Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Aubriana Krieser, Softball
A Lincoln North Star High School alum, Krieser helped the Bulldogs to a 4-0 road trip to Briar Cliff/Mount Marty this past weekend. Over those four games, she batted .538 (7-for-13) with nine runs, three doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs. She’s hitting .365 on the season.
Male: Matthew Boyer, Track & Field
A sophomore from Jefferson City, Mo., Boyer shattered the program record in the javelin with a throw of 219’ 1” at the Dutcher Classic last week. The previous standard had been 205’ 5.” Boyer ranks No. 1 in the GPAC and No. 5 in the NAIA in the event.
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
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 – Becca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
April 16 – Matthew Boyer (track & field) / Rylee Ladd (powerlifting)
April 9 – Joey Grabanski (baseball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
April 2 – Kylahn Freiberg (track & field) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
March 26 – Jessie Ciezki (shooting sports) / Carson Fehlhafer (track & field)
March 19 – Megan Eurich (softball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
March 12 – Megan Eurich (softball) / Zach Zohner (track & field)
Feb. 27 – Jaidan Quinn (baseball) / Mackenzie Toomey (basketball)
Feb. 20 – Jenna Esch (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Feb. 13 – Brad Bennett (basketball) / Jenna Esch (track & field)
Feb. 6 – Barret Brandt (wrestling) / Kylahn Freiberg (track & field)
Jan. 30 – Kendal Brigham (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Jan. 23 – Kylahn Freiberg (track & field) / Zach Zohner (track & field)
Jan. 16 – Kendal Brigham (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
Jan. 9 – Abby Heemstra (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Dec. 12 – Evan Fukuhara (weightlifting) / Hayley Miles (track & field)
Dec. 5 – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
Nov. 28 – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Kylahn Freiberg (cross country) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
Nov. 14 – Austin Jablonski (football) / Maddie Paulsen (volleyball)
Nov. 7 – Sara Huss (volleyball) / Kyle Sterup (football)
Oct. 31 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Michael Owens (soccer)
Oct. 24 – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Julie McIntyre (cross country) / Michael Owens (soccer)
Oct. 17 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / DJ McGarvie (football)
Oct. 10 – Rylee Ladd (powerlifting) / Jack Nelson (shooting sports) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / D’Andre Williams (soccer)
Oct. 3 – Austin Jablonski (football) / Grace Soenksen (soccer)
Sept. 26 – Ashley Keck (volleyball) / Mason Ward (shooting sports)
Sept. 19 – Savannah Andrews (soccer) / Carter Hinman (soccer)
Sept. 12 – Katie Welker (shooting sports) / Devin Zeigler (football)
Sept. 5 – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Carter Hinman (soccer)
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.
Rylee Ladd’s journey to breaking a collegiate national record: Pound for pound, sophomore Rylee Ladd is as strong as it gets. The female American collegiate record holder for the bench press at 52kg has quickly made her mark as a Bulldog. Says Ladd, "I’ve been working for that national record for a couple of years now, so it was insane to finally break that." We caught up with the Chetek, Wisconsin, native to uncover the journey that led her to Concordia and to glory on the USA Powerlifting national stage. More significant than athletic success, Concordia brought Ladd into "my faith and my relationship with God." For more on Ladd and her journey, check out the feature linked HERE.
Powerlifting earns top-20 national team finishes at 2024 Collegiate National Championships: The massive improvement of Concordia University Powerlifting from year one to year two as a program was on full display this past week in the Atlanta area, where 17 Bulldogs competed at the 2024 USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championships. From a team perspective, Concordia placed ninth out of 109 teams on the women’s side and 19th out of 110 teams on the men’s side. Most impressively from an individual standpoint, sophomore Rylee Ladd broke the women’s American collegiate bench press record with a lift of 92.5 kg (204 pounds). Ladd placed as the national runner up in the 52 kg weight class. In addition, Will Peterson earned a podium finish by placing fifth at 140 kg. In terms of sheer place finishes, the next best Concordia competitors were Teya Badger (ninth at 100kg), Kenzie Houser (14th at 56kg), Jack Hedke (17th at 125kg) and Taylor Meyer (26th at 60kg). For a complete recap of the national championships, click HERE. In one more outing, Concordia hosted a powerlifting meet this past Saturday. A recap of that event can be found HERE.
