Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Daylon Henson, Football
A junior from Pearland, Texas, Henson was named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week after notching six tackles (one for loss), a forced fumble, fumble recovery and interception in the 45-13 win at Midland. Pearland equaled a GPAC high with six interceptions this season.
Female: Addie Kirkegaard, Volleyball
A junior from Hastings, Neb., Kirkegaard helped propel the second-ranked Bulldogs to the GPAC tournament title match. She totaled five kills and two blocks in the semifinal win over No. 20 Midland and added nine kills and four blocks in the five-set championship match loss at No. 1 Northwestern.
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
October – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Kierstynn Garner (soccer)
September – Mark Arp (football) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
Fall sport NAIA national qualifiers announced: All fall national qualifiers have been announced. The news was good for both the Concordia volleyball and women’s soccer squads, which earned automatic bids to the NAIA National Championships. Unfortunately, the football program did not get selected to play in the 20-team NAIA Football Championship Series. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad ended a successful 2024 season with an 8-2 record. Meanwhile, Concordia Athletics will be represented at three NAIA national championship events this week: women’s soccer (Thursday), cross country (Friday) and volleyball (Saturday). Head Coach Nick Smith’s women’s soccer team would also play on Saturday if it defeats Benedictine College (Kan.) in Thursday’s first round game. Check out the releases below for more details.
--NAIA National Championship Previews: Cross Country | Women’s Soccer | Volleyball.
From 0-3 to the NAIA national tournament: From out of the abyss of an 0-3 start to conference play, the Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer team emerged as a 2024 NAIA national qualifier. A 1-0 home win over Briar Cliff achieved on Sept. 28 without the services of standouts Kierstynn Garner and Savannah Andrews proved to be a turning point. The Bulldogs simply needed that first domino to fall. Check out our feature piece for insight from Head Coach Nick Smith and three Bulldogs on how the team turned its season around. That feature is linked HERE.
Fall ball updates on baseball, softball programs: The beginning portion of the fall semester is used by the Concordia Baseball and Softball programs to prepare for their official seasons in the spring. Head Coaches Ryan Dupic and Brock Culler both have high expectations for their programs. The baseball team is coming off another GPAC championship season while the softball team vaulted up to third in the final 2024 league standings. For an update on both programs, check out the articles linked below.
--Baseball Fall Update
--Softball Fall Update
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 football and volleyball varsity games this fall. 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.
Football
· Current record: 8-2, 8-2 GPAC; No. 17 in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last Week:
o Won at Midland, 45-13, on Nov. 16.
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: A satisfying finish to the 2024 regular season gave way to disappointment on Sunday when it was announced by the NAIA that the Bulldogs had not been selected for the 2024 NAIA Football Championship Series. Thanks to an 8-2 record and overall strong resume, Concordia was one of the teams under consideration for an at-large berth into the national playoffs. The Bulldogs finished the regular season impressively last week with a 45-13 thumping of Midland. Concordia outscored the Warriors by a score of 31-0 in the third quarter while stating its case for a postseason bid. Austin Jablonski caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 56 yards and a score. Mark Arp rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. The Bulldogs’ 21-0 advantage in points off turnovers proved to be instrumental in the lopsided score. The 45-13 loss for Midland (6-5, 5-5 GPAC) represented its largest margin of defeat this season. DJ McGarvie completed 11-of-14 passes for 167 yards and two scores. It was another fine day for safety Daylon Henson, who collected six tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups. The eight wins marked the highest total for the program since the 2001 team went 10-2 and won a GPAC championship. The GPAC will be represented in the postseason by sixth-seeded Morningside and 11th-seeded Northwestern. Concordia and Dordt were both bubble teams that missed out on the playoffs. The Bulldogs now move into the offseason while saying goodbye to a senior class large on quantity and quality. In the final NAIA regular season coaches’ poll, Concordia landed at No. 17, a high watermark during Daberkow’s eight-year head coaching tenure.
· Keep up with the Concordia Football program throughout the offseason by checking the team’s homepage HERE and by following @cunebulldogs on social media.
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 8-3-9, 6-0-4 GPAC (2nd).
· Last week:
o Lost vs. Hastings, 1-0, on Nov. 13 (GPAC Championship).
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Bulldogs experienced heartbreak at home in the GPAC Championship Game, falling by a score of 1-0 at the hands of rival Hastings on Nov. 13. The occasion marked the first time that Concordia had ever hosted the GPAC tournament final. Head Coach Jason Weides had led the program to four previous GPAC tournament championship games (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2022). The lone goal of last week’s clash came in the 26th minute via Lewis Albert. Shots were at a premium – the Bulldogs had the edge, 6-5, in that category. Concordia ended its season at 8-3-9 overall after placing as the GPAC runner up in both the regular season and tournament. The nine ties were the most of any squad in the history of the program. As announced on Monday, eight Bulldogs were recognized with GPAC All-Conference accolades, including first teamers Iker Casanova, Ferdi Hagen and Martin Herrera. Casanova was chosen as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year, marking the program’s first conference player of the year since Bernie Ochoa in 2000. Casanova anchored a back line that helped limit opponents to 16 goals in 20 games this season. Concordia ranked 12th nationally for goals against average (0.79). Offensively, the Bulldogs totaled 44 goals for the season, including a team high 11 from Herrera (third most among GPAC players). Weides will expect his team to remain a GPAC contender heading into 2025. The ’24 roster included a total of nine seniors and four players who used their ‘COVID years.’
