SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances throughout the calendar month, junior Adrianna Rodencal of the track & field program and senior Tristan Smith of the men’s basketball program have been selected as the Bulldog Athletic Association Member Athletes of the Month (BAAM) for January 2025. The winners emerged from a vote conducted on Tuesday (Feb. 4) among attendees at the BAAM luncheon. BAAM luncheons are held every Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT at the Dog House Grill when classes are in session.
A Lincoln Lutheran High School alum, Rodencal continues to perform at an elite level on the track. Her month of January included three meets. Most notably, Rodencal starred at the Concordia Classic (Jan. 24-25) when she equaled her own school record in the 60-meter hurdles (8.53) and ran the leadoff leg for the 4x400-meter relay that broke the Walz Fieldhouse record with a time of 3:53.71. In that same meet, Rodencal also took first place in the 200 meters (25.61) in one of her three titles that weekend. As a result, she was named the GPAC Track Athlete of the Week on Jan. 29. On the current NAIA national leaderboards, Rodencal ranks third as part of the 4x4 (3:50.65 converted time) and No. 5 in the 60 hurdles. Rodencal is a two-time GPAC Track & Field Athlete of the Year. As a team, Concordia Women’s Track & Field landed at No. 14 in the most recent NAIA ratings released by the USTFCCCA.
On the hardwood, Smith (Elizabeth, Colo.) has grabbed the spotlight during a 12-game winning streak for Head Coach Ben Limback’s Bulldogs. Led by Smith, Concordia went 9-0 in January with signature home wins over No. 3 Northwestern and No. 11 Dordt and won the CIT championship in Ann Arbor, Mich. During the month, Smith averaged 22.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 75.0 percent (78-for-104) from the field and 74.5 percent (41-for-55) from the foul line. The Elizabeth High School product was honored as CIT MVP. On the season, Smith is averaging 20.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per contest while leading the GPAC in field goal percentage (.709). In his collegiate career, Smith has totaled 1,360 points, 653 rebounds, 200 assists, 116 blocked shots and 102 steals in 102 games.
BAAM Athletes of the Month are rewarded out of the pool of student-athletes that garner BAAM Athlete of the Week recognition throughout the month.
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
January – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
December – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
November – Austin Jablonski (football) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
October – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Kierstynn Garner (soccer)
September – Mark Arp (football) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Joey Grabanski (baseball) / Aubriana Krieser (softball)
March – Jessie Ciezki (shooting sports) / Zach Zohner (track & field)
February – Jaidan Quinn (baseball) / Mackenzie Toomey (basketball)
January – Kendal Brigham (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Evan Fukuhara (weightlifting) / Hayley Miles (track & field)
November – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
October – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
2022-23 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Jenna Esch (track & field) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
March – Wyatt Hambly (shooting sports) / Claire Kee (shooting sports) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
February – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
January – Rylee Haecker (track & field) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Gage Smith (basketball)
November – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
October – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Korrell Koehlmoos (football) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
September – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / Camden Sesna (cross country)