Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Bree Burtwistle, Volleyball
A fifth-year collegiate player from Stanton, Neb., Burtwistle led the Bulldogs to five wins last week while averaging 12.06 assists per set. For her work, Burtwistle was named the GPAC and NAIA National Setter of the Week.
Male: Carter Hinman, Soccer
A junior from Gretna, Neb., Hinman put away a goal apiece last week in home wins over York University and Tabor College (Kan.). Hinman supplied the lone goal in the 1-0 win over Tabor. Last season he appeared in 13 games and notched one goal.
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
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.
Football
· Current record: 0-1, 0-1 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost vs. No. 1 Northwestern, 48-35, on Sept. 2.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Led by quarterback DJ McGarvie, the Concordia offense piled up 529 total yards and went blow-for-blow with defending national champion Northwestern. Incredibly, the two sides combined to score touchdowns on eight straight possessions during the second half. Ultimately, the star power of the Red Raider offense won out. Northwestern got 252 rushing yards and two touchdowns from running back Konner McQuillan. On the Bulldog side of things, McGarvie threw for 413 yards and three touchdowns while completing 33 of 53 passes. Two receivers went over 100 yards, Adam Van Cleave (11 catches for 140 yards) and Austin Jablonski (nine catches for 122 yards), and Devin Zeigler totaled 102 yards rushing on 19 carries. The Concordia defense was topped by linebacker Michael Grindey, who made 10 tackles and intercepted a pass.
· Game notes for this week’s matchup with Jamestown can be found HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Sept. 9 at Jamestown (0-2, 0-1 GPAC), 1 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
· Last week:
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.
· The Bulldogs have this week off from competition. They will return to action at the Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invite on Sept. 16.
Golf
· Last week (men):
o Shot 303-294-303–900 at the UC Ferguson Invite in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Aug. 28-29).
· Last week (women):
o Shot 353-348–701 (placed 9th/18) at the Mount Marty Invite in Yankton, S.D. (Aug. 31-Sept. 1).
· Men’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The men’s program traveled seven golfers to the UC Ferguson Classic and took eight competitors to the Mount Marty Invite. The top individual performance was delivered by Drew D’Ercole, who shot 68-75-75–218 (+5) in Oklahoma City. The team’s Nos. 2 and 3 golfers were Justin Webert (71-78-75–224) and Jake Richmond (75-79-74–228). Full placements are not available due to Oklahoma City failing to provide tournament results.
· Women’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: All nine Bulldogs on the women’s roster opened the 2023-24 season at the Mount Marty Invite. Sophomore Emery Custer topped Concordia by shooting a two-round score of 87-84–171 (+27). In her first college tournament, former Bulldog volleyball player Maddie Lewis shot 86-91–177. Concordia’s No. 2 golfer was Logan Eschliman (90-85–175), who is back for a fifth year of collegiate golf. As a team, the Bulldogs placed ninth out of 18 with a score of 353-348–701.
· This week:
o Men: Blue River Invite | Highlands GC (Lincoln, Neb.) | Tuesday, Sept. 5 – Wednesday, Sept. 6. Start times are 8 a.m. on day one and 8:30 a.m. on day two.
o Women are off until the Lila Frommelt Fall Classic on Sept. 13-14.
Women’s Soccer
· Current record: 3-1, 0-0 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won vs. York University, 1-0, on Aug. 30.
o Lost vs. Tabor College (Kan.), 1-0, Sept. 2.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Both of last week’s contests ended in 1-0 scores with Concordia being on the right side versus York University and on the wrong side versus Tabor College (Kan.). The lone Bulldog goal of the week came from sophomore Savannah Andrews, who was named the GPAC Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 29. The Gretna, Neb., native has already tallied four goals this season and is the team leader in that category. Head Coach Nick Smith continued to alternate goalkeepers as Bradi Ore started versus York and Angela Banks started versus Tabor. The loss to Tabor halted the program’s nine-game winning streak versus nonconference opponents. For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Mid-week: bye.
o Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Benedictine College (Kan.), 3 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 3-0, 0-0 GPAC; receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. York University, 3-1, on Aug. 30.
o Won vs. Tabor College (Kan.), 1-0, on Sept. 2.
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: While playing the first three games of the season at home, the Bulldogs have raced out to a 3-0 start. Concordia protected the home turf last week with wins over York University and Tabor College (Kan.). It was a fine week for junior Carter Hinman, who notched a goal apiece in both of the victories. Other goal scorers versus York were Victor Meneses and Isaiah Shaddick. Lincoln Southwest High School alum Nolan Fuelberth got the start in goal in both of last week’s contests and made a combined three saves. Head Coach Jason Weides’ program has started a season 3-0 for the first time since 2019. For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Tuesday, Sept. 5 at Bellevue University, 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. McPherson College (Kan.), 5:30 p.m.
Volleyball
· Current record: 8-0, 1-0 GPAC; ranked No. 2 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o def. No. 24 Hastings, 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 25-12 (away).
o def. Rocky Mountain College (Mont.), 25-17, 25-16, 25-19 (neutral).
o def. Mayville State University (N.D.), 25-20, 26-24, 25-21 (neutral).
o def. Kansas Wesleyan University, 25-19, 25-15, 25-14 (neutral).
o def. No. 6 Park University (Mo.), 25-22, 25-16, 16-25, 25-23 (neutral).
· Links: 2023 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: With the release of last week’s NAIA coaches’ poll, the 2023 Bulldogs achieved the highest ranking in the history of the program. So far, Concordia has looked like a team worthy of being rated No. 2 nationally. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s crew won five times last week with two victories over ranked foes: then No. 24 Hastings and No. 6 Park University (Mo.). Notably, Camryn Opfer moved into a tie for No. 3 on the program’s all-time kills list with 1,331. It was also a big week for Ashley Keck, who hammered out 61 kills over the five matches. In the win at Hastings, Gabi Nordaker produced 14 kills on 18 swings while hitting .722. Entering the week, the Bulldogs are one of 15 NAIA volleyball teams with an undefeated record. For additional statistics and details, check out this week’s notes package HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Sept. 6 vs. No. 9 Midland, 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept. 9: bye.
Shooting Sports
· Season opener: at Fort Hays State Fall Intercollegiate Shoot, Sept. 9-10
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster