Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Kierstynn Garner, Soccer
Garner, who hails from Kearney, Neb., tallied two goals and an assist last week as the Bulldogs defeated College of Saint Mary at home and emerged from the clash with No. 22 Hastings with a draw. Garner pushed her GPAC leading goal scoring total to 15 this season and was named GPAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Male: DJ McGarvie, Football
McGarvie, a native of Valparaiso, Neb., completed 20-of-31 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns in the 44-23 win at Hastings. With that performance, McGarvie moved to No. 2 on the program’s all-time passing yards list. He’s thrown for 1,793 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
Changes to GPAC membership: Another major announcement came this past week as the Great Plains Athletic Conference revealed on Oct. 11 that the University of Jamestown’s league 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.
Rylee Ladd leads powerlifters at opening meet of 2023-24 season: Sophomore Rylee Ladd starred this on Oct. 7 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Husker Strong Collegiate Meet. It was the first meet of the 2023-24 season for Concordia University Powerlifting. Nineteen Bulldogs tested themselves in bench press, squat and deadlift. Ladd was recognized with the Best Female Lifter award at the meet and was one of seven Concordia athletes to claim titles within their respective weight classes. The champions were Pryce Ostermeier (82.5kg) and Will Peterson (140kg) on the men’s side and Rylee Bentz (67.5kg), Taylor Gniot (90kg), Ladd (56kg class), Abigail Lockingen (100kg) and Abigail Velten (75kg) on the women’s side. Next on the powerlifting schedule will be the Central Collegiate Regional Championships on Nov. 18-19. For more on the lifting sports programs, click HERE.
Freiberg’s five-year Bulldog journey: Kylahn (Heritage) Freiberg knew her schedule was going to be crazy. By day, she works as a paraprofessional educator at Seward Middle School and as a graduate assistant within Concordia’s Academic Resource Center. Once those duties are fulfilled each day, Kylahn makes her way to cross country practice, committed to a demanding regimen. Her life is much different than the typical undergraduate Concordia student-athlete. Now in her fifth season as a distance runner, Kylahn sets the pace for the eighth-ranked Bulldog women’s cross country squad. For more on Kylahn’s journey, check out our feature 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.
Women’s Soccer
· Current record: 10-3-2, 6-1-2 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won vs. College of Saint Mary, 2-0, on Oct. 11.
o Tied at No. 22 Hastings, 2-2, on Oct. 14.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Bulldogs remain tied atop the GPAC standings after a home win over College of Saint Mary and a draw at No. 22 Hastings this past week. Concordia and Hastings share identical 6-1-2 GPAC records. In the win over CSM, a goal apiece was supplied by Sierra Springer (assisted by Savannah Andrews) and Ashlee Trujillo (assisted by Kierstynn Garner) and keeper Bradi Ore earned the shutout. The Bulldogs dominated the shot count, 12-2. Three days later, Concordia found itself in a 2-0 hole while up against the nationally ranked Broncos. The visitors came back to earn a draw as Garner put away a goal in the 38th minute and then another one in the 73rd minute. It was a gritty effort for the Bulldogs, who were outshot by Hastings, 19-7. The Kearney, Neb., native Garner leads the GPAC and ranks in the top 10 nationally with 15 goals. Her 15 goals are the most for a Concordia women’s soccer player since Sami Birmingham struck for 20 in 2016. With three games to go in the regular season, the Bulldogs control their own destiny for at least a share of the GPAC regular season title. Concordia and Hastings have 20 points apiece in the standings while Midland is next in line with 16 points. This coming Saturday will be senior day for Head Coach Nick Smith’s Bulldogs.
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Briar Cliff (4-4-4, 3-3-3 GPAC), 3:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 21 vs. Waldorf (0-9-3, 0-6-2 GPAC), 4:30 p.m. (Senior Day)
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 11-0-3, 5-0-3 GPAC; ranked No. 20 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Tied at Hastings, 1-1, on Oct. 14.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: Draws in two of the past three outings mean Concordia no longer controls its own destiny as it relates to a potential GPAC regular season title. First place is currently held down by Briar Cliff (7-0-1 GPAC) with 22 points in the standings. The Bulldogs are in second place with 18 points and three games remaining on the regular season slate. While returning to the site where Concordia celebrated its 2022 GPAC tournament title, the Bulldogs settled for a 1-1 tie with a Hastings team that has been more vulnerable than in years past. Concordia was forced to play down a man for the final 63 minutes after a red card was issued. The score never changed, however, as the lone goals for either side were scored prior to the 10th minute. The Bulldogs had taken a 1-0 lead when Slade Leicht (assisted by Carter Hinman) found the back of the net in the sixth minute. Officially, each of the last four Concordia-Hastings matchups have gone down as draws. If the Bulldogs are to win their first ever GPAC regular season crown, they must win at Briar Cliff on Wednesday. Injuries have mounted recently, but Head Coach Jason Weides hopes the team will be healthier over the season’s final two weeks. This Saturday, the program will celebrate its senior class while hosting Waldorf, the GPAC’s newest member.