Concordia Athletics finishes winter at No. 16 in NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings: With fall and winter sports in the books for the 2023-24 athletic year, Concordia Athletics landed at No. 16 in the updated NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings, released on April 4. The Bulldogs also ranked No. 1 among GPAC schools. So far in 2023-24, Concordia has won GPAC championships in the sports of men’s basketball, women’s indoor track & field and volleyball. The athletic department has sent athletes to national championship events in the following sports: men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, shooting sports, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling. The 2023-24 NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings can be viewed HERE.
Shooting Sports officially closes out 2023-24 season at Concordia International shoot: A few weeks following the 2024 ACUI National Championships, ten Bulldogs from the Concordia Shooting Sports program competed at the Concordia Bulldog International Tournament held at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Neb., April 13-14. Most significantly, senior Sam Blevins and sophomore Kaylee Hinton won bunker titles as part of the small-scale event. There were 12 total competitors who tested themselves in the disciplines of bunker and international skeet. For additional details on the event, click 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.
Softball
· Current record: 21-21, 11-7 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won vs. College of Saint Mary, 10-5, on April 15.
o Lost vs. College of Saint Mary, 9-5 (6 inn.), on April 15.
o Won at Briar Cliff, 6-3, on April 19.
o Won at Briar Cliff, 6-3, on April 19.
o Won at Mount Marty, 14-5, on April 20.
o Won at Mount Marty, 6-0, on April 20.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The Bulldogs are as hot as any team in the GPAC and are riding high into this week after sweeping road doubleheaders at Briar Cliff and Mount Marty. Lincoln North Star High School alums Kylie Shottenkirk and Aubriana Krieser abused opposing pitchers. Over the four road games, Shottenkirk batted .667 (10-for-15) with a double, two home runs and eight RBIs while Krieser batted .538 (7-for-13) with three doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs. Shottenkirk became the program’s first player to homer in three-straight games since Michaela Woodward in 2017. On Tuesday, Shottenkirk was named both the GPAC and NAIA National Player of the Week. It was also a fine weekend for catcher Taylor Glause, who shook off a recent injury and went 8-for-15 (.533) with a double, a triple and three RBIs. In addition, leadoff hitter Aubrey Bruning collected the 100th hit of her career. From a pitching perspective, Taryn Ganstrom (1-0, 1.40 ERA in 10 innings) and Megan Eurich (2-0, 3.29 ERA in 17 innings) put together strong outings on the road. Ganstrom took a no-hitter to the sixth inning of game two at Mount Marty. Heading into this final week of the regular season, the Bulldogs are tied for fourth place in the GPAC standings with an 11-7 league mark. Concordia could still place as high as third pending the results through this Saturday. The Bulldogs will be at Morningside today (April 23) for two games before hosting Dordt on Saturday. Concordia is 9-1 in its last 10 games and has hit .500 overall (21-21) after sitting at 12-20 back on April 5.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Softball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Tuesday, April 23 at Morningside (17-22, 11-7 GPAC), 3 p.m. DH.
o Saturday, April 27 vs. Dordt (25-20, 12-6 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.
Men’s and Women’s Tennis
· Current men’s record: 8-12, 2-4 GPAC.
· Current women’s record: 10-7, 5-2 GPAC.
· Recent action – Men:
o Lost vs. Midland, 5-2, on April 16.
o Won at Hastings, 6-1, on April 20.
· Recent action – Women:
o Won vs. College of Saint Mary, 5-2, on April 15.
o Lost vs. Midland, 4-3, on April 17.
o Won at Hastings, 5-2, on April 20.
· Links: Men’s 2024 Schedule | Men’s 2024 Roster | Women’s 2024 Schedule | Women’s 2024 Roster.
· Notable: The regular season concluded last week as the Bulldogs continued to show improvement on both sides. The men dropped a 5-2 home decision to Midland before rebounding with a 6-1 win at Hastings. In a three-match week, the women defeated both College of Saint Mary, 5-2, and Hastings, 5-2, while falling in a tight one with Midland, 4-3. The men needed the victory at Hastings in order to clinch a spot in the GPAC tournament. As a major highlight individually, Hugo Fuentes defeated both of his counterparts last week at No. 1 singles, including Midland’s Benjamin Starman. Fuentes also went 2-0 while partnering with Santiago Abadia at No. 2 doubles. Other singles winners in the team victory at Hastings were Abadia at No. 3, Michael Bedrosian at No. 4, Grady Works at No. 5 and Mitch Krumm at No. 6. On the women’s side, freshman Chakira Derman enjoyed a fine week that saw her go 3-0 in singles. Derman defeated Midland’s Kissmel Cedano at the top of the lineup. Derman also went 2-1 in doubles while pairing with Tessa Blough. Heading into this week’s GPAC tournament, the Concordia women will be the No. 3 seed while the men will be the No. 5 seed. The tournament features a six-team format in which the top two seeds earn byes. All matches will be played at the First Serve Center in South Sioux City, Neb.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Tennis homepages here: MEN | WOMEN.
· GPAC Men’s Tennis Tournament:
o Quarterfinals – Friday, April 26 vs. Doane, 9 a.m.
o Semifinals – Friday, April 26, 1 p.m.
o Championship – Saturday, April 27, 1:30 p.m.
· GPAC Women’s Tennis Tournament:
o Quarterfinals – Thursday, April 25 vs. Northwestern, 11 a.m.
o Semifinals – Thursday, April 25, 3 p.m.
o Championship – Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.
Golf
· Most recent action (men):
o Shot 301-312-315–928 (12th out of 15) at the Midwest Spring National Invite on April 8-9.
o ‘A’ team shot 315-316–631 (5th out of 8) at the Howl at the Hill on April 14-15.
· Most recent action (women):
o Shot 352-350–702 (10th out of 12) on the first day of the 2024 GPAC Championships on April 22.
· Men’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The men’s team has been idle since last week’s report. The Bulldogs competed early last week at the Howl at the Hill (placed fifth) hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University. Drew D’Ercole emerged as the team’s top place finisher at the team’s two most recent events (11th at the Midwest Spring National Invite and 13th at the Howl at the Hill). The Papillion, Neb., native has placed inside the top 20 in eight of 10 events this season. On the season, D’Ercole leads the team with a 74.5 scoring average, followed by Justin Webert (76.0). Head Coach Brett Muller will have some difficult decisions to make in deciding which three golfers will follow D’Ercole and Webert in next week’s GPAC championship lineup. Steady senior Jacob Woodmancy graduated at semester. That leaves Jake Hagerbaumer as the one other Bulldog (in addition to D’Ercole and Webert) who played at the 2023 conference tournament. This year’s event will be held in Beatrice, Neb., April 29-30.
· Women’s Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The women began the 2024 GPAC Championships on Monday and shot 352-350–702 as a team. That total put the Bulldogs in 10th place out of the 12 conference squads. The third and final round of the tournament began at 9 a.m. today (April 23). Concordia’s top individuals on Monday were sophomore Emery Custer and senior Mya Nurse, who both shot 86-86–172 and entered round three tied for 22nd. Custer, Nurse and fifth-year Bulldog Logan Eschliman all returned to the Bulldogs’ GPAC lineup from last season. Eschliman resides in 35th place after carding a total of 91-87–178. The fourth and fifth spots, respectively, in the lineup were held down by sophomore Maddie Lewis (89-93–182) and senior Jennifer Gillotti (95-91–186).Concordia is looking to move up from its 10th place GPAC finish in 2023. At last year’s conference tournament, Custer placed 25th, Eschliman 30th and Nurse 40th.
· This week:
o Men: Bulldog-Tiger Cup on April 25 followed by the 2024 GPAC Championships (April 29-30) in Beatrice, Neb.
o Women: Season will conclude today (April 23) with round two of the 2024 GPAC Championships in Spencer, Iowa.
