Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Devin Zeigler, Football
A fifth-year Bulldog from Houston, Texas, Zeigler posted career highs for rushing yards (124) and touchdowns (three) while helping the Bulldogs come back to win at Jamestown, 27-23. Zeigler scored the game-winning touchdown on a 21-yard rush in the fourth quarter.
Female: Katie Welker, Shooting Sports
A sophomore from Hamill, S.D., Welker shot a perfect 100 in trap at the Fort Hays State Shoot in leading the Bulldogs to a team trap title. Welker shot a 301 HOA in what was the first competition of the 2023-24 season. Welker earned All-America honors in trap in 2023.
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
Homecoming 2023 set for Sept. 21-24: Homecoming 2023 is quickly approaching. Festivities are set to run Sept. 21-24 with the highlights included the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. CT on Sept. 22 followed by home football versus Dakota Wesleyan at 1 p.m. on Sept. 23. Varsity volleyball will follow at 4 p.m. More information about homecoming weekend, including how to register, is available HERE. At the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, six individuals and one team will join elite company. The Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is included in a release found HERE.
Weightlifting to open 2023-24 season on Saturday: Head Coach Freddie Myles’ weightlifting program is slated to open the 2023-24 season on Saturday at the Heartland Strength Omaha Classic in Omaha. The action is scheduled to get started at 8 a.m. CT. This past season, the Bulldogs qualified for individuals for the national championships: Mary Berris, Evan Fukuhara, Rylee Kara and Kayleigh Maloney. For more on the powerlifting and weightlifting programs, click HERE.
Concordia’s former rugby player turned star linebacker: Chandler, Ariz., native Michael Grindey has taken a path with twists and turns on his way to becoming a First Team All-GPAC linebacker for the Bulldogs. Grindey spent two seasons playing club rugby at Creighton University and then one year coaching high school football before finding his way to Seward. Said Grindey, “I fell in love with Seward and Concordia.” Read more about Grindey’s journey in this 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.
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 5-0, 0-0 GPAC; receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won at Bellevue University, 2-1, on Sept. 5.
o Won vs. McPherson College (Kan.), 7-0, on Sept. 9.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The unbeaten ride has continued for Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad, which has one more nonconference game remaining before opening GPAC play on Saturday. With perennial league power Hastings stumbling to an 0-4-1 start, the Bulldogs rose to the No. 1 ranking in the GPAC (as released on NAIA.org). Six different Concordia players found the back of the net last week with Carter Hinman scoring twice at Bellevue and Okan Erkocu putting away two goals in the rout of McPherson. The Bulldogs are 5-0 for the first time since 2019. Also notable, Concordia is 14-0-1 over its last 15 home games. For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Sept. 13 at Benedictine College (Kan.) (4-0-1), 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Mount Marty (1-1-2, 0-0 GPAC), 1 p.m.
Volleyball
· Current record: 9-0, 2-0 GPAC; ranked No. 2 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o def. No. 9 Midland, 25-16, 25-22, 25-21 (home).
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: Concordia entered this week as one of nine NAIA volleyball teams with an undefeated record. The Bulldogs moved to 9-0 last week with a straight sets win over ninth-ranked Midland. It was a big night for freshman Maddie Paulsen, who notched 13 kills on 18 swings to go along with three blocks. Ashley Keck also added 12 kills, Bree Burtwistle accumulated 40 assists and Camryn Opfer led the back row with 13 digs. In combining with Paulsen in the middle, Gabi Nordaker produced eight kills on 15 attempts and chipped in three blocks. Long undefeated runs to begin seasons are nothing new during the tenure of coaches Ben and Angie Boldt. Since their first season at Concordia in 2018, the Bulldogs have started 9-0 or better four times. Concordia started 12-0 in 2018, 12-0 again in 2019, 10-0 in 2022 and now stand at 9-0 to begin 2023. For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Sept. 13 vs. Doane (2-8, 0-3 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept 16 at No. 12 College of Saint Mary (13-1, 2-0 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Shooting Sports
· Last week:
o Placed third overall (out of 12 teams) at the Fort Hays State University Fall Intercollegiate Shoot held in Hays, Kan., Sept. 9-10.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Season Preview
· Notable: Sam Blevins and Katie Welker both shot perfect 100s in trap at the Fort Hays State Shoot as the Bulldogs won that event (494/500) while outperforming host Fort Hays State. Overall, Concordia placed third at the event while cracking 1,572 targets towards the team scoring. Head Coach Dylan Owens’ squad placed behind only Fort Hays State (1,654) and Midland (1,629). The top HOA individual for the Bulldogs was Breyer Meeks with a 320. In the other disciplines, Concordia placed third in trap doubles (453) and third in skeet doubles (227). A recap from the event can be found HERE.
· This week:
o Mid-Plains Community College Fall Flurry | Sept. 15-16 | North Platte, Neb.