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Briar Cliff (10-2-1, 7-0-1 GPAC), 1 p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 21 vs. Waldorf (2-10-1, 1-6 GPAC), 2 p.m. (Senior Day)
Football
· Current record: 3-4, 3-4 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won at Hastings, 44-23, on Oct. 14.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Bulldogs began a string of three-straight games against in-state GPAC opponents by triumphing at Hastings, 44-23, in the 56th all-time series meeting between the two sides. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s program has now come away victorious from each of its past three trips to Lloyd Wilson Field. Concordia used explosive plays to pull away in this particular meeting. DJ McGarvie fired touchdown passes of 51 and 57 yards to Austin Jablonski and 89 yards to Carsen Arline. The final touchdown connection put an exclamation mark on a game the Bulldogs led by just a point (17-16) at halftime. McGarvie finished 20-of-31 for 332 yards and three touchdowns on the day. In the process, he rose to No. 2 on the program’s all-time passing yards list with 5,837 for his career. He moved past Von Thomas (5,662) and Rod Giesselmann (5,519). As part of his big day, Jablonski caught 11 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a score. Jablonski continues to lead all NAIA receivers in receptions with 64 on the season (to go along with 720 yards and five touchdowns). There were also several defensive standouts this past week as freshman Will Potratz recorded 12 tackles and scooped and scored a touchdown. In addition, seven Bulldogs were credited with at least one tackle for loss, including Devon Polley (3.0), Carson Fehlhafer (2.5) and Kyle Sterup (2.0). Sterup added 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a blocked punt. Concordia has a bye this week before taking on its final three games of 2023: versus Midland (Oct. 28), versus Doane (Nov. 4) and at Mount Marty (Nov. 11).
· Game notes throughout the season can be found HERE.
· This week:
o Bye; will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 28 versus Midland.
Volleyball
· Current record: 17-1, 10-1 GPAC; ranked No. 1 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Lost to No. 3 Northwestern, 24-26, 20-25, 16-25 (away) on Oct. 14.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The unbeaten ride came to an end in Orange City, Iowa, as the top-ranked Bulldogs were defeated in three sets by No. 3 Northwestern. The blocking abilities of the Red Raiders got the best of Concordia, which hit just .044 and was held to 36 kills. Northwestern owned advantages in blocks, 12-6, and kills, 41-36, while grabbing the signature victory. Ashley Keck paced the Bulldogs with 10 kills while Camryn Opfer totaled nine kills and 20 digs. The loss means Concordia will have little margin for error as it relates to winning the GPAC regular season title. At 10-1 in league play, the Bulldogs are even with Jamestown at the top with Northwestern (10-2) just behind them. Concordia is attempting to win the GPAC regular season championship for the first time since the 2000 squad shared the title. The rough outing at Northwestern dropped the Bulldogs to No. 2 nationally in hitting percentage (.283). They remain the national leader in kills per set at 14.78. There is now just a single unbeaten team left in NAIA volleyball: Indiana Wesleyan (23-0). Concordia will look to get back into the win column this week as it plays two in-state foes. Another top 10 matchup awaits on Saturday when No. 9 College of Saint Mary will pay a visit to Friedrich Arena.
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Doane (6-16, 4-8 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 21 vs. No. 9 College of Saint Mary (19-5, 8-4 GPAC), 3 p.m.
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; receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll
· Most recent outing:
o Briar Cliff Invite (Oct. 7): women placed 3rd out of 17 teams; men placed sixth out of 18 teams.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: The Bulldogs put together their best overall team performances on Oct. 7 as 46 Concordia runners took to Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, S.D., for the Briar Cliff Invite. Among GPAC teams in the field, the Bulldogs placed second out of eight on the women’s side and third out of nine on the men’s side. The women ran a 6k and fifth-year athlete Kylahn Freiberg led the way by clocking in at 21:40.12, placing her fifth out of 224 runners. On the men’s side, Calvin Rohde placed 13th out of 217 competitors with an 8k time of 25:17.16. In the NAIA coaches’ polls released last week, Concordia remained at No. 8 on the women’s side (for the second week in a row) while the men did not receive votes after having collected votes the previous week. The No. 8 ranking is the highest for the women’s program since the 2010 season – and is the highest ranking during Head Coach Matt Beisel’s tenure (began with the 2016 campaign). Only one meet remains in the regular season as the GPAC Championships lurk on the horizon. The Bulldogs had this past weekend off from competition.
· This week:
o Saturday, Oct. 21 at College of Saint Mary/Doane NAIA Classic (Mahoney State Park, Ashland, Neb.), 10 a.m.
Shooting Sports
· Most recent outing:
o Placed 3rd HOA overall (out of 11 teams) at the Hastings College Bronco Invitational (Oct. 7-8).
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Season Preview
· A recap from this past weekend’s event can be found HERE.
· Notable: Concordia had this past weekend off form competition while hosting the Kids & Clays Sporting Clays Tournament (Oct. 13-15) in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha. In its most recent outing, Head Coach Dylan Owens’ squad placed third out of 11 teams at the Hastings College Bronco Invitational while posting a total of 1,340. The top two teams at the event held in Grand Island, Neb., were Fort Hays State University (Kan.) (1,396) and host Hastings (1,348). Most impressively, senior Jack Nelson ran 100 straight in skeet and was the champion in that discipline. Led by the Kimberly, Idaho, native Nelson, Concordia posted a 480 in skeet while placing behind only Fort Hays State in that particular discipline. Nelson was the only athlete in the entire field to shoot a perfect skeet score. Other Bulldogs who contributed to the team total were Sam Blevins (97), Claire Kee (95), Rayne Larrison (94), Ames Andelt (94) and Devin Harris (94). On the HOA male individual leaderboard, Nelson placed in a tie for fourth place with a 272. Nelson also shot 94 in trap and 78 in sporting clays. Kee finished fourth HOA among females with her total of 256.
· This week:
o Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22 – Concordia Bulldog Sporting Invitational (Oak Creek Sporting Club, Brainard, Neb.).