Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Creighton Baughman, Wrestling
Baughman, who hails from Papillion, Neb., went 2-0 last week at GPAC Duals Day No. 1 while defeating 141-pound counterparts from Dakota Wesleyan and Morningside. Most notably, Baughman took a 4-1 decision from the Mustangs’ 12th-ranked Taylor Vasquez. Baughman stands at 9-2 this season.
Female: Kylahn Freiberg, Cross Country / Abby Krieser, Women’s Basketball
Freiberg, a native of Nampa, Idaho, emerged from the 2023 national meet with All-America accolades. She placed 16th with a 6k time of 22:07.7 in action in Vancouver, Wash. Freiberg led the Bulldogs to a team place finish of 18th. She also garnered All-GPAC accolades this past fall.
Krieser, a Lincoln North Star alum, was named the GPAC Player of the Week on Nov. 21 following a career high 24-point performance in Concordia’s 77-69 win at Northwestern. Through five games this season, Krieser is averaging 12.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 57.8 percent from the floor.
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. 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:
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.
Soenksen leaves lasting legacy on Concordia soccer: Ninety-two career games played and four First Team All-GPAC awards to her credit, Grace Soenksen can humbly say that she left a legacy that will stand the test of time. Said Head Coach Nick Smith, "She’s going to go down as a legend in the Concordia Women’s Soccer program.” We took an in-depth look at the storied career of the Lincoln Lutheran alum named the 2023 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year. Find that feature story HERE.
GPAC All-Conference teams announced for fall: A total of 37 Concordia Bulldogs athletes were named GPAC All-Conference award winners for the fall of 2023. Click the links below for listings by sport of those honorees. Special accolades went to volleyball’s Bree Burtwistle as the GPAC Setter of the Year and to women’s soccer’s Grace Soenksen as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, five Concordia student-athletes were recognized last week as 2023 Academic All-District award winners by College Sports Communicators: Savannah Andrews, Hannah Kile, Niah Kirchner and Soenksen from women’s soccer and Matt Schultz from men’s soccer.
--Cross Country
--Football
--Men’s Soccer
--Women’s Soccer
--Volleyball
Powerlifting resumes 2023-24 season with Central Collegiate Regional Championships: The 2023-24 Concordia University Powerlifting season resumed prior to Thanksgiving as Head Coach Freddie Myles’ team competed at the Central Collegiate Regional Championships in Fremont, Neb., Nov. 18-19. The yields included top-three placements for 15 individuals, highlighted by first-place claims for Mackenzie Houser (56kg), Nic Kriech (90kg), Rylee Ladd (52kg) and Taylor Meyer (60kg). The team’s list of second-place finishers included Jack Hedke (110kg), Abigail Lockingen (100kg), Pryce Ostermeier (82.5kg) and Will Peterson (140kg). Competitors from eight different institutions convened in Fremont. Out of the three full teams that participated, the Bulldogs placed as the runner up to Midland. Blue Mountain Christian College wound up in third place. For a complete recap of the event, click HERE. The powerlifting team has concluded its schedule for the first semester. Meanwhile, Concordia Weighlifting is getting set for the North America Open Finals (Dec. 7-10) in Wilmington, N.C. The homepages for Myles’ programs are linked below.
--Powerlifting
--Weightlifting
Closing in on start of indoor track season: While the 2023 cross country season is in the books, Head Coach Matt Beisel and his athletes now look forward to the start of indoor track and field. The first meet of the 2023-24 season will be held next week (Dec. 8-9) when Concordia hosts the Bulldog Early Bird Meet. Additional home meets on the docket this winter are the Concordia Polar Dog (Jan. 19), Concordia Classic (Jan. 26-27) and Concordia Invite (Feb. 9). For coverage of Concordia Track & Field throughout the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons, visit the program’s homepage HERE.
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.
