Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Mason Ward, Shooting Sports
A sophomore from Twin Falls, Idaho, Mason Ward shot a perfect 100 in trap at the Midland Warrior Open and was the male champion in the event. Ward also led the Bulldogs from an HOA perspective with a combined total of 282/300 (tied for fourth place).
Female: Ashley Keck, Volleyball
A sophomore from Kearney, Neb., Ashley Keck led the Bulldogs last week with a combined 26 kills in wins over Mount Marty and Dordt. The outside hitter also added 21 digs on the week. She leads the team this season with 145 kills (3.62 per set).
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
Hall of Fame Class of 2023 officially inducted: As part of homecoming week at Concordia University, Nebraska, the institution welcomed six individuals and one team into the Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame (full list below). The induction ceremony took place on Sept. 22 and featured speeches from each of the inductees. For a closer look at the newest members of the Hall of Fame, click HERE.
2023 Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame Class
--Amy (Ahlers) Allgood ‘17
--Rick Dietze ‘04
--Chandler Folkerts ‘17
--Rod Giesselmann ‘71
--Luther Klenke (served Concordia from 1968-2001)
--Bailey Morris ‘15
--1982-83 Men’s Tennis Team
Waldorf University announced as newest GPAC member: On Sept. 18, the Great Plains Athletic Conference 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.
Lifting Sports officially underway in 2023-24: The second season of existence for Concordia Weightlifting got started on Sept. 16 as seven Bulldogs represented the program at the Heartland Strength Open Classic. All seven Concordia athletes qualified for nationals at the event. Returning athletes within the weightlifting program include Marry Berris, Evan Fukuhara and Adrian Hernandez. Four freshmen made their collegiate debuts at the season opening event: Michael Davidge, Gracy Johnson, Cody Monsevais and Katie Witte.The next event on the schedule is the Conqueror Weightlifting Open in Elkhorn, Neb., on Nov. 4. There are four competitions on the 2023-24 schedule, which will be highlighted by the University Weightlifting Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, March 1-3, 2024. For more on the lifting sports programs, click 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: 7-2, 1-0 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Dordt, 4-0, on Sept. 20.
o Won at Northwestern, 8-0, on Sept. 23.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The goal scoring explosion continued last week as the Bulldogs pummeled Dordt and Northwestern by a combined score of 12-0. Seven Concordia players got into the goal scoring column on the week: Kierstynn Garner (three), Elena Ruiz (three), Sierra Springer (two), Savannah Andrews (one), Hannah Kile (one), Sadie Mares (one) and Katelyn Smith (one). The dynamic sophomores Garner and Andrews are tied atop the GPAC goal scoring list with nine goals apiece on the season. Thanks in large part to their attacking success, the Bulldogs lead the GPAC in goals per game (3.44) by a wide margin. During the active four-game win streak, Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 24-1. Concordia is currently ranked fifth in the official GPAC poll (found on NAIA.org).
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Sept. 27 vs. Midland (6-2-1, 3-0 GPAC), 8 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept. 30 at Dakota Wesleyan (2-5, 1-2 GPAC), 5:30 p.m.
Volleyball
· Current record: 13-0, 6-0 GPAC; ranked No. 2 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o def. Mount Marty, 25-9, 25-27, 25-13, 25-12 (home) on Sept. 20.
o def. Dordt, 25-14, 25-14, 25-14 (home) on Sept. 23.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The Bulldogs have matched the longest undefeated run in the six-year tenure of Ben and Angie Boldt while running the overall record to 13-0. Other than a blip in the second set versus Mount Marty, Concordia dominated last week’s two opponents on the home court. One of three NAIA volleyball teams still undefeated on the year, the Bulldogs are expected to climb to the No. 1 NAIA national ranking for the first time in program history when the new poll is announced on Wednesday. A notable milestone was reached last week as Gabi Nordaker became the 10th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career kills. Nordaker hit .538 for the week and continues to lead the GPAC in hitting percentage (.388) for the season. As a team, Concordia ranks No. 2 nationally with a .299 hitting percentage.
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE (this week’s notes will be released on Wednesday).
