Meet Info: Nisely Memorial Classic/Graduate Classic

By Jacob Knabel on Jan. 12, 2023 in Track & Field

SEWARD, Neb. – Following the break for Christmas and the semester, Concordia University Track & Field is gearing up for a return to action this weekend. A group of more than 30 Bulldogs will test themselves against competition from the highest levels of college athletics as part of the Graduate Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, the majority of the team will be headed to Doane on Saturday for the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic.

Meet Info – weekend of Jan. 13-14

Graduate Classic – Jan. 13-14
Devaney Center Indoor Track | Lincoln, Neb.
--Meet Schedule
--Live Coverage: Results | Video

Scott Nisely Memorial Classic – Jan. 14
Fuhrer Field House | Crete, Neb.
--Meet Schedule
--Live Coverage: Results | Video

Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program has been idle since it hosted the Bulldog Early Bird Meet on Dec. 9-10. Concordia emerged from the meet with four automatic national qualifying marks, 10 ‘B’ standard national marks and 14 Early Bird event championships. he ‘A’ standards at the Early Bird were delivered by Chase Berry (15’ 7” in the pole vault), Josie Puelz (12’ 6 ¼” in the pole vault), Adrianna Rodencal (8.97 in the 60 meter hurdles) and Chris Wren (61’ 10 ½” in the weight throw). In addition, Amy Richert currently leads the NAIA in the pentathlon with a point total of 3,487.

The likes of Berry, Puelz and Wren have combined for 10 career All-America awards. There are always high expectations for Puelz, who has won each of the last four NAIA pole vault national championships. Meanwhile, Rodencal was a highly touted recruit who won four individual state championships her senior year at Lincoln Lutheran High School. Rodencal placed first in each of her three events at the Early Bird. She was just named Concordia female athlete of the month for December 2022.

Concordia athletes competing at the Graduate Classic
Rachel Battershell (400m, 60 H, 4x4)
Zach Bennetts (pole vault)
Chase Berry (pole vault)
Mark Cooke (60m, 400m, 4x4)
Jena Esch (600m, 4x4)
Liam Fagan (400m, 4x4)
Kameron Farmer (400m, DMR)
Kylahn Freiberg (DMR)
Gage Fries (400m, 60 H, 4x4)
Rylee Haecker (1,000m, DMR)
Ethan Ideus (DMR)
Rhaya Kaschinske (mile, DMR)
Kalya Kirchner (400m, DMR)
Jordan Koepke (4x4)
Erin Mapson (pole vault)
Julie McIntyre (3,000m)
Colton Meyer (400m, 4x4)
Hannah Newton (high jump)
Josi Noble (400m)
Mayson Ostermeyer (pole vault)
Josie Puelz (pole vault)
Joel Rathe (long jump)
Amy Richert (high jump)
Maddie Robinson (shot put, weight throw)
Adrianna Rodencal (60m, 200m, 60 H)
Calvin Rohde (1,000m, DMR)
Isabelle Salters (400m)
Camden Sesna (3,000m, DMR)
Joel Smith (60 H)
Trinity Tuls (400m, 4x4)
Kadin Vrbas (200m)
Chris Wren (weight throw)
Zach Zohner (pole vault)

The Bulldogs will return home to host the Concordia Polar Dog Invite on Saturday, Jan. 21. The tentative meet schedule can be found HERE.