RECORD IS REWARD FOR NANHED; CLU STAR OVERCOMES INJURIES, MAKES HISTORY.

Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer

Fredrik Nanhed came to Cal Lutheran for a few reasons - experience the United States, the warm winters and the opportunity to play football.

His football career, one that has seen many frustrations, will end Saturday at the University of Redlands. But Nanhed will leave as the school's all-time leading rusher.

Nanhed, 26, of Malmo, Sweden, broke the record on Nov. 1 in a 40-7 victory over Occidental. It, fittingly, came on a 36-yard touchdown run.

It gave him 2,669 yards for his career, breaking the 23-year-old record of 2,659 set by Hank Bauer from 1972-75.

Bauer, who works as a sportscaster for KFMB radio and TV in San Diego and played several years in the NFL, commented on the air recently that he was aware of Nanhed's then-impending accomplishment and wished the hard-nosed Swede the best. Bauer couldn't make the game but that didn't diminish Nanhed's achievement.

``It was so awesome for Freddy to get that record,'' said fellow running back Dorian Stitt. ``He's been through a lot and he deserves it. He battled back from injuries to be successful again.''

Nanhed burst upon the scene as a freshman in 1995. He set an NCAA Division III freshman record with 1,380 yards and was selected to the all-conference team. It appeared that breaking Bauer's record would be as easy as Nanhed's running style.

Before Nanhed could really get going his sophomore year, the injury bug hit. He missed three complete games and most of two others. He still rushed for 709 yards. His third year at Cal Lutheran was to be the year Nanhed smashed the record, but a torn ligament in his right knee shelved him for the entire season.

The injury was so debilitating that playing in 1998 was not a certainty.

Nanhed, however, refused to the let the injury stop him. He worked hard on rehabilitation and came back strong for his senior year.

``At the beginning of this year,'' said Nanhed, who speaks with a barely detectable accent, ``I wasn't sure how I'd be. Mentally I didn't trust my leg. I was a little scared, but now I feel it's back to 100 percent.''

If it isn't, it would be frightening for opponents to see Nanhed play at a higher level. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder can be a bruising, punishing runner or he can dance and pick his holes. Either way, he makes the Kingsmen's rushing attack work.

``Fredrik is just a great story,'' said Cal Lutheran coach Scott Squires. ``He's overcome a lot to get where he is. He is a great football player, but an even better young man. It takes a great deal to come back from the type of injury he had, thousands of miles from home, and be successful. I'm proud of him and I'm sure everyone involved with this program and this school are, too.''

Said Nanhed: ``The record is a milestone for me. It's something I wanted to do, but I had a lot of help.

``Having Dorian back there really complements me and the line has given everything to make it easier for me.''

Nanhed closed out his home career with the Kingsmen in a 38-31 victory over La Verne on Saturday. He rushed for 119 yards on 22 carries and scored a touchdown.

It gave him a career total of 2,788 yards.

``This record means a lot to me,'' Nanhed said. ``The best thing would be if it gave the school some publicity, because I feel like I owe something to Cal Lutheran.''

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PHOTO (Color) Fredrik Nanhed has rushed for a Cal Lutheran-record career total of 2,788 yards.

David Crane/Daily News