Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Kierstynn Garner, Soccer
A junior out of Kearney, Neb., Kierstynn Garner had a hand in each of the team’s three goals in last week’s 3-1 win over Morningside. She tallied a goal and an assist while pushing her team best point total to 23. Garner has tallied 10 goals on the season (37 for her career).
Male: Hugo Garrote, Soccer
A native of Jerez De La Frontera, Spain, Garrote notched his first goal as a Bulldog as part of last week’s 1-1 home draw with Morningside. Garrote has played in 12 of 13 games and has made five starts in his first season at Concordia.
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
September – Mark Arp (football) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
Powerlifting opens 2024-25 season at Strong Husker meet, weightlifting ready for action on Saturday: October is a month for opening up new seasons for the Concordia Powerlifting and Weightlifting seasons. Twenty Bulldogs represented the powerlifting team at the Strong Husker meet held on Oct. 12. Most notably, Rylee Bentz, Taylor Gniot and Rylee Ladd all broke school records for totals within their respective weight classes while Ladd was named the Best Overall Female Lifter of the competition. Ladd competed at 56kg at the Strong Husker competition and totaled 385kg (140 kg squad / 95 kg bench / 150 kg deadlift). Other first-place claims came courtesy of sophomore Teya Badger with a 377.5kg total at 100kg and freshman Savion Ralph with 382.5kg at 140+kg. For more details on the Strong Husker meet, click HERE. Meanwhile, Concordia Weightlifting is gearing up to compete at the Nebraska State Weightlifting Championships on Saturday. Both of Head Coach Freddie Myles’ squads compete during the fall and spring semesters. The national championships will be held in the spring of 2025.
--Season Previews: Powerlifting | Weightlifting.
Concordia Football generates buzz with win at No. 2 Northwestern: During last week’s bye, the Concordia Football team soaked up a growing spotlight while basking in the win at No. 2 Northwestern. A major key to the victory was the Bulldogs’ strength at the line of scrimmage. For more on the team’s veteran offensive and defensive lines, check out a feature story linked HERE. The story also contains links to recent media coverage. Both Lincoln TV stations brought attention to the victory over the Red Raiders. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad will resume the season this Saturday at Doane.
GPAC launches streaming 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.
Cross Country
· Most recent:
o Men – placed 3rd/11 at the Dordt Holiday Inn Express Classic on Oct. 12.
o Women – placed 4th/10 at the Dordt Holiday Inn Express Classic on Oct. 12.
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: For the first time this fall, Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads competed on back-to-back Saturdays. Concordia emerged from Dordt’s Holiday Inn Express Classic with team place finishes of third out of 11 on the men’s side and fourth out of ten on the women’s side. The men had two top five individual finishers: Vaughn Hendrickson (third) and Trey Robertson (fifth). The freshman Hendrickson became the second athlete during Beisel’s tenure to run an 8k time below 25 minutes as he clocked in at 24:58.33 (the other to achieve that feat was Camden Sesna). Meanwhile, Robertson was just off that pace at 25:01.24 and Trevor Kuncl (25:35.49) narrowly missed out on a top 10 placement. On the women’s side, junior Keegan Beisel led the Bulldog pack by placing 18th with a 6k time of 23:10.00. She was followed by the likes of junior Hannah Beintema (23:33.70) and freshman Annika Staab (23:35.90). Both Concordia squads entered the meet as teams that received votes in the most recent NAIA national ratings. The Bulldogs went up against nationally ranked Dordt for the first time this season (the Defenders won men’s and women’s team titles at their own meet). Concordia, now four meets deep into the 2024 season, will have this week off from competition while preparing for the Blazing Tiger Classic on Oct. 26. That meet will be held at the same site (Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Neb.) as the 2024 GPAC Championships.
· For additional news and notes on the Concordia Cross Country teams, click HERE.
· This week:
o Idle; will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Blazing Tiger Classic to be held at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Neb.
