This article was posted with written permission from Debbie White, Sr. Associate Athletic Director, at Old Dominion University.
ANDERS, LARRY, LINDHJEM, VAN DER MERWE & LOUGHTON TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE ODU HALL
By ODUSports.com
NORFOLK, VA—The 2014 Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame Induction class features the nation’s winningest field hockey coach, the school’s winningest women’s basketball coach, a two-time All-American tennis player, an All-American wrestler and a men’s basketball CAA Player of the Year and Academic All-American.
The 2014 ODU Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held Saturday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. during homecoming weekend when the Monarchs take on FIU at 3 p.m. This year’s inductees include Beth Anders (Field Hockey), Wendy Larry (Women’s Basketball), David Lindhjem (Wrestling), Izak van der Merwe (Tennis) and Alex Loughton (Men’s Basketball). Tickets for the induction breakfast are $25 and are available by calling 683-3359.
David Lindhjem (Zeta Pi/Old Dominion 1969) [Photo right from 1968 found in The Troubadour, ODU's Yearbook] earned All-American honors for the Monarchs’ wrestling program in 1967. When he placed fourth at 145 pounds at the NCAA College Division National Championships held in Wilkes, PA. Lindhjem compiled a 19-2 record with five pins that season. He also qualified for the College Division National Championships in 1968 and 1969. Lindhjem was a three-time Mason Dixon Conference Champion, winning titles in 1967, 68 and 69, while wrestling for ODU’s Hall of Fame coach Pete Robinson. The 1969 ODU Scholar Athlete of the Year recipient, Lindhjem would go on to win the State AAU tournament in the early 70’s. He received a US Naval Officer Commission, OCS, Newport Rhode Island in 1969.
Lindhjem retired from Norfolk Academy in 2013 after 37 years as a teacher and wrestling coach. He also coached wrestling at Bayside High School and Princess Anne Junior High. David and wife Mary, a former ODU swimmer and diver live in Hardy, VA., and are the parents of two children, Luke and Leif. He graduated from Old Dominion with a degree in Geology in 1969 and later earned a master’s of educational administration in 1980.
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After learning the news of Lindhjem's induction into the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame, Rattle Assistant Editor, Kelly Jones, asked Lindhjem what it meant to him to be inducted.
"It is rewarding just to be asked to comment upon what this recent honor means," said Lindhjem. "Such an honor makes one think about the truth and fond remembrances. It is difficult to respond without sounding conceited and trite," he said.
"The truth is that I was merely an instrument molded by the successes of those who taught me. My father Neil (who was “career Navy” and later a teacher and tennis coach at Norview HIgh) taught me much --- simple rules of study: frequency, recency, and intensity. He preached the value of reasonableness, music, integrity, hard work, hard play, perfect practice, repetition, fitness, good sportsmanship and an optimistic view of life. Coach Billy Martin at Granby High and Coach Pete Robinson at Old Dominion honed most of these lessons within a wrestling framework. Supportive teammates, several tough workout partners, including future All Americans and national champions, as well as worthy high school opponents in the local Tidewater area, prepared me well, each in his own unique way," said Lindhjem.
"I remember being uniquely content with attempting to practice perfectly the move of the moment in the wrestling room and with walking the full perimeter of the basketball court on my hands to condition my arms, shoulders and back. I remember running miles in deep beach sand followed by 35 full extension pull ups. I remember walking up 10 to 20 bleacher steps at Foreman Field on my hands. I remember dancing at Theta Chi parties from the time the music started until it stopped, losing water weight in the process to make weight the following day. The reward of hard work and play itself was what I valued. Some call that “enjoying the journey." Others call it “nuts," " he continued.
"During the journey through the nuthouse of training, an opportunity arrived and pieces of an All-American puzzle came together. That’s called luck – “where preparation meets opportunity,” " said Lindhjem.
"I remember the satisfaction of participating in three national tournaments, of defeating a national champion, and of losing to no one who placed any lower than 4th in those tournaments, which was the place I earned in my first NCAA tournament," he added. "It was fulfilling to represent Old Dominion on a team whose members included two national champions and a total of five All-Americans… and subsequently, to become a coach, helping with the growth and development of young men for 25 years," he continued.
"It is exceptionally fulfilling to be considered worthy of belonging to a group of individuals who clearly constructed far loftier goals, and who accomplished far more, than I," Lindhjem concluded.