Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Abby Heemstra, Basketball
Heemstra, a native of Rock Valley, Iowa, came through with 14 points and six rebounds in the Concordia home win over Dakota Wesleyan. On the season, Heemstra is averaging 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field.
Male: Tristan Smith, Basketball
Smith, who hails from Elizabeth, Colo., has produced three-straight double-doubles. In last week’s action, Smith posted 20 points and 13 rebounds at Jamestown and 19 points and 11 rebounds versus Dakota Wesleyan. He is averaging 19.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game on the season.
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
November – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
October – Becca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
Dec. 12 – Evan Fukuhara (weightlifting) / Hayley Miles (track & field)
Dec. 5 – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
Nov. 28 – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Kylahn Freiberg (cross country) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
Nov. 14 – Austin Jablonski (football) / Maddie Paulsen (volleyball)
Nov. 7 – Sara Huss (volleyball) / Kyle Sterup (football)
Oct. 31 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Michael Owens (soccer)
Oct. 24 – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Julie McIntyre (cross country) / Michael Owens (soccer)
Oct. 17 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / DJ McGarvie (football)
Oct. 10 – Rylee Ladd (powerlifting) / Jack Nelson (shooting sports) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / D’Andre Williams (soccer)
Oct. 3 – Austin Jablonski (football) / Grace Soenksen (soccer)
Sept. 26 – Ashley Keck (volleyball) / Mason Ward (shooting sports)
Sept. 19 – Savannah Andrews (soccer) / Carter Hinman (soccer)
Sept. 12 – Katie Welker (shooting sports) / Devin Zeigler (football)
Sept. 5 – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Carter Hinman (soccer)
Aug. 29 – Isaiah Shaddick (soccer) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
News and notes:
Concordia Invitational Tournament set for Jan. 26-27: The 71st Concordia Invitational Tournament will be held Jan. 26-27 on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin. The event will once again include competitions in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball and cheer and dance. More specific details about CIT 2024 can be found via CUW’s website linked HERE.
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.
Bulldogs earn high honors from Omaha World-Herald: A total of 33 Bulldogs from fall sports teams earned All-Midlands Team recognition, as selected by the Omaha World-Herald and announced in December. The highest honors went to Austin Jablonski (football) and Bree Burtwistle (volleyball). Both of whom were named All-Midlands Honorary Captains by the Omaha news outlet. For listings of complete award winners, check the links below.
-Football
-Men’s Soccer
-Women’s Soccer
-Volleyball
Record breakers of 2023: In capping the year 2023, we looked back at some of the most significant individual school records broken over the past 12 months. Most specifically, we highlighted incredible performances from Joey Grabanski (baseball), DJ McGarvie (football), Hayley Miles (track & field) and Noah Schutte (basketball). For a detailed look behind those records, check out this feature linked HERE.
Engelbart comes full circle: A 2001 Concordia graduate, Derek Engelbart has come full circle. The institution's new Vice President of Institutional Advancement finds himself in a position to help enhance the student-athlete experience 20 years after wrapping up his own collegiate career. Said Engelbart, “The greatest thing about Concordia is its people. That’s the future of Concordia – continuing to invest in the people and the programs. Giving back can help support those opportunities for the next wave of Bulldogs.” To read more about Engelbart’s new role, and for a look back at his own collegiate career, check out our feature linked HERE.
Wrapping up fall seasons: Fall sports officially concluded in December 2023. In putting a bow on those campaigns, we summarized the seasons for football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball. Those seasons-in-review are linked below. As a credit to Concordia’s fall sports teams, every single one placed within the top four of the final GPAC standings in 2023.
--Season recaps: Football | Men’s Soccer | Women’s Soccer | Volleyball.
Fukuhara wins title at North American Open Finals: Before the end of the first semester, sophomore Evan Fukuhara came through with a major accomplishment as he rose to the top of the podium in his weight class at the North American Open Finals held in Wilmington, N.C., Dec. 7. Fukuhara outlifted a field of 27 competitors (10 of college age) in the 67kg class at the prestigious event. He beat out the second-place finisher by 15kg with his total of 256kg. Fukuhara placed first in snatch (111kg) and second in clean and jerk (145kg). Roughly a month earlier, Fukuhara placed first in the 73kg class at the Iowa Championships. Said Head Coach Freddie Myles, “I’m extremely proud of Evan’s performance, winning the second most prestigious tournament in the U.S. He’s worked extremely hard in practice and outside of practice on his nutrition, recovery and mental preparation.” The season to date for Myles’ powerlifting and weightlifting programs has included a combined four main full-scale competitions. Both squads will resume action this spring semester while looking ahead to national championship events. The homepages for Myles’ programs are linked below.
--Powerlifting
--Weightlifting
Bulldog Coaches Show airs every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT: The Bulldog Coaches Show is underway in its ninth 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 2023-24 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 ninth season calling Concordia volleyball. The Max Country broadcast schedule for the fall semester of 2023 can be found HERE.
