Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Jaidan Quinn, Baseball
A senior third baseman from Bonner Springs, Kan., Jaidan Quinn hit three home runs and reached base in seven of nine plate appearances as part of Concordia’s doubleheader sweep of Waldorf. In the process, Quinn equaled Joey Grabanski for the program’s all-time home run record. Quinn also drew four walks in Monday’s doubleheader sweep of Briar Cliff.
Female: Taryn Ganstrom, Softball / Adrianna Rodencal, Track & Field
A junior from Seneca, Kan., Taryn Ganstrom starred last week as Concordia Softball went 3-1 against the likes of Hastings and Briar Cliff. Over those four games, Ganstrom batted .438 (7-for-16) with a double and three triples. She also earned a win in the circle with three shutout innings.
A junior from Lincoln, Neb., Adrianna Rodencal opened the outdoor track season by breaking her own school record in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 13.45 (first place at the Central Nebraska Challenge). Rodencal also ran personal bests in the 100 (11.95) and 200 (24.35) meters and was the anchor of the 4x100-meter relay (48.01).
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
February – Abby Krieser (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
January – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
December – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
November – Austin Jablonski (football) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
October – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Kierstynn Garner (soccer)
September – Mark Arp (football) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Week
March 25 – Ishane Derman (tennis) / Grady Works (tennis)
March 18 – Hagen Heistand (wrestling) / Jennifer Katz (softball)
March 4 – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Feb. 25 – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
Feb. 18 – BAAM luncheon canceled
Feb. 11 – Jonny Jurchen (track & field) / Abi Wohlgemuth (track & field)
Feb. 4 – Abby Krieser (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
Jan. 28 – Makynna Robbins (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Jan. 21 – Megan Belt (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball) / Abi Wohlgemuth (track & field)
Jan. 14 – Raelyn Kelty (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Dec. 17 – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Dec. 10 – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
Dec. 3 – Vaughn Hendrickson (cross country) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
Nov. 19 – Daylon Henson (football) / Addie Kirkegaard (volleyball)
Nov. 12 – Keegan Beisel (cross country) / Vaughn Hendrickson (cross country)
Nov. 5 – Angela Banks (soccer) / Austin Jablonski (football)
Oct. 29 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Devin Harris (shooting sports)
Oct. 22 – Taylor Hedke (weightlifting) / Austin Jablonski (football)
Oct. 15 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Hugo Garrote (soccer)
Oct. 8 – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Kaylee Hinton (shooting sports)
Oct. 1 – Carter McKenna (shooting sports) / Kya Scott (volleyball)
Sept. 24 – Ishane Derman (tennis) / Daylon Henson (football)
Sept. 17 – Mark Arp (football) / Ella Waters (volleyball)
Sept. 10 – Hannah Beintema (cross country); Trey Robertson (cross country)
Sept. 3 – Nolan Fuelberth (soccer); Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
Aug. 27 – Martin Herrera (soccer); Ashley Keck (volleyball)
News and notes:
BAAM luncheons are held every Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT inside the Dog House Grill, located in the Janzow Campus Center. The luncheons feature reports from head coaches who are in season at the time. For information on how to join BAAM, click HERE. It is not a requirement to be a BAAM member in order to attend the weekly luncheons.
Bulldog Football travels for mission trip at LCMS camp: 15 Bulldogs from Coach Patrick Daberkow's Concordia Football program devoted their spring break to service, helping rebuild an LCMS camp (in Linville, North Carolina) ravaged by Hurricane Helene. Said Daberkow, "It’s really impressive to me to have our players spend their spring break like that ... I think it speaks to their character." Added junior Jesse Herndon, "Just seeing the end product compared to where we started was really gratifying." For more details on the service project (organized by Orphan Grain Train), check out our feature (linked HERE) with thoughts from Daberkow and three of the student-athletes who took part in it.
Devin Smith named Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA: For the second time in five years, Concordia University, Nebraska’s Devin Smith has been honored as an Athletics Director of the Year Award winner by the National Association of Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Smith was announced by NACDA as one of the 28 honorees for 2024-25 on Monday (March 17). The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 60th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., on June 10. For more details on the award, click HERE.