· This week:
o Friday, Sept. 29 at Briar Cliff (6-13, 1-4 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept 30 at Morningside (8-11, 2-4 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 8-0-1, 2-0-1 GPAC; ranked No. 25 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Dordt, 2-0, on Sept. 20.
o Tied at Northwestern, 2-2, on Sept. 23.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The first full week of conference play for No. 25 Concordia brought a 2-0 win over Dordt and a 2-2 draw at Northwestern. Those results mean Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad remains unbeaten at 8-0-1 overall. The 8-0 start represented the best unbeaten run (without ties) to begin a campaign in program history. The sparkling record led to the Bulldogs cracking the NAIA coaches’ poll last week with a No. 25 ranking. It’s the first time the program has ever reached the top 25 of the official NAIA poll. Previous Weides-coached squads received votes nationally during the 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022 seasons. Both the 2015 and 2022 teams celebrated GPAC tournament championships. As part of the tie with Northwestern, fifth-year Bulldog Isaiah Shaddick notched the 20th goal of his career. He’s the 11th player in school history to hit that milestone. In last week’s action, a goal apiece also came from Carter Hinman, Victor Meneses and Jarrod Henson. The Sydney, Australia, native Henson assisted both goals in the win over Dordt. That victory also moved the program’s record to 16-0-1 over its past 17 home games.
· For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Sept. 27 vs. Midland (3-5-1, 1-1-1 GPAC), 5:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept. 30 at Dakota Wesleyan (4-2-1, 0-1-1 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Golf
· Last week (men):
o Idle; last competed at the Siouxland Invite (Sept. 11-12).
· Last week (women):
o Idle; last competed at the Buena Vista Invite (Sept. 16-17).
· Men’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Concordia men took two groupings to the Siouxland Invite with scores being similar: 306-298-292–896 for the ‘A’ team and 305-301-299–905 for the ‘B’ team. Justin Webert led the team individually while placing 21st with a three-round score of 76-75-70–221. The next best performers were Gavin McWhorter (76-75-72–223), Jake Richmond (74-75-74–223), Jake Hagerbaumer (78-76-70–224) and Jacob Woodmancy (78-71-76–225). The 292 team score in round three at the Siouxland Invite marked the second lowest 18-hole total so far this fall for the Bulldogs. They shot a 291 in round three of last week’s Blue River Classic. After three tournaments (as of the beginning of this week), Drew D’Ercole and Webert are neck and neck for the team low scoring average (currently tied at 73.7). Both D’Ercole and Webert claimed medals at the Blue River Classic. As of Tuesday (Sept. 26) afternoon, Concordia was in the midst of playing at the two-day Hastings Invite (Sept. 25-26).
· Women’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The women were in action four of five days from Sept. 13-17 as they competed in the Lila Frommelt Fall Classic and the Buena Vista Invite. In both cases, the Bulldogs struggled on day one before rebounding with solid day two performances. Maddie Lewis topped Concordia at the Frommelt Classic with a total of 81-84–165 (13th). Emery Custer then claimed a top 10 finish (seventh) at the Buena Vista Invite with a two-round score of 85-81–166. Both Lewis and Custer turned in collegiate lows for a single round of 81. Lewis is a former Bulldog volleyball player who made the switch to golf this season. The other three Concordia players who earned spots in the lineup at the BVU Invite were: Logan Eschliman, Mya Nurse and Jennifer Gillotti. As of Tuesday (Sept. 26) afternoon, Concordia was in the midst of playing at the two-day Hastings Invite (Sept. 25-26).
· This week:
o Men: Hastings Invite (Sept. 25-26) | Lochland CC (Hastings, Neb.).
o Women: Hastings Invite (Sept. 25-26) | Lochland CC (Hastings, Neb.).
