Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Maddie Paulsen, Volleyball
Paulsen, who hails from Sioux Falls, S.D., totaled a combined 14 kills (on 28 attacks) and five blocks last week as the Bulldogs competed in GPAC semifinal and championship matches. Concordia defeated No. 14 Jamestown in the semifinals before being clipped by No. 1 Northwestern in five sets in the title match.
Male: Austin Jablonski, Football
A Lincoln, Neb., native, Jablonski concluded the 2023 season by making six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in the 45-21 win at Mount Marty. Jablonski also returned a kickoff 88 yards and was named the GPAC Special Teams Player of the Week. The Lincoln Pius X High School alum caught 91 passes for a school record 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
October – Becca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
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:
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.
Record-setting McGarvie lets right arm do the talking: The unassuming DJ McGarvie tends to shy from the spotlight, but attention is unavoidable for the standard-setting quarterback. McGarvie isn't just breaking Concordia's passing records, he's crushing them. At the close of the 2023 season, the Lincoln North Star High School product stands as the program’s all-time leader for passing touchdowns (54) and passing yards (6,679). His 2,642 passing yards this season also broke his own record for a single campaign. For more on McGarvie and his path to success, click HERE.
Changes to GPAC membership: A major announcement came from the Great Plains Athletic Conference on Oct. 11 as the league revealed that the University of Jamestown’s GPAC membership will cease at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year. Roughly three weeks earlier, the GPAC announced the addition of Waldorf University as a conference member, beginning with the 2024-25 academic year. In the current athletic year, Waldorf is an affiliate GPAC member in the sports of men’s and women’s soccer. Waldorf becomes the 13th GPAC member. For more details on Waldorf and the GPAC, click HERE.
Fukuhara shines as weightlifters resume season at Iowa Championships: In the second competition of the 2023-24 season for Concordia University Weightlifting, sophomore Evan Fukuhara made a major splash. The Sacramento, Calif., native put together a performance that ranks amongst the very best in the nation while in action at the Iowa Championships held on the campus of the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, on Nov. 4. Fukuhara was one of eight Bulldogs to represent the program and one of three in the navy and white to win titles at the event.Fukuhara joined the program beginning with the spring semester of 2023. He took home the 73kg title at the Iowa Championships with new personal bests in snatch (120kg), clean and jerk (150kg) and for a combined total (270kg). That total currently ranks as the eighth best in the country for college-aged lifters. Already a national qualifier, Fukuhara had posted totals of 115kg in snatch and 145kg in clean and jerk at the Omaha Classic back in September. The other first-place finishes in Iowa City were claimed by Michael Davidge at 89kg and Adrian Hernandez at 109kg. For more details, check out the meet recap HERE. The season will continue with the North American Open Finals in Wilmington, N.C., Dec. 7-10.
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.
Football
· Final record: 5-5, 5-5 GPAC (finished tied for fourth).
· Last week:
o Won at Mount Marty, 45-21, on Nov. 11.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The 2023 season is in the books after the Bulldogs finished strong with a 45-21 win at Mount Marty. Concordia started fast in Yankton with first-quarter touchdown passes by DJ McGarvie of 50 yards to Austin Jablonski and 14 yards to Daylan Russell. The Bulldogs never trailed as five different players found the end zone. Running back Devin Zeigler rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries while backfield mate Mark Arp carried the ball nine times for 52 yards and a score. In the fourth quarter, Concordia put the game away with the help of Peyton Atwood’s 20-yard field goal and linebacker CJ Dyhrkopp’s 40-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Bulldogs wound up averaging 30.3 points per game this season, representing the highest scoring average in a season for the program since the 1972 team (7-2 record) scored 30.4 points per contest. Individually, McGarvie finished with season totals of 2,676 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes. Austin Jablonski hauled in 91 receptions for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns and Zeigler ran for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively, Michael Grindey led the way with 89 tackles while Kyle Sterup made 19 tackles for loss. Roughly 20 seniors participated in the final college football game of their careers this past week. The win at Mount Marty marked the conclusion of Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s seventh season at the helm of the program.
· Keep up with Concordia Football throughout the offseason by visiting the team specific page on the website HERE.
Women’s Soccer
· Final record: 13-4-3, 8-1-3 GPAC (2nd)
· Last week:
o Lost vs. Midland, 2-0, on Nov. 7 (GPAC Semifinals).