Women’s Soccer
· Current record: 6-5-1, 3-3 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Morningside, 3-1, on Oct. 12.
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Following the lone outing of last week, the conference win streak grew to three for Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad. The Bulldogs celebrated their senior day with a 3-1 win over a Morningside squad that was coming off a win over Dordt. Concordia responded impressively to an early 1-0 deficit when Kierstynn Garner notched season goal No. 10 in the sixth minute. Garner then assisted Savannah Andrews on a goal in the 53rd minute and Sierra Springer was Johnny on the spot for a rebound goal in the 62nd minute. The three goals scored equaled a team season high within conference play. Smith was thrilled to get Garner back in the lineup after she had sat out the 2-1 win at Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 5. With 37 career goals, Garner is on the cusp of cracking the program’s all-time top five (No. 5 is Jessica Skerston with 38 goals). The active win streak has pushed Concordia into a tie for sixth in the GPAC standings with nine points. At 7-0 in the GPAC, Hastings has created separation (five points from second place) at the top. Through 12 games, the Bulldogs have tallied 20 goals and have surrendered 21. Prior to kickoff versus Morningside, Concordia honored eight seniors. Smith put five of them in his starting lineup, including Senna McMullen and Molly Roberts. Up next, the Bulldogs will make road trips this week to Doane and Waldorf.
· For additional news and notes, check out the program’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Doane (5-6-3, 3-1-3 GPAC), 5 p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 19 at Waldorf (0-12, 0-7 GPAC), 5 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 3-2-8, 2-0-4 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Tied vs. Morningside, 1-1, on Oct. 12.
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Following a midweek bye, Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad returned to Bulldog Stadium to host Morningside on Oct. 12. Concordia gained a 1-0 lead before eventually settling for a 1-1 draw. The lone Bulldog goal was produced by Hugo Garrote (first career goal), who scored off a perfectly placed corner kick from Martin Herrera in the 28th minute. The Mustangs then evened up in the 55th minute and had the better of play in the second half (13-10 overall shots advantage). Concordia has had four of its GPAC games end in 1-1 draws (the others coming against Dordt, Hastings and Briar Cliff). Incredibly, seven of the Bulldogs’ eight ties (school record) this season have finished with a 1-1 final score. Through play this past weekend, Concordia sits in a tie for sixth place in the GPAC standings with 10 points. Only four points separates the teams situated in first through seventh place. Through 13 games this season, the Bulldogs have scored 17 goals and have allowed 10. Herrera remains the team’s goals leader with five this season. Herrera was one of nine seniors honored prior to kickoff this past Saturday evening. The starting 11 on senior day included five seniors: Herrera, Nolan Fuelberth, Jarrod Henson, Spencer Kaufman and D’Andre Williams. This week’s slate will feature road trips to Doane and Waldorf.
· For a closer look at this week’s matchups, check out the game notes linked HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Doane (4-6-2, 2-4 GPAC), 7:15 p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 19 at Waldorf (0-10-1, 0-6 GPAC), 7:15 p.m.
Volleyball
· Current record: 16-2, 9-1 GPAC; ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Briar Cliff, 25-21, 25-13, 25-19, on Oct. 11.
o Won vs. Morningside, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-15, on Oct. 12.
