Tim Holmstrom is the perfect example of what happens when you give a promising young student athlete a chance to grow and develop. He came to Augustana in the fall of 1982 as an undersized lineman at 6-1, 205 pounds who also competed in track & field as a shot putter and discus thrower. By the time he graduated in May of 1986, he had filled out to 6-2, 275 pounds and had earned NCAA Division III All-America recognition in both football and track & field.
He knew the Augustana way by virtue of his high school background at Geneseo where he was a two way starter for a Class 4A state runner-up in 1981. He made the Vikings travel squad for the 1982 NCAA Division III runner-up and was on the sidelines during a 14-0 loss in the Stagg Bowl. When he walked off the field in Phenix City, Alabama in December of 1982, that would be the last time he would taste defeat while wearing the blue and gold.
Durability was his trademark as he earned a starting position at offensive guard for the first game of the 1983 season and he never missed a start over the next three years. During his time as a starter the Vikings compiled a perfect 37-0 record and won three straight NCAA Division III national championships. The offensive attack was never very fancy and most of the success stemmed from the work of the guys up front in the trenches. Holmstrom was a stabilizing force throughout his career and the numbers back that up.
In his first year as a starter in 1983 Augustana averaged 325.3 yards rushing and 31.4 points per game. As a junior in 1984 those numbers were 316.1 yards rushing and 30.7 points and as a senior in 1985 the Vikings averaged 291.2 yards rushing and 27.6 points. Holmstrom was a consistent factor in generating those numbers and he blocked for 1,000 yard rushers Craig Allison (1,223 yards in 1983), George Velasquez (1,110 in 1983), Brad Price (1,034 in 1984 and 1,087 in 1985) and Ron Nelson (1,001 in 1984).
During his senior season in 1985 he was given the added responsibility of calling all the audibles for the offense from his position at guard. It was a duty he handled flawlessly.
He was a meat-and-potatoes guy, blue collar to the core, and his durability and consistent play made him one of the best offensive linemen to ever play for Augustana. A first team all-conference selection in both 1984 and 1985, he was named to the 1985 Football News NCAA Division III All-America team. He earned the respect of his teammates in both football and track & field, serving as team captain in both sports as a senior.
While his accomplishments in football certainly made him a worthy candidate for the Hall of Fame, his achievement in track & field solidified his selection. When the football season ended he traded his shoulder pads in for a track singlet and he enjoyed a tremendous career in both the shot put and discus. He earned four letters in track & field and won the CCIW title in the discus in 1985 and the shot put in 1986. To this day he ranks third on the school’s all-time list in the shot put with a toss of 53’ 1¾” and has the sixth best discus throw with a mark of 161’ 10”. He earned NCAA Division III All-America honors in the discus in 1986, the same year that he was named Most Improved Athlete by a vote of his teammates. He was a national meet qualifier in the discus in both 1985 and 1986 and in the shot put in 1986.
“Augustana was a very satisfying experience for me,” said Holmstrom. “It turned out better than I ever dreamed of. I am excited with the direction that Augustana is going in terms of facilities and commitment to athletics.”
Holmstrom and his wife Sherry reside in Atkinson, Illinois along with a daughter (Autumn) and two sons (Chris and Shane). He graduated with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. He has been a farmer for 21 years and has been involved in real estate sales for 22 years. He also spent 16 years as a real estate appraiser. He currently oversees operation of a 2,000 acre cash grain farm and is the owner of a real estate appraisal business.