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Seemingly a year ahead of schedule in terms of their level of achievement in 2023, the Bulldogs fell short of reaching the national tournament after falling at the hands of Midland, 2-0, in the semifinals of the GPAC tournament. The league’s two automatic bids went to Hastings (regular season champion) and Midland (tournament champion). Head Coach Nick Smith guided the ’23 squad to 13 wins, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history. As announced by the GPAC on Monday, Concordia boasted five first team all-conference award winners: Savannah Andrews, Kierstynn Garner, Hannah Kile, Niah Kirchner and Grace Soenksen. High honors went to Soenksen, who was recognized as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year. She is the first Bulldog to garner that award since Lindsey Carley in 2017. Each of the first teamers other than Soenksen is a sophomore. Garner led the GPAC in goals during the regular season with 19. The future appears bright for Concordia as 47 of the team’s 51 goals were scored by freshmen or sophomores this season. The Bulldogs placed second in the GPAC during the regular season and will likely be picked highly in the 2024 preseason coaches’ poll.
· Keep up with Concordia Women’s Soccer throughout the offseason by visiting the team specific page HERE.
Men’s Soccer
· Final record: 13-1-4, 7-0-4 GPAC; ranked No. 21 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Idle following loss in GPAC quarterfinals on Nov. 1.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: It was a long wait for Concordia as it hoped it had done enough to earn an at-large berth into the national tournament. Unfortunately, Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad learned on Monday that it did not receive an invitation to nationals. As a result, the Bulldogs ended their 2023 campaign with an overall record of 13-1-4. They were ranked 21st in the NAIA coaches’ poll released last week. Concordia left its fate to the selection committee after it suffered a 3-0 loss to Dordt in the GPAC quarterfinals. On the positive side, eight Bulldogs were named all-conference award winners on Monday. The all-conference list included first team selections Ferdi Hagen, Carter Hinman and Matt Schultz. In addition, fifth-year Bulldog Isaiah Shaddick ended his career with second team all-conference accolades. Weides’ bunch now heads in the offseason. The program will likely have high expectations in 2024 while building upon back-to-back strong seasons. The ’23 squad was the first in the program’s history to go undefeated during the regular season. It outscored opponents by a combined total of 43-13.
· Keep up with Concordia Men’s Soccer throughout the offseason by visiting the team specific page HERE.
Volleyball
· Current record: 23-3, 14-2 GPAC (T-1st); ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Def. No. 9 Jamestown, 25-16, 25-18, 25-22 (home) on Nov. 8; GPAC Semifinals.
o Lost to No. 1 Northwestern, 25-17, 17-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-11 on Nov. 11: GPAC Championship.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: Concordia has officially qualified for the national tournament for the fifth-straight year as one of two automatic qualifiers out of the GPAC. The conference tournament wrapped up last week as the Bulldogs defeated No. 9 Jamestown in straight sets in the semifinals and then dropped a five-set battle at No. 1 Northwestern in the championship match. The program reached the GPAC final for the third-consecutive year (placing as the runner up each time). On Monday, Concordia learned that it will be hosting Judson University (Ill.) this Saturday in one of 24 NAIA opening round matches. The opening round winners will advance to play in Sioux City, Iowa, the final site of the national tournament. Through 23 matches, the statistical leaders for Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad are: Ashley Keck in kills (303), Bree Burtwistle in assists (1,048) and aces (29), Becca Gebhardt in digs (368) and Gabi Nordaker in blocks (104) and hitting percentage (.332). The opening round winners will advance to play in Sioux City, Iowa, home to the final site of the national tournament. Play at the final site will get started on Nov. 29.
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Nov. 18 vs. Judson University (Ill.) (23-4), 1 p.m. (NAIA National Championship Opening Round).
Cross Country
· Current rankings (according to NAIA.org):
o Women – No. 2 in GPAC, No. 8 in the NAIA coaches’ poll
o Men – No. 3 in GPAC
· Most recent outing:
o 2023 GPAC Championships (Oct. 21): women placed 2nd; men placed 3rd.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: Concordia emerged from the 2023 GPAC Championships (Nov. 4) with a pair of top-three team finishes as the women placed second and the men placed third. On the women’s side, the Bulldogs hoped to dethrone Dordt and ultimately finished 14 points behind (42-28) the Defenders. Four Concordia women claimed all-conference awards: Julie McIntyre (second), Keeli Green (third), Kylahn Freiberg (seventh) and Hannah Beintema (13th). McIntyre’s runner-up finish is the highest for a Bulldog individual since Freiberg seized second place as a freshman in 2019. On the men’s side, Calvin Rohde climbed to No. 6 and qualified individually for the national meet. Both Freiberg and Rohde are now three-time all-conference honorees in cross country. In the men’s team race, Dordt took first place and was followed by Doane and Concordia. The women have qualified for nationals for the second year in a row and for the third time during Head Coach Matt Beisel’s tenure. For more details on the upcoming national meet, click HERE.