Cross Country
· Current rankings (according to NAIA.org):
o Women – No. 2 in GPAC, No. 15 in the NAIA coaches’ poll
o Men – No. 2 in GPAC; receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll
· Most recent outing:
o Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 22): women placed 10th out of 37 teams; men placed 17th out of 32 teams.
o Dean White Invite (Sept. 23): women placed second out of three teams; men placed second out of three teams.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: Head Coach Matt Beisel traveled the program’s top runners to the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 22 and came away with strong performances. The 15th-ranked Concordia women fell just shy of beating defending GPAC champion Dordt while managing to place above No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan University. It was two freshmen who emerged as the best Bulldog finishers at the Griak Invite: Keeli Green on the women’s side and Trey Robertson on the men’s side. Green ran the 6k in 23:32.3 while Robertson paced the 8k course in St. Paul, Minn., in 27:10.8. Notably, last week, both Kylahn Freiberg and Calvin Rohde were honored as GPAC Runners of the Week. They were the No. 2 finishers for their respective teams at the Griak Invite. The very next day, an alternate group of Bulldogs ran at a much smaller scale meet – the Dean White Invite hosted by Doane. Concordia wound up with five top 10 individual place finishers between the men and women: Westley Determan (ninth) and Thomas Gorline (10th) on the men’s side and Claire Beikmann (seventh), Faith Williamson (eighth) and Sammi Vojslavek (ninth) on the women’s side. For more details, check out the meet recaps: Griak Invite | Dean White Invite.
· This week:
o Idle; next on the schedule is the Briar Cliff Invite (Oct. 7).
Football
· Current record: 1-3, 1-3 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 16-12, on Sept. 23.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: It was a frustrating loss last week as the Bulldogs struggled to finish drives and scored only 12 points despite putting up 450 total yards of offense. The key play came in the final seconds when Concordia was stopped just short of the line to gain on a fourth down play from Dakota Wesleyan’s three yard line. The Bulldogs managed only 10 points on their four trips to the red zone. On the plus side, it was a productive day for Austin Jablonski, who caught 15 passes for 142 yards and rushed for 56 yards on eight carries out of the wildcat formation. With 238 passing yards on the day, DJ McGarvie became the fourth quarterback in program history to reach 5,000 career passing yards. McGarvie scored the team’s lone touchdown on the day when he ran nine yards to the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Defensively, linebacker Michael Grindey came up with a pick that gave Concordia a chance to mount a game-winning drive. The team’s leading tackler was safety Jaden Seier with nine stops. Isiaha Conner made eight tackles and was credited with blocking an extra point. The visiting Tigers of Mitchell, S.D., spoiled homecoming Saturday and pushed their record to 4-1 (3-1 GPAC).
· Game notes for this week’s matchup with Briar Cliff can be found HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Sept. 30 vs. Briar Cliff (1-3, 1-2 GPAC), 6 p.m.
Shooting Sports
· Last week:
o Placed fifth HOA overall (out of 15 teams) at the Midland Warrior Open (Sept. 23-24).
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Season Preview
· Notable: In the third outing of the season, 25 Bulldogs competed at the Midland Warrior Open. Among the highlights, sophomore Mason Ward shot a perfect 100 in trap and won the men’s title in the event. Sam Blevins also shot 100 straight in skeet and was the runner up following a shoot off. As a team, the Bulldogs placed fifth out of 15 teams with an HOA total of 1,369. The top four teams in the HOA standings were William Penn University (1,411), Fort Hays State University (1,403), Midland (1,382) and Hastings (1,371). In the three disciplines contested at Lincoln Trap & Skeet, Concordia placed second in trap (491), fifth in skeet (486) and fifth in sporting clays (416). A recap from the event can be found HERE.
· This week:
o Prairie Circuit Conference Championships | Sept. 29-Oct. 1 | North Platte, Neb.
Tennis
· Most recent event:
o NAIA Central-West ITA Regional Championship (Sept. 24-26).
o Kansas Wesleyan Invitational (Sept. 24-26).
· Links: 2023-24 Schedules: Men – Women | 2023-24 Rosters: Men – Women
· Notable: A recap detailing the two events in Salina, Kan., will be released upon their conclusion. Be sure to check the Concordia tennis pages on the Concordia Athletics website for further details.
· This week:
o Idle at the conclusion of the events listed above; next on the schedule will be a dual versus Mount Marty (men only) on Oct. 3. Both teams are slated to play at NCAA Division II William Jewell College (Mo.) on Oct. 7.