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 has partnered with Hudl/BlueFrame 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: 10-4, 5-3 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost at Jamestown, 89-79, on Jan. 3.
o Won versus Dakota Wesleyan, 92-71, on Jan. 6
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Since first semester final exams were completed, Concordia has been in action five times with trips that have taken it to Hilo, Hawaii, Davenport, Iowa, Jamestown, N.D., and finally back to Seward. In last week’s action, the Bulldogs couldn’t recover from a slow start up north and fell at Jamestown, 89-79, before rebounding with a home blowout of Dakota Wesleyan, 92-71. Double figure scorers at Jamestown were Tristan Smith (20), Noah Schutte (18), Tyler Harre (12) and Jaxon Stueve (12). The Jimmies built a lead as large as 22 points and shot 50 percent (31-for-62) for the game. Three days later, Concordia jumped out to a much better start and owned a 47-28 lead over Dakota Wesleyan at halftime. The top scorers were Smith (19), Schutte (17), Lukas Helms (13) and Bradley Bennett (11). The Elizabeth, Colo., native Smith has produced three-straight double-doubles. He snagged 13 rebounds at Jamestown and 11 versus DWU. At 5-3 in conference play, Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad finds itself in fourth place in the GPAC standings. The current top three are Hastings (6-1), Morningside (6-1) and Northwestern (5-2).
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Men’s Basketball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Jan. 10 vs. Doane (7-9, 2-6 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
o Saturday, Jan. 13 vs. Dordt (11-4, 4-3 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
· Current record: 11-2, 7-2 GPAC; ranked No. 11 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won at Jamestown, 69-63, on Jan. 3.
o Won vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 69-61, on Jan. 6.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: A break for Christmas meant the Bulldogs went 14-straight days without playing a game. Concordia knocked off the rust last week with a trip to Jamestown. Concordia found itself trailing by as many as seven points in the first half before springing to life. It found energy thanks to a career high 21 points from Sadie Powell and another sterling defensive effort. The Bulldogs flustered the Jimmies into 28 turnovers (18 steals) and came away with a 69-63 win, avenging a home loss to Jamestown roughly a month earlier. In a return to Friedrich Arena, Concordia started slow (trailed 21-8) and got better as the game wore on versus Dakota Wesleyan. The Bulldogs outscored the Tigers, 24-12, in the third quarter in the process of triumphing, 69-61. Abby Heemstra came off the bench to supply a game high 14 points and six rebounds. Other double figure scorers were Kendal Brigham (11), Powell (10) and Taysha Rushton (10). The biggest factor in the win was Concordia’s ability to limit DWU to 5-for-24 (.208) shooting in the second half. At 7-2 in league play, Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad currently resides in second place in the GPAC standings behind only top-ranked Dordt (8-0).
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Women’s Basketball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Jan. 10 vs. Doane (10-4, 5-3 GPAC), 6 p.m.
o Saturday, Jan. 13 vs. No. 1 Dordt (13-1, 8-0 GPAC), 2 p.m.
Wrestling
· Current dual record: 6-4, 2-2 GPAC.
· Last week:
o 19 Bulldogs wrestled at the Hastings College Open on Jan. 6.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Rankings
· Notable: Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad returned to action this past weekend as 19 Bulldogs took to the mat at the Hastings Open. By tournament’s end, Concordia competitors combined for 28 wins, 11 pins and four place finishes. The individual place winners were Mason Garcia (second at 197), Creighton Baughman (third at 141), Barret Brandt (fourth at 165) and Garret Moser (fourth at 184). The Arroyo Grande, Calif., native Garcia took care of his first three opponents by pin. That run included a fall of Northwestern’s 22nd-ranked Kaleb Lind. Garcia was edged in the championship match, 1-0, by eighth-ranked Elijah Hynes of Missouri Valley College. Ranked fifth in the NAIA at 141, Baughman responded impressively after falling in his first match of the tournament. He then won five-straight bouts (three by pin and two by technical fall) and salvaged third place. Thirteen Bulldogs came away from the Hastings Open with at least one win. On the season, six Concordia wrestlers have notched at least 10 wins: Baughman (23-5), Brandt (23-8), Grant Wells (19-9), Hunter Weimer (13-9), Garcia (11-8) and Jeaven Scdoris (10-5). The lone outing of this week will be Friday’s GPAC dual at fifth-ranked Doane. The Bulldogs hope to compete at a much higher level as compared to last season’s meeting that went to the Tigers, 44-0, in Seward.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Wrestling homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Friday, Jan. 12 – dual at No. 5 Doane (5-3, 3-0 GPAC), 7 p.m.
Track & Field
· Current rankings – not yet released by USTFCCCA.
· Most recent outing:
o Hosted the Bulldog Early Bird Meet (Dec. 8-9).
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | TFRRS NAIA indoor qualifying list
· Notable: Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program got the 2023-24 season started in impressive fashion while hosting the Bulldog Early Bird Meet on Dec. 8-9. The yields included 18 automatic national qualifying standards, six NAIA ‘B’ standards and 16 event championships. Most notably, sophomores Hayley Miles and Adrianna Rodencal both broke school records. Miles surpassed the previous long jump standard of 19’ ¼” by Carol Bailey (1989) with a mark of 19’ 4 ¼” at the Early Bird. That measurement currently tops the NAIA. As for the Lincoln Lutheran alum Rodencal, she bested her own record in the 60 hurdles by running times of 8.65 in the prelims and 8.57 in the finals. Other Concordia athletes with national best marks are Rylee Haecker (2:59.05 in the 1,000 meters) and Zach Zohner (16’ 7 ¼” in the pole vault). It was also a fine start for junior Jenna Esch, who turned in automatic times in the 400 meters, 600 meters and as part of the 4x400 meter relay. The 18 NAIA auto marks as a team are a big improvement from the 2022 Early Bird meet when Concordia posted four ‘A’ standards. The Bulldogs have been idle since the Early Bird while taking a break at the end of the first semester. A return to action is coming this weekend with Concordia set to be represented at both the UNL Graduate Classic and the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic hosted by Doane.
· Keep up with Concordia Track & Field throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons by visiting the team’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o UNL Graduate Classic on Jan. 12-13.
o Scott Nisely Memorial Classic on Jan. 13.