 Marion Bontrager as a sophomore on the Hesston College basketball team |
 Marion teaching Biblical Literature |
by Susan Miller Balzer
The fact that Marion Bontrager, Hesston College Bible and Ministry professor since 1973, watched only half of this year’s Super Bowl game before sitting down to grade ‘Bib lit’ papers tells something about his philosophy.
As a student-athlete at Hesston College more than 50 years ago, he said, “The issue for me was to not have athletics dominate my life or be my god.”
Just shy of 6 feet—“in those days, not a bad height (for a basketball player)”—Bontrager came to Hesston College in 1955 just in time to play on the first intercollegiate varsity men’s basketball team. Until that year, Hesston College students played only intramural sports (see article on facing page).
Bontrager played forward and guard on an eight-man team. The jump shot had just come into the game a few years before and fouls were called more frequently then since no physical contact was permitted. Compared to today, much less time was spent practicing.
President Roy Roth was instrumental in getting intercollegiate athletics started at Hesston College and getting Bontrager to come as a student. “Roy Roth recruited me,” Bontrager said. “The fact I played ball probably didn’t hurt—but they didn’t recruit basketball players, they recruited students.”
During his student years at Hesston, Bontrager sang baritone with a male quartet, and sang in Collegiate Choir; took part in the Choral Union, Forensics, and Peace Society; served as YPCA (Young People’s Christian Association) vice president, the Journal religion editor, and as hall manager of The Elms (college-owned off-campus housing); played basketball and baseball—all while taking courses leading toward a history major and a minor in physical education in secondary education at Goshen (Ind.) College two years later.
“I was terribly busy,” he said. “I was overly committed and terribly competitive.” Bontrager said his identity was tied up with winning every game and “(Athletic Director) Evan Oswald challenged me on that. He said, ‘Marion, why don’t you learn how to play?’”
Oswald, Coach Eugene Miller, President Roth, and other Hesston faculty contributed to the life of the young student and helped him develop leadership skills. “I found how athletics and recreation contribute ... in life,” Bontrager said. “I learned the value of play beyond competition.” Playing on a team “teaches you how to cooperate and support others, and how to follow the authority of the coach.
“Athletics teaches about life—winning and losing, success and failure—and discipline. You need to eat right, prepare for games, and get rest. (Athletics teaches) mental toughness and internal strength—to not give up.
“The challenge is to keep (athletics) in its proper perspective.”
—Susan Miller ’67 Balzer is a free-lance writer in Hesston, Kan. She serves as a staff reporter at the Hesston Record.