Powerlifting National Championships set for April 3-6: The Concordia Weightlifting program had its national championships in late February/early March. Coming up this week, Concordia Powerlifting will compete at the Collegiate Powerlifting National Championships, which will take place in Oklahoma City, Okla., April 3-6. At the 2024 national championships, Rylee Ladd placed second at 52kg and Will Peterson placed fifth at 140kg. The most recent event for Head Coach Freddie Myles’ powerlifting squad was the Friends University Open on Feb. 1. For more details on Concordia Powerlifting, check out the team’s homepage linked HERE.
Tristan Smith chosen as NAIA First Team All-American: Throughout the 2024-25 season, senior Tristan Smith stood out as one of the nation’s top players. Appropriately, the NAIA recognized Smith as a 2024-25 First Team All-American on March 31. Smith is one of 12 players nationally to be chosen to the first team and his selection marks the first time a member of the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball program has ever been named a First Team All-American.
Eight Bulldog Basketball players earn Academic All-District awards: A combined eight Bulldogs from the men’s and women’s basketball programs were named 2024-25 Academic All-District award winners, as announced by College Sports Communicators on March 25. Those award winners on the men’s side are Brad Bennett, Brooks Kissinger, Tristan Smith and Noah Schutte. The women’s honorees are Megan Belt, Kendal Brigham, Abby Heemstra and Kristin Vieselmeyer. The award recognizes performance both athletically and in the classroom and includes strict criteria for number of games played during the 2024-25 season.
Reviewing the winter sports seasons: The 2024-25 winter sports season has ended at Concordia University, Nebraska. Check out season recaps linked below for a detailed look at the basketball and wrestling seasons. A full winter sports recap will be posted to the athletics website once All-Americans have been announced for each of the winter sports.
Winter Sports Recaps: Men’s Basketball | Women’s Basketball | Wrestling.
Bulldog Coaches Show airs every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT: The Bulldog Coaches Show is underway in its 10th year of existence. The show airs live for a half hour every Thursday beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT on KTMX-FM 104.9 Max Country. The weekly feature can also be heard live via 104.9 Max Country’s website or by downloading the Max Country app. Throughout the 2024-25 season, Bulldog football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball contests will be aired live on Max Country. Parker Cyza serves as the host of the coaches’ show as well as the play-by-play voice for football and basketball. Frank Greene completed his 10th season calling Concordia volleyball.
Concordia Sports Network: Live webcasts for most home varsity contests can be accessed by visiting https://www.cune.edu/athletics/watch-bulldogs at game time. Beginning with the 2023-24 academic year, Concordia Athletics began a partnership with Hudl for live video streaming. Live webcast links for away contests are publicized in sport specific releases that preview action for that particular week. Scrimmages, exhibitions and junior varsity events are not broadcasted on the Concordia Sports Network.
Baseball
· Current record: 22-8, 10-2 GPAC; ranked No. 22 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Waldorf, 15-9, on March 28.
o Won vs. Waldorf, 21-5, on March 28.
o Won vs. Briar Cliff, 1-0, on March 31.
o Won vs. Briar Cliff, 9-1, on March 31.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Polls
· Notable: The first four home games of the 2025 season went about as well as hoped for the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad earned doubleheader sweeps of Waldorf and Briar Cliff on days with completely different weather conditions. Concordia outscored those foes by a combined total of 46-15 while hammering 12 home runs. All-American Jaidan Quinn slugged three home runs in game two versus Waldorf and equaled Joey Grabanski for the program’s all-time home run record (88). In the middle of the order, Brad Hallock continues to sizzle as he muscled up for four homers over the past four outings. In the sweep of Briar Cliff, the pitching staff was especially impressive as the Alex Johnson and Braxton Greenburg combined to limit the Chargers to a grand total of three hits. Johnson piled up 13 strikeouts in a complete game shutout while making his first home start since the 2022 season. Meanwhile, Greenburg went 6.1 innings and conceded one unearned run on one single hit with eight strikeouts. Nearly halfway through the GPAC regular season slate, the Bulldogs sit atop the league standings with a 10-2 conference mark. The GPAC’s top three home run hitters are all from Concordia: Quinn (15), Hallock (13) and Rhoades (nine). As a team, Concordia leads the GPAC in home runs (59) and slugging percentage (.576). As for Johnson, he owns a 1.57 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 34.1 innings. The homestand will continue on Friday with the Bulldogs slated to host Hastings. They will then head up to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Morningside on Sunday.