Cross Country
· Final 2023 finishes:
o Women – Placed No. 2 in GPAC; placed 18th at the NAIA National Championships.
o Men – Placed No. 3 in GPAC.
· Most recent outing:
o 2023 NAIA National Championships (Nov. 17): women placed 18th while the men’s program was represented by Calvin Rohde individually.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: The 2023 season concluded on Nov. 17 at the 2023 NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Vancouver, Wash. As a team qualifier, the Concordia women placed 18th nationally while led by individual All-American Kylahn Freiberg. The Nampa, Idaho, native placed 16th with a 6k time of 22:07.7 at the national meet. It was the final career college race for Freiberg, the program’s first All-American since Sarah Kortze in 2012. It was also a strong final race for Chicago native Julie McIntyre as she crossed the finish line in 23:06.5 and placed 57th in the field of 334 runners. She missed a top-40 All-America finish by roughly 26 seconds. Three other Bulldogs finished within the top 200 overall: sophomore Hannah Beintema (24:09.6; 158th), freshman Keeli Green (24:19.3; 177th) and sophomore Keegan Beisel (24:28.6; 200th). As for individual national qualifier Calvin Rohde on the men’s side, he placed 103rd with an 8k time of 26:18.0, marking significant improvement from his previous appearance at nationals in 2021. Prior to the national championships, Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads turned in GPAC place finishes of second on the women’s side and third on the men’s side. Now the distance crew will gear back up for the start of indoor track next week.
· Keep up with continued coverage of Concordia Cross Country via the team’s homepage HERE.
Volleyball
· Current record: 24-3, 14-2 GPAC (T-1st); ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Most recent outing:
o Def. Judson University (Ill.), 25-19, 25-14, 25-17 (home), on Nov. 18 | NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll (Final)
· Notable: The 2023 NAIA National Championship tournament went on hiatus during Thanksgiving week. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s program has advanced to the national tournament final site for the fifth-straight year thanks to its straight-sets home win over Judson University (Ill.) in the opening round on Nov. 18. The very next day, the Bulldogs learned they had been seeded fourth at the final site and placed in Pool D along with No. 13 Midland and No. 21 University of Montana Western. Concordia will take on Montana Western on Wednesday and then Midland on Friday. The pool winner will advance to play in the national quarterfinals on Saturday (full schedule below). The deepest round the Bulldogs have ever advanced to is the national quarterfinals, a feat the program accomplished in 2020 and 2021. The final site stage will be nothing new for many Concordia veterans, including fifth-year players Bree Burtwistle and Camryn Opfer. The Seward High School product Opfer owns school records at the national tournament for kills (206) and digs (243). All remaining national tournament matches will take place at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Nov. 29 vs. No. 21 Montana Western (22-6), 1 p.m. (NAIA National Championship Pool Play).
o Friday, Dec. 1 vs. No. 13 Midland (16-11), 1 p.m. (NAIA National Championship Pool Play).
o Saturday, Dec. 2 vs. Opponent TBD, 2 p.m. (NAIA National Quarterfinals – if Concordia wins Pool D).
o National semifinal (Dec. 4) and championship (Dec. 5) matches will take place early next week.
Women’s Basketball
· Current record: 5-0, 3-0 GPAC; ranked No. 11 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won at College of Saint Mary, 119-54, on Nov. 21.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The record remains unblemished after the 11th-ranked Bulldogs walloped College of Saint Mary, 119-54, on the road last week. The 119 points marked the most for the program since pummeling the Flames, 127-51 on Nov. 20, 2019. Concordia sports current national rankings of fifth in turnovers forced per game (28.8), fifth in steals per game (17.0), 12th in scoring average (90.4), 14th in 3-point field goals per game (9.8) and 27th in field goal percentage (.455). Since the last weekly report, the Bulldogs also seized conference wins over Morningside, 86-62, and Northwestern, 77-69. The blowout of the Mustangs on Nov. 15 marked the 446th victory in Head Coach Drew Olson’s career at Concordia. That number moved him past his college coach, Grant Schmidt (445-276), for the most victories for any head coach in the history of Concordia Athletics, regardless of sport. Through five games, the Bulldogs boast six players averaging more than 7.0 points per game: Taysha Rushton (15.4), Abby Krieser (12.6), Kendal Brigham (12.5), Sadie Powell (9.4), Mackenzie Toomey (7.6) and Sammy Leu (7.2). Concordia will resume conference play this week as it plays at Midland and then hosts Jamestown.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Women’s Basketball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Midland (2-5, 0-3 GPAC), 6 p.m.
o Saturday, Dec. 2 vs. Jamestown (3-3, 1-2 GPAC), 2 p.m.
Wrestling
· Current dual record: 2-2, 2-2 GPAC.
· Last week (GPAC Duals Day No. 1):
o Lost vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 24-16, on Nov. 21.
o Lost vs. No. 5 Morningside, 29-18, on Nov. 21.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Rankings
· Notable: Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad has already completed half its GPAC dual schedule. Before taking a breather for Thanksgiving, the Bulldogs ventured to Sioux City, Iowa, on Nov. 21 and endured a pair of losses. Concordia was defeated by Dakota Wesleyan, 24-16, and No. 5 Morningside, 29-18. Those results put the Bulldogs at 2-2, a mark that includes home dual wins over Midland, 45-6, and Hastings, 41-9. On a positive note from last week, Concordia won eight individual matches. Nationally ranked Creighton Baughman earned a win of significance in taking a 4-1 decision over Morningside’s No. 12 Taylor Vazquez at 141 pounds. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 15-0 lead on the defending GPAC champion Mustangs before Morningside eventually clinched the team victory with Hunter DeJong’s pin at heavyweight. Concordia still had a shot at dual wins heading into the heavyweight bout in both of the duals in Sioux City. There has been a wide range of duals competed in amongst GPAC schools. So far, four GPAC teams are undefeated within conference action: Dakota Wesleyan (3-0), Doane (2-0), Jamestown (2-0) and Morningside (1-0). Freshman Barret Brandt remains the Bulldogs’ team leader for wins (15) and pins (14) this season. Meanwhile, Baughman has moved to 4-0 in duals.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Wrestling homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Friday, Dec. 1 vs. Bethany, 7 p.m. (home dual)
o Saturday, Dec. 2 at Doane University Open, 9 a.m.
Men’s Basketball
· Current record: 3-2, 0-2 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Idle following opening GPAC play the previous week with losses to No. 19 Morningside, 101-89, on Nov. 15 and to No. 18 Northwestern, 78-74, on Nov. 18.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: It’s been an extended break for the Bulldogs, who have been idle since falling at No. 18 Northwestern, 78-74, on Nov. 18. Concordia opened GPAC play with a tough first week that also saw it host No. 19 Morningside. Through the season’s first five games, not so surprisingly, the Bulldogs have been led by frontcourt standouts in Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith. Schutte is averaging a team high 22.0 points to go along with 7.4 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Smith is averaging 18.2 points and 8.8 rebounds. In the contest at Northwestern, sophomore guard Jaxon Weyand returned to the lineup and made his first start of the season. The rest of the starting five has consistently featured Brad Bennett, Lukas Helms, Schutte and Smith. Freshman Brooks Kissinger has averaged more minutes (22.8) than any other bench player and has supplied 10.0 points per game. As a team, the Bulldogs have averaged 85.6 points while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor. Their opponents have averaged 77.4 points while shooting 43.6 percent from the field. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad will attempt to put its first GPAC win on the board when it plays at Midland on Wednesday. The Bulldogs will also host Jamestown on Saturday.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Men’s Basketball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Midland (2-5, 0-3 GPAC), 7:45 p.m.
o Saturday, Dec. 2 vs. Jamestown (2-5, 1-2 GPAC), 3:45 p.m.