· To remain informed about the program throughout the offseason, check out the team’s homepage HERE.
Women’s Soccer
· Current record: 13-6-1, 8-3 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost at Hastings, 4-0, on Nov. 12 (GPAC Championship).
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Bulldogs are gearing up to make the program’s fourth all-time national tournament appearance. This past Saturday, Concordia learned that it will be headed to Grand Rapids, Mich., for first round action at the national tournament. On Thursday, Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad will take on a familiar nonconference foe, Benedictine College (Kan.), in the first round. The winner will then advance to play site host and fifth-ranked Aquinas College in the second round on Saturday. The Bulldogs earned an automatic bid to the national tournament after placing second in the GPAC for the regular season and postseason. Concordia will enter the tournament with a record of 13-6-1 overall. Through 20 games, the Bulldogs have tallied 50 goals and have conceded 26. Kierstynn Garner leads the way with 21 goals and 12 assists while Savannah Andrews has posted eight goals and four assists. Concordia went on a 10-game winning streak before running into GPAC champion Hastings in the conference tournament title game. The program’s previous national tournament qualifications came in 2014, 2016 and 2020. The national tournament experience will be a new one for everyone on the current roster. The format of the national tournament includes first/second round games at campus sites. The teams that emerge from the campus sites then advance to the final location, Pensacola, Fla., on Dec. 2-9. The Bulldogs will be seeking their first ever national tournament win.
· For additional news and notes, check out the program’s homepage HERE.
· This week – NAIA National Championships (played in Grand Rapids, Mich.):
o NAIA First Round – Thursday, Nov. 21 vs. Benedictine College (13-6-1), 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET.
o NAIA Second Round – Saturday, Nov. 23 vs. Aquinas College (16-0-2), 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET – if win on Thursday.
Volleyball
· Current record: 24-3, 15-1 GPAC; ranked No. 2 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. No. 20 Midland, 25-17, 25-20, 25-14, on Nov. 13 (GPAC Semifinals).
o Lost at No. 2 Northwestern, 19-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-17, 15-11, on Nov. 16 (GPAC Championship).
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The postseason continues for the second-ranked Bulldogs, who made the program’s fourth-straight GPAC tournament championship match appearance. In last week’s action, Concordia cruised past No. 20 Midland, 25-17, 25-20, 25-14, in the conference semifinals while limiting the Warriors to .083 hitting. Ashley Keck topped the Bulldogs with nine kills (and 11 digs). Three days later, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad made its way to Northwestern for a second-straight GPAC title clash in Orange City, Iowa. The top-ranked Red Raiders managed to outlast Concordia in five sets behind 33 kills from Jazlin Douma. The balanced Bulldogs were led by 12 kills from Kya Scott and Gabi Nordaker was in on seven of the team’s 11 blocks. Five of the past six meetings with Northwestern have gone to five sets. The focus now shifts to the national tournament. As part of the NAIA Opening Round, Concordia will host Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) on Saturday. The Saints are coached by former Bulldog coach Scott Mattera. The winner will advance to play in Sioux City, Iowa, the final site of the NAIA National Championships. This will mark the fourth-straight year that the Bulldogs have hosted the opening round. They are looking to reach the final site for the sixth year in a row.
· For additional news and notes on Concordia Volleyball, check out the team’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o NAIA Opening Round – Saturday, Nov. 23 vs. Our Lady of the Lake, 1 p.m.
Cross Country
· Most recent:
o Men – placed 3rd/11 at the 2024 GPAC Championships on Nov. 9.
o Women – placed 4th/12 at the 2024 GPAC Championships on Nov. 9.
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: The 2024 GPAC Cross Country Championships unfolded on Nov. 9 and saw Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads place third on the men’s side and fourth on the women’s side. In thrilling performances, freshman Vaughn Hendrickson and sophomore Trey Robertson placed 1-2 in the GPAC. Hendrickson won the GPAC title with an 8k time of 25:44.09 at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Neb. Robertson followed in 25:51.70. On the women’s side, Keegan Beisel placed ninth with a 6k time of 23:47.44. Beisel, Hendrickson and Robertson each earned GPAC All-Conference medals for their efforts. Hendrickson is the men’s program’s first GPAC champion since Collin Morrissey in 2012. As a program, the men have placed in the top three of the GPAC in three-straight years and the women have placed top four six times during Beisel’s tenure. As announced by the NAIA on Monday, Beisel, Hendrickson and Robertson have all earned individual bids to the NAIA national meet. The men had hoped to be selected as a team at-large qualifier but were not chosen, based on the final NAIA top 25 rating. The team’s three qualifiers will compete at the 2024 NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Columbia, Mo., on Friday. Beisel will make her third career appearance at cross country nationals. The national meet will mark the conclusion of the 2024 cross country season.
