Sports Summaries

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.