Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Tristan Smith, Basketball
A senior from Elizabeth, Colo., Tristan Smith was named the GPAC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Bulldogs to road wins over Doane and Briar Cliff. Smith poured in a career-high 37 points at Briar Cliff and totaled 53 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks on the week.
Female: Raelyn Kelty, Basketball
A sophomore from Kiowa, Colo., Raelyn Kelty produced a combined 30 points, 19 rebounds and four steals in road contests last week at Doane and Briar Cliff. Her 20 points and 14 rebounds at Doane both represented career bests. Kelty is averaging 10.6 points per game this season.
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
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
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.
72nd Concordia Invitational Tournament to be hosted by CU-Ann Arbor Jan. 24-25: The 72nd Concordia Invitational Tournament is rapidly approaching and will take place at Concordia University Ann Arbor on Jan. 24-25. Advance tickets can be purchased via CUAA’s HomeTown Ticketing page linked HERE. CIT will again feature basketball and cheer and dance competition between the Concordias of Ann Arbor, Chicago, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Schutte rises to top of program all-time scoring list: As part of the Bulldog win at Doane on Jan. 8, grad student Noah Schutte became the all-time scoring leader in the history of Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball. Following the weekend, Schutte’s career point total stands at 2,118 eclipsing the previous standard of 2,099 by Concordia Athletics Hall of Famer Jon Ziegler. In light of his achievement, Schutte was featured on 10/11 News out of Lincoln in a story that can be found HERE. For a look at some of Schutte’s most memorable performances to date, check out this feature linked HERE.
Reviewing fall sport seasons: Each Concordia fall sports season was complete by the time the Christmas break arrived. Both the women’s soccer and volleyball programs made appearances at NAIA National Championship tournaments and three cross country athletes qualified individually for the national meet. For a detailed look at the 2024 football, men’s soccer and women’s soccer seasons, check out season-in-review articles linked below.
Seasons-In-Review: Football | Men’s Soccer | Women’s Soccer | Volleyball
GPAC network: Back in July, the Great Plains Athletic Conference announced a streaming network designed to bring webcasts from all league members together in one place. The GPAC Network can be accessed online via: https://www.gpacnetwork.com/. The network is also available via a mobile app and smart TVs. The GPAC partnered with Hudl for the creation of the network. In addition to the events that stream on the Concordia Sports Network, 104.9 Max Country will broadcast Concordia Basketball throughout the winter. The broadcast schedule can be found HERE.
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 is in 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 this 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.
Men’s Basketball
· Current record: 13-4, 8-3 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won at Doane, 81-60, on Jan. 8.
o Won at Briar Cliff, 84-80 (OT), on Jan. 11.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: Over the semester break, the Bulldogs caught fire with the only defeat being a 73-65 loss at No. 4 Arizona Christian University on Dec. 20. With road wins this past week over Doane and Briar Cliff, Concordia has extended its GPAC winning streak to seven. As a major highlight, grad student Noah Schutte became the program’s all-time leading scorer when he went for 24 points and 10 rebounds at Doane. Now at 2,118 career points, Schutte surpassed Jon Ziegler (2,099 points) for the title of all-time scoring king. Schutte also posted a double-double (13 points and 11 rebounds) at Briar Cliff in a game the Bulldogs found a way to persevere after relinquishing a 16-point lead. Tristan Smith took over in Sioux City and finished with a career-high 37 points, including eight that came in overtime. Smith totaled 53 points on the week. It was also a solid week for Brad Bennett, who went 6-for-14 from 3-point range and totaled 23 points. The current conference win streak began on Dec. 7 with an 87-74 home win over Briar Cliff. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has climbed to third place in the GPAC standings and sits behind only Northwestern (17-0, 9-0 GPAC) and Dordt (17-1, 9-1 GPAC). The Bulldogs handed Dordt its lone loss, 99-72, on Jan. 4. Concordia returns to Friedrich Arena this week to host Mount Marty and No. 7 Northwestern.