· For additional news and notes on the Concordia Cross Country teams, click HERE.
· Up next:
o 2024 NAIA Cross Country National Championships – Friday, Nov. 22 at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo.
Men’s Basketball
· Current record: 3-1, 0-1 GPAC; ranked 9th in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Lost vs. Morningside, 95-88, on Nov. 16.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The GPAC opener became a shootout inside Friedrich Arena. Visiting Morningside erased a nine-point deficit by making 18-of-23 shots from the floor in the second half. The Mustangs won by a 95-88 score behind three players that each scored at least 20 points. Morningside (5-0) won despite a career-high 34 points from Tristan Smith, who also grabbed 13 rebounds (eclipsing 500 for his career). Other double figure scorers were Noah Schutte (14), Hayden Frank (12) and Lukas Helms (11). Concordia shot 49.3 percent from the floor but could not overcome the Mustangs’ 57.1 percent shooting. With 972 career points, Smith is closing in 1,000 for his career. Through four games, the Bulldogs’ leading scorers are Smith (18.0), Schutte (16.5), Frank (9.5) and Brad Bennett (9.0). After having the middle of this week off from competition, Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad will be headed to Dordt on Saturday for another GPAC contest. It will be Concordia’s first road game of the 2024-25 season.
· For additional news and notes on the men’s basketball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Nov. 23 at Dordt (6-0, 0-0 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
· Current record: 3-1, 1-0 GPAC; ranked 5th in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Morningside, 74-62, on Nov. 16.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: Following a week between games, the fifth-ranked Bulldogs opened conference play with a 74-62 home win over Morningside. Concordia built a lead as large as 17 points in the fourth quarter before the Mustangs went on a run to get within five (66-61) in the final few minutes. A bucket apiece from Raelyn Kelty and Sammy Leu pushed the advantage to 70-61 and helped seal the Bulldog victory inside Friedrich Arena. Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad forced 20 turnovers and got double figures in points from Kendal Brigham (13), Leu (12), Megan Belt (11) and Kelty (11). Kelty also added eight rebounds to her stat line. The Millard South High School alum Belt has been hot from the perimeter having made 12 of her first 23 tries from 3-point range this season. A theme so far this season has been balanced scoring. Brigham leads the team with a scoring average of 11.0 while Belt and Kelty are averaging 9.8 points per game. Concordia is holding its opponents to 62.8 points per game and 39.4 percent shooting. This week’s slate includes a home matchup with College of Saint Mary and a trip to No. 1 Dordt, the NAIA’s defending national champion.
· For additional news and notes on the women’s basketball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Nov. 20 vs. College of Saint Mary (1-3, 0-1 GPAC), 7 p.m.
o Saturday, Nov. 23 at No. 1 Dordt (5-0, 1-0 GPAC), 2 p.m.
Wrestling
· Current dual record: 1-0, 1-0 GPAC.
· Most recent:
o Won at Midland, 36-6, on Nov. 6.
o 14 competitors represented the program at the Dakota Wesleyan University Open on Saturday, Nov. 9.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA National Rankings
· Notable: The Bulldogs had last week off from competition after taking the to the mat twice the previous week. Concordia won seven of the nine contested matches in the dual at Midland on Nov. 6. The Bulldog winners were Aidan Trowbridge (forfeit at 133), Bryce Karlin (pin at 141), Steven Barnes (major decision at 149), Francisco Mendez (decision at 157), Tommy Wentz (technical fall at 165), Barret Brandt (pin at 174) and Hunter Weimer (pin at 184). Three days later, Head Coach Josh Watts took a group of 14 Bulldogs to the Dakota Wesleyan Open. The yields included 22 combined victories and a fourth-place finish by Cole Price in the 165-pound bracket. While making his Concordia debut, Price won five matches, including one by pin. At heavyweight, Mason Garcia notched three wins. In addition to Garcia and Price, five Bulldog competitors won multiple matches: Grant Wells (3-2 at 133), Brent Ward (2-2 at 165), Garret Moser (2-2 at 184), Calvin Gross (2-2 at 197) and Teegan Tschampel (2-2 at 197). So far this season, Concordia has competed in two tournaments and one dual. Karlin has been particularly impressive having gone 4-0 with four pins. The Bulldogs still have yet to unveil their complete lineup with their top wrestlers in each weight class. The action resumes this week as Concordia wrestles at Hastings for a dual on Friday before heading to the Younes Hospitality Open hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.
· For additional news and notes on the wrestling program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Friday, Nov. 22 at Hastings (3-1, 0-0 GPAC), 7 p.m.
o Saturday, Nov. 23 at Younes Hospitality Open (Kearney, Neb.), 9 a.m.