· For additional news and notes on the baseball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Friday, April 4 vs. Hastings (6-20, 3-9 GPAC), 3 p.m. DH.
o Sunday, April 6 at Morningside (22-5-1, 9-3 GPAC), 12 p.m. DH (location will be Bishop Mueller Field in Sioux City, Iowa).
Softball
· Current record: 19-9, 4-2 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost at Hastings, 4-0, on March 26.
o Won at Hastings, 11-5, on March 26.
o Won vs. Briar Cliff, 7-6, on March 28.
o Won vs. Briar Cliff, 8-3, on March 28.
· Notable: The Bulldogs put together a 3-1 week inside the conference as they split at Hastings before then sweeping a doubleheader from Briar Cliff. The results moved Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad to 19-9 overall, representing the program’s best record after 28 games in a season since the ’21 national qualifying team sat at 21-7. There were several standouts last week as five lineup regulars notched at least five hits over the four games: Delanie Voshell (7-for-10; .700), Taryn Ganstrom (7-for-16; .438), Aubrey Bruning (6-for-14; .429), Aubriana Krieser (5-for-13; .385) and Hanna Bowers (.385; 5-for-13). After being shut out on four hits by Hastings in last week’s first game, the offense ignited while led by Voshell, a senior right fielder. She collected three hits in the game two win at Hastings. In the first contest versus Briar Cliff, Concordia faced a 6-5 deficit heading to the bottom of the seventh. A double by Ganstrom and a single by Krieser set the stage for Bowers to play the role of hero. She delivered a walk-off, two-run double. The Bulldogs close the week in strong fashion by taking care of the Chargers with less drama as Ganstrom posted three hits. Kaylei Denison picked up two more pitching wins and improved to 7-1 while continuing to be well-supported by the offensive attack. In the victory over Briar Cliff, Denison threw all seven innings and allowed only two earned runs on seven hits and two walks. This will be a big week for Concordia, as it goes up against the league’s two highest rated teams: No. 23 Midland and No. 7 Northwestern.
· For additional news and notes on the softball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, April 2 vs. No. 23 Midland (21-10, 3-1 GPAC), 4 p.m. DH.
o Saturday, April 5 at No. 7 Northwestern (30-5, 10-0 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.
Golf
· Most recent:
o Men – Placed 6th at the Briar Cliff Match Play Tournament on March 27-28.
o Women – Placed 6th at the Briar Cliff Match Play Tournament on March 27-28.
· Men’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Both of Head Coach Brett Muller’s squads competed in a unique match play event this past week and both wound up in sixth place at the Briar Cliff Match Play Tournament held at Green Valley Golf Course in Sioux City, Iowa. On the men’s side, the Bulldogs went 1-2 with a 3-2 win over Mount Marty sandwiched in between 3-2 losses to Dordt and Briar Cliff. Meanwhile, the women also went 1-2 with a 3-2 win over Northwestern and losses to Dakota Wesleyan, 4.5 to 0.5, and Dordt, 3-2. Senior Jaxson Fullerton enjoyed the most success as he won all three of his head-to-head matches. In addition, junior Brock Rogers collected two wins and Jake Richmond and Jacob Dowd notched one apiece. On the women’s side, junior standout Emery Custer won two of her three matches. Worth noting, junior Jake Richmond was named the GPAC Men’s Golfer of the Week on March 26 after he placed third at the Doane Spring Invite. This will be a hectic week with two-day events for both teams. As of Tuesday (April 1) morning, the women were underway with the first day of the Concordia Bulldog Spring Invite. The tournament will wrap up on Wednesday. As for the men, they will be headed to the Bethel College Invite for action on Friday and Saturday at two different courses.
· This Week:
o W – Host the Concordia Bulldog Spring Invite at Highlands Golf Course on Monday-Tuesday, April 1-2.
o M – At the Bethel College Invite on Saturday-Sunday, April 5-6 (Hesston, Kan., and Newton, Kan.).