· For additional news and notes on the men’s basketball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Jan. 15 vs. Mount Marty (7-9, 4-6 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
o Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. No. 7 Northwestern (17-0, 9-0 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
· Current record: 7-9, 4-8 GPAC; ranked 14th in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Lost at Doane, 93-87 (2 OT), on Jan. 8.
o Lost at No. 9 Briar Cliff, 73-56, on Jan. 11.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The Bulldogs are feeling snakebitten after coming up short during a daunting stretch in the league schedule. The current four-game skid includes two losses in overtime – one at home versus No. 1 Dordt, 88-85. According to Massey Ratings, Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad has played the toughest schedule of any team in the NAIA. The slate has featured seven nationally ranked opponents. In last week’s double overtime loss at Doane, both Raelyn Kelty (20 points) and Megan Belt (16 points) produced career-high scoring outputs. In addition, Kendal Brigham scored 15 points and Abby Heemstra Kristin Vieselmeyer added 11 points apiece in a contest Concordia let slip away in the final seconds of regulation. In the loss at No. 9 Briar Cliff, four Bulldogs hit double figures: Brigham (12), Vieselmeyer (12), Belt (10) and Kelty (10). The team’s most recent victory came by an 87-47 final score at La Sierra University (Calif.) on Dec. 20. The recent results leave Concordia in eighth place in the current GPAC standings. Through 16 games, the top Bulldog scorers have been Brigham (11.6), Kelty (10.6) and Vieselmeyer (9.9). Concordia will attempt to get back in the win column this week as it hosts Mount Marty and Northwestern. The Bulldogs will see both opponents for the first time this season.
· For additional news and notes on the women’s basketball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Jan. 15 vs. Mount Marty (8-9, 2-9 GPAC), 6 p.m.
o Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. Northwestern (12-5, 8-3 GPAC), 2 p.m.
Wrestling
· Current dual record: 3-2, 3-2 GPAC.
· Last week:
o 26 Bulldogs competed at the Hastings Open on Jan. 11.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA National Rankings
· Notable: Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad had nearly a month between outings while getting a breather for the semester break. The 2024-25 season resumed with the Hastings Open on Jan. 11 when 26 Bulldogs took to the mats inside Lynn Farrell Arena. The yields were nine place finishers and 45 combined wins (22 via pin). Both Hunter Weimer (184) and Torrance Keehn (197) emerged as Hastings Open champions within their brackets. Other Concordia place finishers were Creighton Baughman (second at 141), Steven Barnes (second at 149), Cal Price (third at 141), Hagen Heistand (third at 149), Grant Wells (fourth at 133), Cole Price (fourth at 157) and Calvin Gross (fourth at 184). Ranked eighth nationally at 141, Baughman started the campaign at 12-0 before being edged in the Hastings Open title match by an opponent from the University of Nebraska. Also noteworthy, Heistand is an NCAA Division I transfer from Campbell University who made his Bulldog debut as part of the Hastings Open. The following Concordia competitors have earned at least 10 wins this season: Barnes (14-6), Baughman (12-1), Barret Brandt (12-4), Cole Price (12-6) and Simon Arredondo (10-9). To date, the Bulldogs have competed in five tournaments and five duals. Concordia remains 3-2 in GPAC duals on the season. Two more tournaments are on the docket for the month of January: the Denker Open (Jan. 19) hosted by the University of Central Missouri and the Missouri Valley College Invite (Jan. 24-25).
· For additional news and notes on the wrestling program, click HERE.
· Up next:
o Sunday, Jan. 19 – Denker Open hosted by University of Central Missouri, 10 a.m.
Indoor Track & Field
· Number of 2024-25 Meets: 2.
· Last week:
o Seven throwers competed at the Scott Nisely Invite on Jan. 11.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | TFRRS Performance Lists
· Notable: The vast majority of the track & field squads has been idle since the Bulldog Early Bird Meet was held inside the Walz Fieldhouse on Dec. 13-14. This past Saturday, Coach Ed McLaughlin took seven throwers to the Scott Nisely Invite hosted by Doane. Most notably, Carson Fehlhafer hit a ‘B’ standard mark of 57’ 5 ½” in the weight throw and placed fifth. Back at the Early Bird in December, three Bulldogs automatically qualified for the national meet: Mayson Ostermeyer (pole vault), Adrianna Rodencal (60 hurdles) and Abi Wohlgemuth (weight throw). Both Rodencal and Easton Fries broke school records in the 60-meter hurdles at the Early Bird. The 2024-25 indoor season will be back in earnest this week as the program hosts the Concordia Polar Dog Invite on Friday while select athletes also compete at the Graduate Classic on Friday/Saturday at the Devaney Center in Lincoln. There are four weekends of competition remaining prior to the 2025 GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
· For additional news and notes on the track & field programs, click HERE.
· This week:
o Friday, Jan. 17 – Concordia Polar Dog Invite, 12 p.m. | view meet schedule HERE.
o Friday, Jan. 17 / Saturday, Jan. 18 – Graduate Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska.