Entering the fall of 2024, many Concordia Athletics teams held realistic aspirations of competing for conference championships. While such goals were not fully realized, there were four Bulldog fall sports teams that placed second in the GPAC and every single fall squad wound up in the top four of their respective conference standings. There was also the remarkable month of October that saw Concordia teams go a combined 24-0-1 (counting teams with win-loss records). Below is a rundown of the most significant accomplishments and celebratory moments during another fall of high achievement.
TOP MOMENT – fall 2024
Concordia Athletics teams complete undefeated month of October
Throughout the month of October, Concordia University, Nebraska athletic teams combined to do something likely never before achieved in the history of the institution – go undefeated for an entire month. Over the 31 days of October 2024, the Bulldog football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball squads went a collective 24-0-1. Throw in the sweep of Briar Cliff Invite championships by the cross country teams on Oct. 5 and a Hastings Invite title for shooting sports on Oct. 6 and you get a whole lot of winning. To be exact, Concordia teams went from Sept. 29 through Nov. 1 (34 total days) without enduring a single defeat.
During October, the volleyball team went 9-0, women’s soccer 7-0, men’s soccer 5-0-1 and football 3-0. As Head Women’s Soccer Coach Nick Smith posted on X, “Excellence all around. So fortunate to be in a community with success all over the place and working alongside some of the best coaches and athletes around. This is what makes @cunebulldogs special and unique.”
For more on the month of Dawg-Tober, click HERE.
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Every fall team places top four in the conference, again
It wasn’t the month of October alone that provided thrills. For the second year in a row, every Concordia fall sports team placed in the top four of their respective conference standings (see below). Regular season runners up were football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball. In the GPAC tournaments, the men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball squads each advanced to the conference postseason championship games. The work of the Bulldog fall teams puts Concordia in position to defend its 2023-24 GPAC All-Sports Trophy Championship with winter and spring sports yet to play out.
2024 fall conference placements:
Football – T-2nd
Volleyball – 2nd
Men’s Soccer – 2nd
Women’s Soccer – 2nd
Men’s Cross Country – 3rd
Shooting Sports – 3rd (Prairie Circuit Conference)
Women’s Cross Country – 4th
Women’s Soccer earns program’s first ever national tournament win
The 2024 women’s soccer team will forever be the first in program history to claim a win at the national tournament. Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad made history on Nov. 21 when it defeated familiar nonconference foe Benedictine College (Kan.), 2-0, in the NAIA National Championship First Round in Grand Rapids, Mich. The two sides had played a scoreless first 80 minutes before Rosie Gyllenswan found the back of the net in the 82nd minute via a corner kick. Kierstynn Garner added an exclamation point in the 89th minute with a goal of her own, her 22nd of the season. Goalkeeper Angela Banks made five saves and was credited with a shutout. Two days later, the Bulldogs ended their season at 14-7-1 overall after a second-round loss to No. 5 Aquinas College (Mich.). The ’24 squad was the fourth in program history to qualify for nationals, joining the 2014, 2016 and 2020 teams.
Volleyball reaches NAIA quarterfinals for third time in five seasons
A sixth-straight journey to the final site of the NAIA Volleyball National Championship for the volleyball program resulted in an advancement to the national quarterfinals. The national tournament path for Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad included a win over Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) (straight sets) in the opening round and victories over No. 21 The Master’s University (Calif.) (four sets) and No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio) (straight sets) in pool play. Concordia is one of five programs nationally to reach the quarterfinals at least three times in the past five seasons. All-American Gabi Nordaker put together a fine run at the final site of the national tournament as she totaled 31 kills on 56 attempts (.500 hitting percentage) and added eight blocks in three matches. The defeat in the quarterfinals marked the end of the collegiate career for Nordaker and seniors like standout libero Becca Gebhardt. The Bulldogs finished at 27-4 overall.
Hendrickson races to GPAC title, All-America honors in freshman season
It’s hard to imagine a freshman achieving at a higher level than the one reached by Concordia’s Vaughn Hendrickson this past cross country season. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native became the men’s program’s first All-American since 2013 and its first GPAC individual champion since 2012. At the 2024 GPAC Championships held in Ashland, Neb., Hendrickson clocked an 8k of 25:44.09, holding off his teammate, conference runner up Trey Robertson (25:51.70). Hendrickson then saved his best for the NAIA National Championships in Columbia, Mo., where he turned in a personal best 8k of 24:37.2 and placed 36th, making him an All-American. With Hendrickson leading the way, the Bulldogs placed third in the GPAC as a team fell just short of earning an at-large bid to the national meet.
Football upsets No. 2 Northwestern, rewrites program offensive records
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow told the bus driver to take the scenic route back from Orange City, Iowa, on Oct.5. That was the day the Bulldogs put themselves onto the national radar with a 29-17 upset of then second-ranked Northwestern. Concordia was the clear aggressor at the line of scrimmage that day in outrushing the Red Raiders, 147-52, and out-sacking them, 5-0. The consistent pressure on the quarterback led to four Bulldog interceptions, including two by safety Daylon Henson. A one-yard rushing touchdown by Mark Arp with 1:13 left on the clock sealed the win. Carson Fehlhafer registered three sacks and was subsequently named the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week. Offensively, DJ McGarvie threw a touchdown pass apiece to Austin Jablonski and Adam Van Cleave and Arp found the end zone twice on the ground. The win snapped Northwestern’s 20-game home winning streak and marked Concordia’s first victory in Orange City since 2002. The 2024 Bulldogs went on to rewrite the school’s offensive records and finished at 8-2 overall (most wins since 2001).
Men’s Soccer earns right to host GPAC title game for first time
Seven of the team’s first 11 games ended in draws before the Bulldogs got on a roll in October and climbed to second place in the final GPAC standings (6-0-4 GPAC record; 22 points). Concordia finished just a single point behind Morningside in the race for the conference regular season title. Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad then advanced to the GPAC tournament final (fifth time in program history) while getting past Briar Cliff on PK’s, 5-4, in the quarterfinals and then Northwestern, 3-2, in the semifinals. With Morningside falling on the other side of the bracket, the Bulldogs earned the right to host the GPAC tournament final on Nov. 13. Unfortunately, Hastings spoiled it with a 1-0 win inside Bulldog Stadium. The result left Concordia one win shy of reaching the national tournament in another strong season under Weides.
Powerlifting breaks eight program records at Central Collegiate Cup Series
Year three of existence for Concordia Lifting Sports will carry into the second semester. Head Coach Freddie Myles’ powerlifting and weightlifting squads laid the groundwork for success at the 2025 national championships with two events apiece in the fall. Bulldog Powerlifting emerged from the Central Collegiate Cup Series (Nov. 23-24) with eight new program record totals. New standards were set by Logan Graupmann (110kg), Leo Guiza (100kg), Jack Hedke (125kg), Taylor Hedke (60kg), Wyatt Hosick (60kg), Rylee Ladd (52kg), Abigail Lockingen (90kg) and Hunter Powers (75kg). In addition to breaking the school record total for her weight class, the Chetek, Wis., native Ladd also broke the American female bench press record at 52kg by lifting 95kg. As for Jack Hedke, he reset another program standard for highest DOTS score.
Shooting Sports wins Hastings Invite championship
Head Coach Dylan Owens’ shooting sports team brought home some hardware in early October when it came away from the Hastings Bronco Invitational as the HOA champion. The Bulldogs took first place while busting 1,773 targets towards the team leaderboard. Individually, Concordia’s Kaylee Hinton and Breyer Meeks claimed HOA championships within their respective gender breakdowns at the event held at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island. Atop the male HOA leaderboard, Meeks (Filer, Idaho) cracked 364 targets while fending off Hastings’ Tanner Dager (357). On the women’s side, Hinton (Hiawatha, Kan.) busted 334 targets in winning the championship by a margin of 10 targets. In addition, event championships were seized by Hinton in super sporting (81), Katie Welker in trap (97) and Meeks in sporting (85). Meanwhile, Tietjen and Harris placed second and third, respectively, in skeet (98 apiece) and Hinton placed second in trap (94).
CROSS COUNTRY
2024 GPAC Finishes: Men 3rd; Women 4th
Head Coach: Matt Beisel, 9th season
2024 All-GPAC: Keegan Beisel; Vaughn Hendrickson; Trey Robertson.
2024 NAIA All-American: Vaughn Hendrickson.
Season Summary: The 2024 campaign began with the Augustana Twilight in early September and concluded at the NAIA National Championships in Columbia, Mo., in late November. From a team perspective, the highs included a sweep of championships at the Briar Cliff Invite in October and solid GPAC placements of third for the men and fourth for the women. Both teams appeared in the NAIA national rankings (either top 25 or receiving votes) during the fall with the women opening the season at No. 20. The men landed just short of a team at-large bid to the national meet while checking in at No. 30 in the final NAIA coaches’ poll. The men’s program received a major boost this season from the arrival of freshman Vaughn Hendrickson, who burst onto the scene and claimed a GPAC individual championship and All-America medal. Hendrickson and sophomore Trey Robertson (a national qualifier along with Hendrickson) starred at the top of the lineup all fall while Trevor Kuncl frequently was the team’s No. 3 runner. On the women’s side, Keegan Beisel placed ninth in the GPAC and ran at cross country nationals for the third time in her career. In 2024, the women got strong performances from other upperclassmen such as Hannah Beintema and Rhaya Kaschinske and debuted a stellar class of freshmen. The campaign marked Head Coach Matt Beisel’s ninth season.
FOOTBALL
2024 Record: 8-2 overall, 8-2 GPAC (T-2nd)
Head Coach: Patrick Daberkow, 8th season
2024 All-GPAC: Mark Arp (First Team); Carson Fehlhafer (First Team); Daylon Henson (First Team); Austin Jablonski (First Team); Devon Polley (First Team); Blake Schlegel (First Team); Kyle Sterup (First Team); Tyler Walford (First Team); John Goodwin (Second Team); DJ McGarvie (Second Team); Adam Van Cleave (Second Team); Cohen Carpenter (Honorable Mention); Grant Huss (Honorable Mention); Christian Schlepp (Honorable Mention).
2024 NAIA All-American: Austin Jablonski (First Team – AFCA); Blake Schlegel (Second Team – AFCA).
Season Summary: The 2024 season ranks as one of the best in Concordia Football history. The Bulldogs went 8-2 overall and made a strong push for a spot in the NAIA Football Championship Series field. Unfortunately, Concordia did not make the cut despite a strong résumé that included a memorable 29-17 win at No. 2 Northwestern on Oct. 5. The Bulldogs went on to finish the season on a five-game winning streak that included utterly dominant triumphs over their in-state foes: 45-10 over Doane, 42-6 over Hastings and 45-13 over Midland. Over the 10-game slate, Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad outscored opponents by a combined total of 385-184. The program’s most prolific offense in history averaged 38.5 points and 469.7 yards per game while being led by stars in quarterback DJ McGarvie, running back Mark Arp and receiver Austn Jablonski. A veteran offensive line was anchored by All-American tackle Blake Schlegel. In individual highlights, McGarvie surpassed 9,000 career passing yards, Jablonski eclipsed 200 career receptions and Arp equaled a program record for a single season with 13 rushing touchdowns and piled up more than 1,000 yards on the ground. On the defensive side of the ball, Concordia made tremendous strides and had three First Team All-Conference linemen: Carson Fehlhafer, Devon Polley and Kyle Sterup. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 17 in the final NAIA coaches’ poll, the highest ranking for the program since coming in at No. 16 in 2016. Concordia will have a different look in 2025 after saying goodbye to a large and influential senior class.
GOLF
GPAC Standing: Conference championships held in spring 2025
Head Coach: Brett Muller, 14th season
Season Summary:
MEN – The varsity men’s squad averaged a team score of 306.0 over 13 fall rounds (five events). The top team placement of fifth (out of 15) came at the season opening Mount Marty Invite. At that event, senior Jake Hagerbaumer shot 75-71–146 and placed 10th. Hagerbaumer also stood tied for first after round one of the Nebraska Intercollegiate and led the team during the fall with a 76.0 scoring average. The team’s next best competitors have been Justin Webert (76.2) and Jake Richmond (76.7). As part of the fall, Head Coach Brett Muller’s program co-hosted the Blue River Classic (Sept. 4-5).
WOMEN – Over eight fall rounds (four varsity events), the team averaged a score of 354.5. The fall concluded with a fifth-place team finish at the Nebraska Intercollegiate. Junior Emery Custer has starred as the top Bulldog with a season scoring average of 83.4. She placed ninth at the Siouxland Invite. Custer has been followed in the lineup by Maddie Lewis (89.4) and Jennifer Gillotti (90.8).