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: In another Friday-Saturday schedule alignment, the fourth-ranked Bulldogs took care of business at home while up against the GPAC’s Sioux City inhabitants, Briar Cliff and Morningside. In the victory over the Chargers, Concordia used 18 different players and enjoyed significant statistical advantages in hitting percentage, .235 to .058, and kills, 50-26. Ashley Keck led all players with 10 kills in that victory. The next day, the Bulldogs shook off a defeat in the first set and finished strong with a dominant fourth set versus Morningside. Four Concordia players collected at least 10 kills with 13 coming from Gabi Nordaker. A two-time NAIA All-American, Nordaker moved up a spot to No. 5 on the program’s all-time kills list with 1,320 for her career (to go along with 536 career blocks). Nordaker and Keck both totaled 22 kills for the weekend. Also notable, Kate Griess landed three aces against the Mustangs. Six seniors were celebrated prior to first serve of the Saturday match. That class includes Becca Gebhardt, who ranks No. 5 on the school’s all-time digs list (1,468). At 9-1 in league play, the Bulldogs remain one game behind No. 1 Northwestern (10-0 GPAC) at the top of the GPAC standings. Midland is in third place at 8-2. In this week’s action, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad will make visits to College of Saint Mary and Dordt.
· For additional news and notes on Concordia Volleyball, check out the team’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 16 at College of Saint Mary (13-10, 4-6 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 19 at Dordt (12-9, 6-4 GPAC), 5 p.m.
Football
· Current record: 4-2, 4-2 GPAC.
· Most recent:
o Won at No. 2 Northwestern, 29-17, on Oct. 5.
· Links: 2024 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: Before enjoying a bye this past week, the Bulldogs stunned the NAIA football world by upsetting No. 2 Northwestern, 29-17, in Orange City, Iowa, on Oct. 5. In doing so, Concordia won at Northwestern for the first time since 2002 and defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since 2017. The key factors were the Bulldogs’ ability to win at the line of scrimmage and their capitalizing on four interceptions – two by Daylon Henson and one apiece from Luke Penrod and Jaden Seier. Up front, junior Carson Fehlhafer terrorized the Red Raiders with eight tackles, three sacks and a pass breakup. Fehlhafer was subsequently named the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week. Northwestern averaged only 1.7 yards per carry despite the presence of All-American running back Konner McQuillan. Offensively, quarterback DJ McGarvie threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and Mark Arp ran for 85 yards and two scores. Austin Jablonski (six catches for 106 yards) and Adam Van Cleave (five receptions for 48 yards) were on the receiving end of McGarvie’s touchdown tosses. As a result of the win at Northwestern, Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad nearly cracked last week’s NAIA top 25 (first among others “receiving votes”). Concordia will return to action this Saturday at rival Doane, which will be hosting its homecoming game. The Bulldogs routed the Tigers last season, 55-26, in Seward.
· For details on upcoming matchups, check out the game notes linked HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Oct. 19 at Doane (1-6, 1-5 GPAC), 1 p.m.
Shooting Sports
· Most recent:
o Placed 1st/11 at the Hastings College Bronco Invitational, Oct. 5-6.
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: The Bulldogs came away from the Hastings Invitational (Oct. 5-6) with some hardware. As a team, Concordia won the overall championship (out of 11 teams) and took event titles in skeet and sporting clays. Individually, Kaylee Hinton and Breyer Meeks claimed HOA championships within their respective gender breakdowns at the invite held at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Neb. The Bulldogs busted 1,773 targets towards the high overall leaderboard and beat out familiar foes such as Hastings, Midland and Fort Hays State University (Kan.). In addition, event championships were seized by Hinton in super sporting (81), Katie Welker in trap (97) and Meeks in sporting (85). Meanwhile, Buchannan Tietjen and Devin Harris placed second and third, respectively, in skeet (98 apiece) and Hinton placed second in trap (94). In terms of sheer HOA totals, Concordia’s top five shooters at the Hastings Invite were Meeks (364), Tietjen (353), Harris (350), Trevor Burch (336), Hinton (334) and Brennen Stones (334). The achievement marked the program’s first event championship since also taking first at the 2021 Hastings Invite. Head Coach Dylan Owens’ program had this past week off from competition while helping at the Kids & Clays Sporting Clays Tournament in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities. The next competition on the schedule is the Southeast Community College Bobcat Invitational slated for Oct. 26-27.
· Up next:
o Will be idle until the Southeast CC Bobcat Invitational on Oct. 26-27.