Tennis
· Current records: men – 9-6, 1-1 GPAC | women – 11-2, 2-1 GPAC
· Last week:
o W – Won at College of Saint Mary, 7-0, on March 26.
o W – Lost vs. Morningside, 4-3, on March 27.
o M – Lost vs. No. 18 Morningside, 4-3, on March 27.
· Men’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The transformation of Concordia Tennis under Coach Lisa Hart continues. The progress in a short amount of time was evident in the close battles both the men’s and women’s teams engaged in with reigning GPAC champion Morningside. Both squads were defeated by 4-3 scores by the Mustangs (ranked 18th on the men’s side and receiving votes nationally on the women’s side). Before hosting Morningside, the Bulldog women cruised past College of Saint Mary, 7-0, pushing their winning streak to 10 at the time. Every singles contest was won by Concordia in straight sets. Against Morningside, the three team points came in singles via Moriana Molano at No. 1, Chakira Derman at No. 2 and Tessa Blough at No. 6. On the men’s side, the Bulldogs won the doubles point (victories at Nos. 1 and 2) and triumphed at the 1 and 2 singles spots thanks to Hugo Fuentes and Nick Velders. The Mustangs escaped with the victory by winning at the Nos. 3 through 6 spots in the singles lineup. The results indicate that Concordia could push for top two spots in the GPAC regular season standings. Overall this season, Velders stands at 14-1 in singles play (dual matches) and Santiago Abadia and Ben Chisholm are 10-3 in doubles. On the women’s side, Ishane Derman finally endured a singles defeat (11-1). The women’s team has been dominant in singles play with a 65-13 team record on the season. In the lone outing this week for Concordia, the two teams will be headed to Orange City, Iowa, to take on Northwestern on Saturday.
· For additional news and notes on the tennis programs, click the following links: Men | Women.
· This week:
o M / W – Saturday, April 5 at Northwestern, 11 a.m.
Outdoor Track & Field
· Indoor season: women placed third in the GPAC and 20th in the NAIA; men placed fourth in the GPAC and 56th in the NAIA.
· Last week:
o Competed at the Central Nebraska Challenge on March 28.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | TFRRS Performance Lists
· Notable: The first full meet of the 2025 outdoor season is in the books for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads, which competed at the Central Nebraska Challenge co-hosted by Hastings and the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The major yields included new school records from freshman Adysen McCarter (triple jump) and junior Adrianna Rodencal (100 hurdles) and sophomore Nathan Baldwin (discus) and junior Mayson Ostermeyer (pole vault) automatically qualified for the national meet. McCarter landed at 38’ 11 ¾” in the triple jump, breaking the previous school record of 38’ 9 ½” by Charista Zehnder. Meanwhile, Rodencal broke her own school record by running 13.45 in the 100-meter hurdles (not countable towards the national list due to the wind conditions). In their qualifying efforts, Baldwin threw 172’ 10” in the discus and Ostermeyer cleared a significant PR of 16’ 6 ¾” in the pole vault. In addition, ‘B’ standards came from Connor Asche (180’ 10” in the hammer), Abby Gerber (46’ 2 ¾” in the shot put) and Abi Wohlgemuth (169’ 5” in the hammer). Highly contested event titles were won at the Central Nebraska Challenge by Kayla Kirchner in the 400 meters (57.96), Kiki Nyanok in the long jump (19’ 3 ½”) and Rodencal in the 100 hurdles. On the track, the top women’s 4x100-meter relay grouping for Concordia ran 48.01 and included Cambria Saunders, Kirchner, Emily Loseke and Rodencal. In backing Rodencal in the 100 hurdles, Isabelle Salters ran 15.00 for a personal best. In the men’s 400 hurdles, freshman Easton Fries clocked in at a solid 54.89. Next up, the Bulldogs will host the Concordia Invitational this Friday-Saturday. It will be the first of two outdoor home meets in 2025.
· For additional news and notes on the track & field programs, click HERE.
· This week:
o Friday-Saturday, April 4-5: Concordia Invitational | view meet schedule HERE.