton of pride in what we did.”

As excited as Todd was, he knew his father was beaming.

“He’s probably more excited about this than I am and I’m really, really excited about it,” Todd said.

Having his father alongside for this special journey made it that much sweeter for Todd.

“It’s a great honor,” Todd said. “I’m glad we got the opportunity to make this run.”

Saturday’s championship game presented Todd’s team a rare opportunity.

They certainly took advantage of it.

“I was thinking all day Saturday, we better do this because you may never get a chance to do it again,” Fred said. “There’s no guarantees about any of it.”

Sitting in the stands was a proud father.

“To be there and get it done at the same time is just an awesome feeling to see him do it.” Fred said.

Fred arrived in Danville just ahead of Tuesday’s first round game against College of Southern Maryland, having held the season-ending banquet for the PCM boys basketball team the night before in central Iowa.

The game against Hawks scared Fred more than any of them.

“The first game was the hardest on me,” Fred said. “They’re playing the number 16 seed. They’re supposed to win.”

Fred, Todd’s sister Gina and two of her boys were in Danville for the final three games, wins over Pima, Richard Bland and Louisburg.

Fred was amazed at how well Todd stayed poised and under control on the sideline throughout the week.

“He did a great job of himself being under control,” Fred said. “He might have been really nervous, but he didn’t show that.”

In turn, that kept the players calm.

“That’s important when you’re around your players,” Fred said.

Sitting in the bleachers with Gina, Todd’s mom, just to the right of half court, was a bit different for the longtime Mustangs coach.

“You just feel like when you’re in the stands that you have no control,” Fred said. “Sometimes as a coach, you’re not sure how much have either, but at least you can make some decisions that might help the way the game comes out. You’re just sitting there and you’re like everyone else.”

Being their all week was a special moment for one of Iowa’s more successful prep coaches.

“Sitting there and watching and enjoying it, trying to enjoy the whole week was phenomenal,” Fred said.

After the game, Hudson, Todd and Fred stood together.

Two generations of championship coaches.

Three generations of Lorensen’s.

“That was pretty cool,” Fred said.

The basketball traits are now being passed on from Todd to Hudson.

“Like Todd was when he was growing up, he’s been around the game a lot,” Fred said. “It’s neat to see the path he has for him.

“It’s been passed down from generation to generation. It’s a pretty cool deal.”

Last Spartan national team reunites to cheer this team on

Several members of the 1998-99 team, the last Southwestern team to reach the national tournament, were in the stands for the several games.

As proud former players, they were their providing vocal support as part of Spartan Nation.

“It was really cool. We got into it even,” said T.J. Tassell.

For the former players, it made the road trip worth it.

“We drove all the way way out here. We were hoping to see this,” Tassell said.

“It made the road trip worth it.”

There were plenty of conversations of old times, old games.

“Even more, it was a good time talking about the old days here,” Tassell.

Sitting together in the stands, the players reminisced about those games they shared back in Creston,

“It was really great to catch up with old teammates, that was my favorite part,” said Brian Werner.

The players beamed at what this season’s team did.

“It’s great to see success from your alma mater,” Werner said.

This season’s team reaching Danville provided an opportunity to catch up like they had not in some time.

“It was great to come back and see old faces that you haven’t seen in quite some time,” Werner said. “This team gave us that opportunity.”

They sat with their coach, now current Southwestern administrator Bill Taylor.

Taylor caught a first hand glimpse of this season’s team shortly after the players arrived in Creston at the beginning of the season.

“When they first set foot on campus, I didn’t know if we’d be able to jell as a team,” Taylor said. “I watched open gym that first night. They got a lot of talent. I don’t know if we can pull it all together.”

Taylor credited the work Lorensen and assistant coach Scott Davis in creating this championship team.

“Todd and Scottie have done a masterful job in blending this team, getting them in rhythm.”

Southwestern’s defense carried it throughout the week.

All the way to the title.

“Their defense is unbelievable,” Taylor said. “I’ve never seen a team play defense like this.”

What this title meant for Southwestern, Creston and others can not be properly stated.

“It’s so fun. It’s so exciting for the school, community, Todd and his family,” Taylor said.

“It’s unbelievable.”

Longtime Spartan coach savors journey

Ron ‘Fox’ Clinton has seen many basketball games in Spartan Gym over the years.

What this season’s Spartan team did on the court left an impression on one of the longest tenured Spartans.

“This is fabulous,” Clinton said. “They were well played, well coached, well everything. Everything was top drawer. They showed it all the way through.”

“It was marvelous.”

Clinton marveled at the job Lorensen did in putting this team together.

“He’s a marvelous coach,” Clinton said.

Clinton was there most of the week, sitting in the same seat courtside throughout.

He enjoyed his time so much, he plans to be back there again..

“I told my wife I said I think I’ll go back next year even if we’re not there,” Clinton said. “It’s that good of a time. Everything, the show, the crazy little guy running round. The whole thing was marvelous. They know how to put a show together.”

The week left a lasting impression on Clinton.

“It’s really something,” Clinton said. “When it was over, wow, our guys did a great job.”

