Bergen Storm
Encyclopedia
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team based in Bergen, Norway. Bergen Storm is the 3rd oldest existing team in Norwegian American Football. They are members of the Norway American Football Federation
Norway American Football Federation
The Norway American Football Federation is the largest American football league in Norway, consisting of eleven teams from Norwegian cities and universities. The league is divided into two levels of competition and four age categories: Senior, Under 19, Under 16, and Under 13...
(NoAF). The team plays its home games at Varden Kunstgress
Varden Kunstgress
Varden Kunstgress Field is located in Bergen, Norway, and is currently home to the NoAFF's Bergen Storm, as well as the football teams Bergen Sparta and Fyllingen Kvinner.-External links:*...
field in Bergen.
Facts
Founded: 1992 (as Bergen Blackhawks) when Bergen Bulldogs and Bergen Flyers merged.Team colors: Cardinal red and white
President: Thomas Midtun.
Noted rivalries: Nidaros Domers
Nidaros Domers
The NTNUI Nidaros Domers are an American football team based in Trondheim, Norway. They are currently members of the Norway American Football Federation ....
(Bergen Vs Trondheim), VIF Trolls (junior championship games)
Teams
SeniorPlayers of age 18 and up. Have participated every official season since 1993 with the exception of 1998. The team pulled out of league play midway through the season in 1995 and 1997. Best standing is currently 3rd place 1st division (1993) and winner 2nd division (1996 and 2009).
U-19
Players in the age group 16-19. Participated in the Norwegian U-19 championship since 1995, with the exception of 1998. Best standing is Norwegian vice-champions in 1999, 2000 and 2001, each year losing the championship final to the VIF Trolls.
U-16
Players in the age group 14-16. Participated in the Norwegian U-16 championship since 2003. Best standing is Norwegian Champions in 2005 when the Bergen team beat VIF Trolls 8-7.
U-13
A try-out project in 2003 under the leadership of Sondre Riisøen. The program got canceled after the season. The team played no games but conducted practices throughout the season.
Storm Cheerleaders
Active in 2003-2004. Participated in the Norwegian Championship for Cheerleaders in 2004 finishing last. Program got canceled after this season.
New program is currently starting up.
Bergen Storm Thunder
One of the Bergen Storm teams during the 'split' in 2005 as an effort to create local league play in Norwegian 2nd division versus Bergen Storm Blizzard and Åsane Seahawks
Åsane Seahawks
Åsane Seahawks is the name of an American football and cheerleading team located in Åsane, Norway that competes in the Norway American Football Federation. The team borrowed its name and logo from the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League....
. Thunder became the only winner of the Bergen Bowl by beating Bergen Storm Blizzard in the final. The team was officially coached by Eirik Talhaug.
Bergen Storm Blizzard
One of the Bergen Storm teams during the 'split' in 2005 as an effort to create Bergen league play in the Norwegian 2nd division versus Bergen Storm Thunder and Åsane Seahawks
Åsane Seahawks
Åsane Seahawks is the name of an American football and cheerleading team located in Åsane, Norway that competes in the Norway American Football Federation. The team borrowed its name and logo from the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League....
. Blizzards were runner-ups in the only Bergen Bowl final. The team was coached by Bård Strøm, Thomas Midtun and Arild Hauge.
Bergen Replacements
A team participating in the Bergen 8-man football league. Mainly consisting of retired Bergen Storm players. Bergen Bowl winner of 2008 going undefeated through the season. Runner-up in 2009 going undefeated through regular season. Led by Eirik Talhaug, Thomas Midtun and Hallvard Hollevik
Bergen Gators
A team participating in the Bergen 8-man football league. Mainly consisting of current or new members of Bergen Storm. Bergen Bowl 2009 champions and Bergen Bowl 2008 runner-up. Led by Sondre Johan Haugsdal Riisøen.
Bergen Sackademics
Student team mainly consists of new players, won the Bergen Bowl 2010 in their first season. Team started by Sondre Riisøen and Simen Stein
Bergen Leftovers
A team that participated in the Bergen 8-man football league in 2008. Led by Finn Olsen.
History line
- pre 1992: A merge between Bergen Bulldogs and Bergen Flyers in 1992. The team became Bergen Blackhawks and performed well landing the team as nr.3 in Norwegian 1st division.
- 1992 - 1994: Coach Joe Spinella Took over the team as a head coach. The team had their so far best record in this era. Jon BakkenJon BakkenJon Bakken is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party.He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Sør-Trøndelag during the terms 1985–1989, 1989–1993 and 1993–1997.-References:...
was president of the club. - 1995-1998: Bergen Storm failed to perform very well and was tormented by instability and changes of presidents and coaches. With the exception of 1996, Bergen Storm did not manage to complete a single season. On the brighter side, the era saw the birth of Storm U-19 and the 2nd division championship winner for seniors.