GPAC Championships:
Men – April 21-22, 2025 (Beatrice CC – Beatrice, Neb.)
Women – April 28-29, 2025 (Centura Hills – Grand Island, Neb.)
NAIA Championships:
Women – May 13-16, 2025 (Eagle Crest Golf Club – Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Men – May 20-23, 2025 (TPC Deere Run – Silvis, Ill.)
LIFTING SPORTS
2024 Fall Competitions: Strong Husker Meet (PL – Oct. 12); Nebraska State Championships (WL – Oct. 19); Central Collegiate Cup Series (PL – Nov. 23-24); North American Open Finals (WL – Dec. 5-8).
Head Coach: Freddie Myles, 3rd season
Season Summaries:
Powerlifting – There have been two meets during the fall semester in the third year of the program’s existence. At the Strong Husker Meet in October, three Concordia athletes emerged with championships within their weight classes and another nine Bulldogs placed either second or third in a meet. Additionally, school record totals were posted by Rylee Bentz, Taylor Gniot and Rylee Ladd. An American bench press record holder for her weight class, Ladd was tabbed the Best Overall Female Lifter. Then in November, a total of 29 Bulldogs competed over the two-day Central Collegiate Cup Series and combined to produce eight new school records, five first-place awards and six runner-up claims. The Collegiate Powerlifting National Championships will take place in April 2025.
Weightlifting – Two outings took place this semester as the Bulldogs competed in the Nebraska/Iowa State Championships and the North American Open Finals. At the first meet held in Omaha, Taylor Hedke starred as the Best Female Lifter. Hedke emerged as one of eight Concordia athletes to win their respective weight classes. One of those meet champions was Evan Fukuhara, a 2024 university national champion. In December, six athletes made their way to Phoenix, Ariz., for the North American Open Finals. Michael Davidge, Gracy Johnson and Marcus Sweet each posted personal best totals. The next competition on the slate will be the University Weightlifting National Championships (Feb. 27 – March 2).
SHOOTING SPORTS
2024 Conference Finish: 3rd (Prairie Circuit Classic)
Head Coach: Dylan Owens, 3rd season
All-Conference: Sam Blevins; Trevor Burch (All-Freshman Team); Carter McKenna (All-Freshman Team); Katie Welker.
Season Summary: Six outings took place during the fall semester for Head Coach Dylan Owens’ squad. The Bulldogs recorded team place finishes of fifth at the Fort Hays State Shoot, fourth at the Simpson Invite, fourth at the Midland Open, third at the Prairie Circuit Conference Championships, first at the Hastings Invite and second at the Southeast Community College Invite. At the conference shoot in North Platte, Neb., Concordia busted 2,331 targets towards the team scoring and finished behind only Fort Hays State (2,406) and Midland (2,403). All-conference awards were won by Sam Blevins and Katie Welker and all-freshman honors went to Trevor Burch and Carter McKenna. One of the thrills of the fall occurred the weekend of Oct. 5-6 when the Bulldogs won the Hastings Invite as Kaylee Hinton and Breyer Meeks captured HOA individual titles. In closing the fall at the SECC Invite, the Bulldogs placed second while Devin Harris took home the skeet championship. The season will resume in the spring semester with the Concordia Bulldog Sporting Invitational (Feb. 28-March 1).
2025 ACUI National Championships: March 16-22 (San Antonio, Texas).
MEN’S SOCCER
2024 Record: 8-3-9, 6-0-4 GPAC (2nd); GPAC tournament runner up
Head Coach: Jason Weides, 17th season
2024 All-GPAC: Iker Casanova (GPAC Defensive POY; First Team); Ferdi Hagen (First Team); Martin Herrera (First Team); Nolan Fuelberth (Second Team); Sean Stratman (Second Team); D’Andre Williams (Second Team); Ryan Wokutch (Second Team); Michael Wyvill (Honorable Mention).