Trusted face, ready to help when needed

Every day at practice, every home game, there’s a face at the end of the bench.

Some times she’s there to hand out towels or water.

But when a player goes down with an injury, she’s there right away to help them in those critical first moments.

Athletic trainer Kelsi Huseman played a key role in keeping this season’s team at the top of their physical game.

“It was super fun,” Huseman said. “With my job, I get to be with them every day, every practice, all the games.”

She’s been able to develop a relationship with the players and coaches, build their trust.

“I get to know them,” she said. “One of their mottos was family. It was nice to be included in the family.”

Seeing them daily allowed the players to know Huseman has their best interests at heart.

“They text me all the time if they have aches and pains, what to do with injuries, helping them get better,” Huseman said.

The success this team had was an extra special perk for Huseman.

“I didn’t get into the profession to win rings and trophies,” Huseman said. “It’s a nice benefit. You don’t pick jobs based on a school’s success.”

At first, it wasn’t certain she was going to be able to travel with the basketball team. The Spartan baseball team had home games while the basketball team was in Danville.

Fortunately, Creston High School was on spring break that week, making it easier for the baseball team to have a trainer there, in the form of Creston High School athletic trainer Chris Leonard.

“I don’t work for the school, I work for Greater Regional. I had to cover games. The baseball kids deserve the same treatment as the national champions,” Huseman said. ‘Chris Leonard said he’d help out. He had practice too, he helped me cover games.”

Once that was approved, Huseman approached Lorensen if she could go.

“When he said I could go, it was awesome,” Huseman said. “It was exciting I could be there. I was really glad I could be there.”

The work assistant coach Rand Hazelton has done with strength and conditioning, Huseman’s duties in athletic training helped provide a dynamic combination that kept the players at the top of their game.

“Rand has been awesome with strength and conditioning,” Huseman said. “Todd has been awesome buying into how I want to limit them, not practice, rehab them.”

At times, she noted the players can be skeptical of a trainer because they want to keep playing.

They’ve built up a relationship with Huseman where they know she has their best at heart.

“They put their trust in me because I have their best interest at heart,” Huseman said. “It’s pretty awesome getting that trust. It helps that I’m there every day talking to them. They know me. It’s good.”

When she can’t be there — she doubles as an athletic trainer at Southwest Valley High School — the people in the orthopedic department at Greater Regional Medical Center have been there to help.

“We have an awesome orthopaedic department,” Huseman said. “If I get a little busy, I refer them to therapy. Dr. (William) Rolston, Jake Davis, Dr. (Ronald) Charles have been super awesome. Any time I need to get a kid in, I can call, text a handful of guys to get them in and see the doctor.”

Sunday morning, Monday came as a bit relief, but was also much more quiet in her office, with both the women’s and men’s basketball teams done for the season.

“Sunday was a weird feeling. They’ve been going since school started. They’ve had practices, strength and conditioning. It was weird Monday. It was a ghost town.”

Still, she was able to be part of the ride. She even has a part of the net from regionals, nationals, a national championship hat.

“It was a super fun ride,” Huseman said. “I hope they have really good success in the next few years.”

Title starting to sink in

Now that a few days have passed since the championship game, the players and coaches are starting to realize what they did.

“It has,” said freshman Brodric Thomas. “It has taken a couple of days. I went home (to Bolingbrook, Illinois), got to celebrate with my family, got to settle in after all of the emotions.”

“I’m just happy we got to bring one back.”

Relationships built during this championship season will carry on for years to come.

“I’m glad I got to do it with these guys,” said Jordan Johnson. “These guys are my brothers. I will remember them forever. At our next school, I’ll stay in contact with them, check in on each other. See how everyone’s doing.”

This season will have a lasting legacy for the players long after they leave Southwestern.

“A lot of it will carry over, the hard work we put in will carry over with me to my next school,” said KeShawn Wilson.

This season allowed Thomas an opportunity to mature as a person, as a basketball player as he heads back to Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

“Over this whole year, I’ve matured as a player and as a person,” Thomas said. “Going back to Truman is going to be something.”

For Lorensen, the title game marked the end of a season he wanted to keep going.

“It’s one of those teams where you never wanted the season to end,” Lorensen said. “Obviously I’m ecstatic about the fact that we won a national championship, there’s no better way to go out, there’s a piece of me that’s just brokenhearted that I don’t get to strap it on with those guys one more time, to get that game plan ready and try to execute at the highest level.”

Monday was a bit of a different feeling for Lorensen, with the season completely finished.

“The fact that there wasn’t a practice, wasn’t another game to prepare for, that’s really starting to sink in.”

Now the focus for Lorensen, Davis shifts to recruiting.

“We’re preparing for the recruiting process, get some guys in here that can helps do this down the road,” Lorensen said.

What this team did will carry with Lorensen forever.

“Now that it’s really starting to sink in, as I’ve been able to have some time to myself and think about what this team has meant to me, I certainly look back with some great memories,” Lorensen.

The full grasp of what happened in Danville, though, will take more time to sink in for Lorensen.

“It’s starting too, but I’m not sure it will completely for many, many years, at least not the true depth of it,” Lorensen said.