SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances throughout the calendar month, senior Creighton Baughman of wrestling and junior Abby Krieser of basketball have been recognized as the Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Month for November 2023. The winners emerged from a vote conducted on Tuesday (Dec. 5) by attendees at the BAAM luncheon. Both honorees have won this award for the first time.
Ranked 10th nationally at 141 pounds, Baughman continues to make waves on the mat. During the month of November, the Papillion, Neb., native posted a 9-2 record and emerged as the 141-pound tournament champion at the Luther Hill Invite. He also went 4-0 in dual meets and knocked off two nationally ranked opponents, including No. 12 Taylor Vasquez of Morningside. A national qualifier last season, Baughman owns a 13-4 record (5-0 in duals) and three pins on the season. Most recently, he took fourth place in the 141-pound bracket at the Conner/Oppenheim Open hosted by Doane. The Iowa Western Community College transfer owns a mark of 38-14 since arriving at Concordia. Baughman was named a Second Team All-GPAC honoree in 2023. He helped Head Coach Chase Clasen’s program place third in the GPAC last season.
A rising star for Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad, Krieser has built upon her Second Team All-GPAC sophomore season in 2022-23. This past November, she started all six games and averaged 11.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 54.9 percent (28-for-51) from the floor. Krieser notched a career high 24 points in the win at Northwestern on Nov. 18 and was then named the GPAC Player of the Week. On the season, the Lincoln North Star High School alum is averaging 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 steals per contest while shooting 53.3 percent (32-for-60) from the floor. Krieser and the Bulldogs have started the 2023-24 campaign at 6-1 overall (4-1 GPAC) and are ranked No. 7 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
BAAM Athletes of the Month are rewarded out of the pool of student-athletes that garner BAAM Athlete of the Week recognition throughout the month.
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
November – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
October – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
2022-23 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Jenna Esch (track & field) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
March – Wyatt Hambly (shooting sports) / Claire Kee (shooting sports) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
February – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
January – Rylee Haecker (track & field) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Gage Smith (basketball)
November – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
October – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Korrell Koehlmoos (football) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
September – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / Camden Sesna (cross country)