Season Summary: In a season characterized by a whole lot of ties, Head Coach Jason Weides’ program again competed closely with the best the GPAC has to offer. A 5-0-1 run through the month of October pushed the Bulldogs into second place in the final GPAC standings. Then in the conference tournament, Concordia got past Briar Cliff in a dramatic PK shootout and defeated Northwestern, 3-2, in the semifinals. With an automatic bid to the national tournament on the line, the Bulldogs were clipped by rival Hastings, 1-0, in the program’s first ever opportunity to host the GPAC final. Though Concordia experienced that heartbreak, the ’24 campaign was a continuation of the program’s winning ways. The GPAC regular season unbeaten streak has grown to 30 (20-0-10 over that stretch). In his fifth season as a Bulldog, center back Iker Casanova earned the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year award. He was a key piece (along with the likes of goalkeeper Nolan Fuelberth) for a team that allowed only 0.79 goals per game (top 15 in the NAIA). Ferdi Hagen and Martin Herrera were also tabbed First Team All-GPAC honorees. Herrera paced the team with 11 goals. Over the 20-game season, Concordia tallied 44 goals and allowed 16. Weides’ program has enjoyed 15-straight winning seasons.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
2024 Record: 14-7-1 overall, 8-3 GPAC (2nd); GPAC tournament runner up; NAIA National Second Round
Head Coach: Nick Smith, 2nd season
2024 All-GPAC: Kierstynn Garner (First Team); Niah Kirchner (First Team); Taylor Slaymaker (First Team); Savannah Andrews (Second Team); Angela Banks (Second Team); Kyana Rios (Second Team); Hannah Kile (Honorable Mention); Elena Ruiz (Honorable Mention).
Season Summary: In extending their season into the second round of the NAIA National Championship, the 2024 Bulldogs made history with the program’s first ever win on the national stage. The momentous victory occurred on Nov. 21 when Concordia took out familiar nonconference foe Benedictine College (Kan.), 2-0, in the first round of the national tournament. The first two national tournament goals in program history were put on the board by Rosie Gyllenswan and Kierstynn Garner. Two days later, the Bulldogs saw their campaign end with a 4-0 loss to host and fifth-ranked Aquinas College (Mich.). Head Coach Nick Smith led his side to a 14-7-1 overall record and runner-up finishes in the GPAC regular season and postseason. A dynamic junior from Kearney, Neb., Garner broke the program record for points in a single season with 57 (22 goals and 13 assists). Savannah Andrews added eight goals and four assists while Niah Kirchner and Taylor Slaymaker joined Garner on the All-GPAC first team. Leading into the GPAC tournament final, Concordia put together a program record 10-game winning streak, during which goalkeeper Angela Banks and company surrendered a grand total of three goals. With the bulk of the roster set to return in 2025, the Bulldogs will expect to contend for GPAC championships and another NAIA national tournament bid.
VOLLEYBALL
2024 Record: 27-4 overall, 15-1 GPAC (2nd); GPAC tournament runner up; NAIA National Quarterfinalist
Head Coach: Ben Boldt, 7th season
2024 All-GPAC: Ashley Keck (GPAC Attacker of the Year; First Team); Gabi Nordaker (First Team); Ella Waters (First Team); Addie Kirkegaard (Second Team); Becca Gebhardt (Honorable Mention); Savannah Shelburne (Honorable Mention).
2024 NAIA All-Americans: Ashley Keck (First Team); Gabi Nordaker (Second Team).
Season Summary: For the third time in three seasons, the Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA National Quarterfinals. When the dust settled, the 2024 team set program records for highest overall win percentage (.871) and for most GPAC wins in a single season (15). Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad spent the entirety of the season ranked inside the NAIA top four and climbed as high as No. 2. Concordia showed it was capable of competing for a national title with its five-set win over then No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University and pair of intense five-set battles with GPAC champion Northwestern. Only the five-set loss to the Red Raiders on Sept. 28 kept the Bulldogs from winning the regular season title. This fall, the Boldts used a 6-2 system and the offense continued to hum (ranking 10th nationally in hitting percentage). Ashley Keck was honored as the GPAC Attacker of the Year and Gabi Nordaker and Becca Gebhardt moved into the top four on program all-time lists in major statistical categories. Keck, Nordaker and Ella Waters were chosen as First Team All-GPAC award winners. On the national stage, Concordia earned wins over Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), No. 21 The Master’s University (Calif.) and No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio). The Bulldogs were edged in five sets by No. 5 Bellevue University in the quarterfinals. Though standouts like Gebhardt and Nordaker have used up their eligibility, Concordia has made it an annual expectation to reach the NAIA final site.