Track & Field
· Current NAIA National Rankings (According to USTFCCCA) – Men 14th; Women 14th (April 17).
· Most recent meet:
o Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic on April 18-20.
o Kansas Relays on April 18.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | TFRRS NAIA outdoor qualifying list
· Notable: The outdoor season continued this past week with the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. The Bulldogs came away with 11 event titles, including one from Matthew Boyer in the javelin. Boyer broke the school record in the javelin with a toss of 219’ 1,” moving him up to No. 5 on the NAIA national list. The previous school standard was 205’ 5” by Kevin Baker in 1986. Boyer was one of four Bulldogs who improved upon existing automatic national qualifying standards at the Dutcher Classic. The others were Jenna Esch in the 400 meters (55.80), Abby Gerber in the shot put (47’ 8”) and Darien Semedo in the shot put (53’ 11 ¾”). In addition, Amy Richert (4,600 points) and Josi Noble (4,534 points) posted heptathlon point totals that rank them inside the top 10 nationally – seventh and eighth, respectively. In the 1,500 meters, Kylahn Freiberg came up a hair short of the ‘A’ standard while winning the event in 4:36.15 at the Dutcher Classic. Other not previously mentioned event titlists from the weekend were Hannah Beintema (3,000m steeplechase), Esch (800 meters), Gerber (shot put), Jordan Koepke (400m hurdles), Kiki Nyanok (long jump), Calvin Rohde (5,000 meters), Isabelle Salters (100m hurdles) and Semedo (shot put). In this final week prior to the 2024 GPAC Outdoor Championships, Concordia will be represented at three different meets, beginning with the Nebraska Wesleyan Invite on Thursday. Select Bulldogs will also be at the Drake Relays and the Rock Chalk Classic.
· Keep up with Concordia Track & Field throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons by visiting the team’s homepage HERE.
· Up next:
o Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolf Invite on Thursday, April 25.
o Drake Relays hosted by Drake University, Thursday through Saturday, April 25-27.
o Rock Chalk Classic hosted by the University of Kansas on Saturday, April 27.
Baseball
· Current record: 33-12, 17-7 GPAC; ranked No. 15 in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Hastings, 16-5, on April 21.
o Won vs. Hastings, 16-0, on April 21.
o Won at Jamestown, 4-1, on April 22.
o Won at Jamestown, 6-3, on April 22.
· Links: 2023-24 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The Bulldogs just finished a unique two-day stretch that included a home doubleheader with Hastings and a quick turnaround trip to Jamestown the next day. Concordia took care of business in sweeping both opponents while outscoring them by a combined total of 42-9. The results put the Bulldogs in a tie for second place in the GPAC standings heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Doane (19-5 GPAC) owns a two-game lead over both Concordia (17-7) and Morningside (17-7) with Briar Cliff (16-8) lurking close behind. The conference recognized Joey Grabanski as the GPAC Player of the Week after he tore apart Hastings pitching in Sunday’s twin bill. Grabanski went 7-for-8 (.875) with five runs, two doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs. The Grand Forks, N.D., native pushed his NAIA career home run record total to 82. Other home runs over the past two days were delivered by Matt Rhoades (two), Alex Draper, Jaidan Quinn and Tanner Tompkins. While the offense was strong once again, the pitching staff put together a nice stretch. Over the past four games, the pitching staff sports a 2.40 ERA with 33 strikeouts and a .190 opponent batting average in 30 innings. Christian Gutierrez fired a four-hit shutout versus Hastings and Caden Johnson allowed only one run in a seven-inning complete game at Jamestown. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad will wrap up the regular season this weekend by hosting Mount Marty on Friday and Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday. The program will honor 12 seniors between games on Saturday. The Bulldogs have a chance to earn a top-two seed and another opportunity to host a four-team pod in the GPAC tournament.
· For additional statistics and details, check out the Concordia Baseball homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Friday, April 26 vs. Mount Marty (26-19, 12-12 GPAC), 12 p.m. DH.
o Saturday, April 27 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (15-30, 7-17 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.