Football
· Current record: 1-1, 1-1 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won at Jamestown, 27-23, on Sept. 9.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad got on the board with its first win of the 2023 season while coming back from a 17-7 halftime deficit to claim a 27-23 victory at Jamestown. The biggest standouts were running back Devin Zeigler and defensive lineman Kyle Sterup. Zeigler ran for a career high 124 yards and three touchdowns. His 21-yard touchdown run proved to be the game winner with 1:41 left on the clock. Sterup enjoyed a monster day that included three stops for loss and two sacks. Quarterback DJ McGarvie completed 12-of-17 passes for 185 yards. Concordia somehow found a way to win despite a minus-three turnover margin and only 17:01 in time of possession. The Bulldogs have won five of the six all-time matchups with the Jimmies, who fell to 0-3 (0-2 GPAC).
· Game notes for this week’s matchup with Dordt can be found HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Sept. 16 at No. 19 Dordt (2-0, 2-0 GPAC), 1 p.m.
Golf
· Last week (men):
o Shot 296-297-291–884 (placed 3rd/16) at the Blue River Classic (Sept. 5-6).
· Last week (women):
o Idle since playing at Mount Marty Invite (Aug. 31-Sept. 1).
· Men’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Bulldogs co-hosted the Blue River Classic with Doane and performed solidly while led by Drew D’Ercole and Justin Webert at the top of the lineup. Both D’Ercole and Webert placed inside the top five of a field of 89 individuals and earned medals. In the team race, Concordia’s ‘A’ group placed behind only Morningside and Doane. Both days of action took place at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln. A tournament recap can be found HERE. As of Tuesday (Sept. 12) afternoon, the Bulldogs were in the midst of the two-day Siouxland Invite. The Concordia ‘A’ team carded a two-round score of 306-298–604 in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Monday.
· Women’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The women will get back to action with two events this week. The Bulldogs have been off since the ‘A’ team placed ninth (out of 18) at the Mount Marty Invite on Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Emery Custer paced Concordia individually while shooting 87-84–171 (22nd place).
· This week:
o Men: Siouxland Invite | The Ridge GC (Sioux Center, Iowa) / Landsmeer GC (Orange City, Iowa) | Monday, Sept. 11 – Tuesday, Sept. 12. Start times are 9 a.m. on day one and 9:30 a.m. on day two.
o Women:
--Briar Cliff Lila Frommelt Fall Classic | Two Rivers GC (North Sioux City, S.D.) / Green Valley GC (Sioux City, Iowa) | Wednesday, Sept. 13 – Thursday, Sept. 14. Start times are 9:30 a.m. both days.
--Buena Vista University Invitational | Lake Greek GC (Storm Lake, Iowa) | Saturday, Sept. 16 – Sunday, Sept. 17.
Women’s Soccer
· Current record: 3-2, 0-0 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost vs. Benedictine College (Kan.), 3-0, on Sept. 9.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Bulldogs had a mid-week bye before hosting a perennially strong Benedictine program this past Saturday. The Ravens got revenge for last season’s 1-0 Concordia win in Atchison, Kan. Two of the three Benedictine goals came via penalty kicks in the 3-0 decision that took place in Seward. Concordia was shut out while being outshot, 15-3. The Ravens (5-1-1) were receiving votes in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll. Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad will play one more nonconference contest before opening GPAC play on Saturday. For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Thursday, Sept. 14 at Nebraska Wesleyan University (1-4), 7 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Mount Marty (1-1, 0-0 GPAC), 3:30 p.m.
Cross Country
· Current rankings (according to NAIA.org):
o Women – No. 2 in GPAC, No. 23 in NAIA
o Men – No. 3 in GPAC
· Most recent outing:
o Augustana Twilight (Sept. 1): Men placed 12th/32 and women placed 10th/29.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: The eighth season of Head Coach Matt Beisel’s tenure got started last week at the Augustana Twilight. The women’s team placed first among GPAC/NAIA competition while the men’s team finished second among GPAC/NAIA squads. The 23rd-ranked Concordia women were paced by Kylahn Freiberg (18th place), who completed the 5k race in 18:30.28. Freiberg was the top individual NAIA runner at the meet. On the men’s side, Charlie Hayden (75th place) led the way by finishing the four-mile run in 21:02.36. Check out the complete meet recap HERE.
· This week:
o Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invite | Saturday, Sept. 16 – 10 a.m. | Mahoney Golf Course (Lincoln, Neb.).
Tennis
· Last week:
o Opened the 2023-24 season with the Bethany College Tournament (Sept. 8-9) in Lindsborg, Kan.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedules: Men – Women | 2023-24 Rosters: Men – Women
· Notable: The Bethany College Tournament marked the first official event since Lisa Hart took the reins of the men’s and women’s programs as head coach. Hart brings extensive head coaching experience to Concordia after having led tennis teams at Virgina Tech, Washington State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The bulk of the collegiate tennis season takes place in the spring, but the Bulldogs will play a total of three fall tournaments and are slated to match up with Kansas Wesleyan University and William Jewell College (Mo.) in dual matches. Results from the Bethany College Tournament can be found here: Men | Women.
· This week:
o GPAC Fall Individual Tournament | Sept. 15-16 | Woods Tennis Center (Lincoln, Neb.).