· Up Next:
o Friday, Nov. 17 at 2023 NAIA Cross Country National Championships (Vancouver, Wash.).
Wrestling
· Current dual record: 1-0, 1-0 GPAC.
· Last week:
o 18 Bulldogs competed at the Grand View University Open on Nov. 11.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Rankings
· Notable: 18 Bulldogs represented the program at the Grand View University Open and combined to come away with 30 victories. The results were an improvement from last year’s showing at the same tournament. Freshman Barret Brandt continued to stack pins while placing fifth in the freshman/sophomore division within his 165-pound weight class. Brandt was one of 11 Bulldogs with multiple wins on the day and one of 13 Concordia competitors with at least one victory at the tournament. Incredibly, all 11 of Brandt’s wins this season have come via fall. At the Grand View Open, Brandt wiped out three NAIA foes and a pair of junior college opponents. As for sophomore Grant Wells, a Lincoln Lutheran High School alum, he came away with four contested wins, one of which was a technical fall over St. Ambrose University (Iowa)’s Jacob Alexander. Wells placed sixth in the freshman/sophomore division of the tournament. Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad will host its second dual of the season when Hastings visits Friedrich Arena this Friday. The next day, select Bulldogs will take part in the University of Nebraska-Kearney Open.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Wrestling homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Friday, Nov. 17 vs. Hastings, 7 p.m. (home dual)
o Saturday, Nov. 18 at University of Nebraska-Kearney Open
Men’s Basketball
· Current record: 3-0.
· Last week:
o Won at Benedictine College (Kan.), 74-61, on Nov. 11.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Following the Cattle Classic (Nov. 3-4), the Bulldogs had a week to prepare for this past Saturday’s road game at Benedictine College (Kan.). It wasn’t Concordia’s sharpest performance, but the Bulldogs rebounded from a rough first half offensively and pulled away from the Ravens for a 74-61 win. Frontcourt stalwarts Noah Schutte (16 points and nine rebounds) and Tristan Smith (15 points and 14 rebounds) both reached double figures. Off the bench, Tyler Harre poured in 12 points on four 3-point field goals. The victory marked the 300th in the coaching career of Ben Limback, who is in his 11th season at CUNE following nine years leading the program at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Limback owns a record of 185-126 with the Bulldogs. Each of the three wins so far this season have come by double-digit margins. Concordia will face a pair of stiff tests to begin conference play as it looks forward to hosting No. 19 Morningside on Wednesday before traveling to play at No. 18 Northwestern on Saturday. Those two squads were picked first and second, respectively, in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Men’s Basketball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Nov. 15 vs. No. 19 Morningside (2-1, 0-0 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
o Saturday, Nov. 18 at No. 18 Northwestern (4-0, 0-0 GPAC), 6:45 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
· Current record: 2-0; ranked No. 17 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Idle following 2-0 week at the Cattle Classic (Nov. 3-4).
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: After notching Cattle Classic wins over Sterling College (Kan.), 95-70, and No. 5 Marian University (Ind.), 75-62, the Bulldogs took last week off from competition. Those results pushed Concordia up six spots in the NAIA coaches’ poll released on Nov. 8. The Bulldogs are currently sitting at No. 11 in the national poll. Outsiders took notice of Concordia upsetting 2023 national quarterfinalist Marian behind All-Cattle Classic selections Taysha Rushton and Kendal Brigham. Head Coach Drew Olson has unleashed the full-court press to the max once again. Sterling and Marian committed a combined 54 turnovers. Freshman Sammy Leu enjoyed a big-time debut with 20 points in the season opener. She made the first five shot attempts of her career. Olson’s career win total has moved to 445, a number that equals former men’s basketball coach Grant Schmidt for the most coaching victories for any sport in the history of Concordia Athletics. The Bulldogs will start conference play this week by taking on Morningside and Northwestern.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Women’s Basketball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Nov. 15 vs. Morningside (3-1, 0-0 GPAC), 6 p.m.
o Saturday, Nov. 18 at Northwestern (3-1, 0-0 GPAC), 5 p.m.