- 1999 - 2001: Kaj Hopland, Rolf Endresen and Atle Mølholm created stability for the club as coaches and an efficient board. Bergen Storm competed in the 2nd division in 1999 - 2001. During this time Bergen Storm U-19 noted their best records as vice-champions three years in a row.
- 2002-2004: Bergen Storm senior made a three-year run into the 1st division but was clearly seen to small to compete against the better Norwegian teams Eidsvoll 1814's, Oslo VikingsOslo VikingsOslo Vikings is the name of an American football club located in Oslo, Norway, that competes in the Norway American Football Federation and the European Federation of American Football tournaments....
, and VIF Trolls. Bergen Storm launched their first U-16 program and Bergen Storm Cheerleading became active. - 2005 - 2008: Bergen Storm decided to move back into the 2nd division for the 2005 season. An experiment was made to split the Bergen team into two teams: Blizzard and Thunder, to compete in a 3-team conference along with Åsane Seahawks. Only one formal game got played and a joint Storm team traveled to Hamar RuinsHamar RuinsHamar Ruins is the name of an American football team located in Hamar, Norway that competes in the Norway American Football Federation. They have no rivalry with Bergen Storm at all.-External links:**...
to take on the 2nd division championship game, which the Ruins won. 2006 saw the first paid coach for Bergen Storm when Timo SorriTimo SorriTimo Sorri is currently high school head coach in California. Previously was a Norway Football Federation head coach for the Bergen Storm. He was formerly a coach at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California. He led the Winterthur Warriors to Switzerland National Championship in the...
was brought in to help out Bergen Storm. 2007 and 2008 has been played in 2nd division with local coaching and personnel. Bergen Storm won their first Championship on any level when Storm won the U-16 championship in '05. 2008 also saw the first season of the 8-man regional football league in Bergen, with five teams participating: Bergen Replacements, Bergen Gators, Bergen Leftovers, Åsane Seahawks and Kvernbit Knights. - 2009–present: Bergen Storm went undefeated through the Norwegian 2nd division in 2009 under the leadership of first year head coach Ryan Bethea. The 2nd division saw plenty of new teams emerge in Bergen neighbour Kvernbit Knights, AFC Show from Stavanger and Flint Raiders from Tønsberg. Before the 2010 season, Storm is once again led by Head coach Ryan Bethea and takes on the Norwegian 1st division for the first time since 2003. Storm will play under the name Hordaland Storm and be a combined team with the best athletes from the four clubs of Hordaland: Bergen Storm, Åsane SeahawksÅsane SeahawksÅsane Seahawks is the name of an American football and cheerleading team located in Åsane, Norway that competes in the Norway American Football Federation. The team borrowed its name and logo from the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League....
, Kvernbit Knights and newcomer Os Wolverines.
Notable people
- Atle Mølholm - Club president 2002-2005. coach and player. NoAF All-star team safety. Bergen Storm All Star '93-'03 WR.
- Eskild Risnes - Head Coach '96, NoAF All-Star team DE, Bergen Storm All-Star '93-'03 DE. Retired Jersey #99.
- Kaj Hopland - Club President '98-'00, Head Coach sr '98-'02, Head Coach U-19 '03, Bergen Storm All-Star '93-'03 QB. Bergen Storm Honor Award '03 for longest playing record.
- Bård Strøm - Club President '05, Head Coach sr '03-'05, Head Coach U-19 '99-'00 and '02, Norway U-19 Offensive Coordinator '00 and '02. Cal Poly Mustangs football assistant coach '01.
- Thomas Midtun - Club President '01, '06,08 and 09'. Head Coach Sr '06-'08, Head Coach U-19 '01, Norway U-19 offensive coordinator '04
- Stig Schjerpen - Bergen Storm All-Star '93-'03 Tight End, Head Coach U-16 '04-'06
- Joseph Spinella - Head Coach Sr '92-'94.
- Jon T. Bakken - Club president '93 - '95, Head Coach U-19 '96
- Tor-Arne Torsvik - Bergen Storm All-Star '93-'03 LB, MVP Defense Nordic Championship '02
- Timo SorriTimo SorriTimo Sorri is currently high school head coach in California. Previously was a Norway Football Federation head coach for the Bergen Storm. He was formerly a coach at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California. He led the Winterthur Warriors to Switzerland National Championship in the...
- Head Coach Sr '06 - Ronny NilsenRonny NilsenRonny Nilsen is a former Norwegian athlete who competed in the javelin. He represented the Hordaland club IL Norna-Salhus...
- Bergen Storm All-Star '93 - '03 DT, Bergen Storm Honor Award '03 for longest playing record. - Ryan Bethea - Head Coach Bergen Storm sr 2009–present. Head Coach Bergen Storm U-19 2009. #138 overall draft pick of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Former South Carolina University wide receiver.