What were the top moments for each Concordia University Athletics sport during the calendar year 2021? Let’s answer that question.
BASEBALL
NAIA World Series berth – No need to overthink this one. Back on May 20, the 2021 team celebrated the greatest singular moment in program history as the Bulldogs dogpiled in reaction to clinching at spot at the NAIA World Series. In the rubber game of the Bellevue Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round, Concordia rallied from a 5-3 deficit with a four-run eighth-inning that featured Jakob Faulk’s go-ahead, two-run homer to left center. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad finished the season at 42-10 overall and swept GPAC regular season and postseason titles.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Cracking NAIA top 25 – The moment happened just recently as the Bulldogs used an 11-2 start to the 2021-22 season to break into the NAIA coaches’ top 25 poll. Concordia landed at No. 23 on Dec. 15, marking the program’s first top 25 national ranking since the 2010-11 season. Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad will enter 2022 atop the GPAC standings as it makes a bid for the program’s first-ever GPAC regular season title.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Win over Marian, advancing to national quarterfinals – The 2021-22 team began the season with three-straight defeats before eventually coming together behind the likes of Taylor Cockerill and Taysha Rushton. On March 19, Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad earned a 73-67 upset of fourth-ranked Marian University (Ind.), pushing it into the national quarterfinals in the first year of one division of NAIA basketball. Rushton led the way with 27 points while Rylee Pauli added 17 points and six rebounds. The victory was a major breakthrough and a sign of the team’s impressive progression from November to March.
CHEER / DANCE
Breaking through at Concordia Invite – In 2021, the cheer and dance teams took considerable steps forward from the previous year. That was evident on Feb. 6 when both squads claimed second place finishes while hosting the third annual Concordia Cheer & Dance Invitational. On the dance side of things, Head Coach Mandi Maser’s squad beat out GPAC foes Hastings, College of Saint Mary, Doane, Dordt and Northwestern. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs topped conference opponents Hastings, Doane and Northwestern in cheer.
CROSS COUNTRY
Three Dawgs make way to nationals – Thanks to their performances at the GPAC Championships on Nov. 6, Rylee Haecker, Calvin Rohde and Camden Sesna each earned individual bids to the 2021 NAIA Cross Country National Championships held in Vancouver, Wash. Not only national qualifiers, the trio of Bulldogs also garnered all-conference recognition and were influential runners and leaders throughout the season for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads.
FOOTBALL
Completing the in-state sweep – The best season so far under Head Coach Patrick Daberkow recently ended with a six-game win streak. In the process of finishing at 7-3 overall, the 2021 Bulldogs completed a sweep of GPAC in-state rivals Doane, Hastings and Midland for the first time since the 1970 season. The achievement was polished off with a 17-7 victory at Hastings on Nov. 13. A defense led by First Team All-American linebacker Lane Napier (535 career tackles) paved the way for Concordia to enjoy its best season since also going 7-3 in 2016. Offensively, the team got a jolt from freshman quarterback DJ McGarvie.
MEN’S GOLF
Yabut breaks school record – Ivan Yabut turned in an unforgettable round on Sept. 13 when he shot a school record seven-under-par 65 as part of day one of the Siouxland Invite held at The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, Iowa. The previous school record of four-under-par 68 had been shared by four individuals: Nolan Zikas, Shawn Rodehorst, Reid Wiebe and Mike Kulzer. Yabut averaged a team low round of 73.4 this past fall.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Three Bulldogs earn All-GPAC honors, lead team to third-place finish – Head Coach Brett Muller’s squad climbed to third place in the GPAC during the spring of 2021 behind three all-conference performers: Mia Martin, Andrea Peterson and Kendra Placke. It marked the second season in a row that the Bulldogs had placed third in the conference. Placke placed seventh in the conference as an individual while pacing the squad.
SHOOTING SPORTS
Wrapping up the fall with two titles – Never before has the program put together a better fall season than the 2021-22 Bulldogs showcased over the past few months. Concordia closed out the year by winning championships at the Concordia Sporting Invitational and the Hastings Bronco Invitational. Head Coach Scott Moniot’s squad placed no lower than third at any of its five fall events. The top individuals included the likes of Wyatt Hambly, Sarah Schwacher and Colten Uitermarkt.
MEN’S SOCCER
Three Bulldogs earn second Team All-GPAC honors – It was a year in which the program came up short of the team goals it had hoped to achieve. However, there were a series of strong individual efforts throughout the spring and fall of 2021 for Head Coach Jason Weides’ group. Yessine Bessaïes, Iker Casanova and David Moreno each landed on the All-GPAC Second Team following the ’21 campaign. Bessaïes produced team highs for goals (six) and assists (five).
WOMEN’S SOCCER
GPAC tournament champions – It actually goes down as the 2020 season, but the Bulldogs celebrated winning the GPAC tournament championship on April 9. In Concordia’s thrilling run to a banner, it went through Dakota Wesleyan, Midland and then Jamestown in the conference postseason final. In the championship game, Lindsey Carley made 13 saves while preserving the win in her final game as a Bulldog. Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad earned an automatic bid to the national tournament.
SOFTBALL
Knocking off Morningside, clinching national bid – May 6, 2021, will go down as one of the more thrilling days in program history. For the second day in a row, the Bulldogs toppled 13th-ranked Morningside on its home turf and advanced to the GPAC Championship Series. Concordia’s wins over the Mustangs at the GPAC tournament came by scores of 9-3 and 4-0 with Camry Moore rising to superstar status in the process. The Bulldogs went on to appear at the opening round of the national tournament.
MEN’S TENNIS
Bulldogs break new ground in reaching GPAC title match – On May 1, the 2021 team became the first in program history to appear in the GPAC tournament championship match. As part of the season’s journey, the Bulldogs started 5-0 in conference play and defeated Doane, 4-2, in the GPAC semifinals. They came up one win short of qualifying for the national tournament. Joseph Bindl led the team with 11 singles wins.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
First conference title in program history – History was made on April 27 when Concordia celebrated a share of the GPAC regular season title, marking the first conference championship ever for the program. On that date, the Bulldogs defeated Midland, 4-3, in Fremont and finished the season with a 6-1 league mark. Freshman Sofia Morales provided a big boost while taking over the No. 1 spot in the lineup. Concordia reached the semifinals of the GPAC tournament.
MEN’S TRACK & FIELD
Cornelio takes hammer crown – It was an emotional day on May 26 as Jacob Cornelio took his spot atop the podium as the NAIA hammer throw national champion. Cornelio saved his best for last, unleashing a school record toss of 219 feet at the national meet held in Gulf Shores, Ala. The six-time All-American won two national titles during his decorated Bulldog career.
WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
Top three in the nation – There are plenty of moments to choose from for a program that swept 2021 GPAC indoor and outdoor titles and locked down and three different individuals won a national title – or two (Rachel Battershell, Josie Puelz and Elizabeth Stotlemyre). As one of the brightest stars, Puelz led Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squad to NAIA third-place national finishes for both indoor and outdoor. Those lofty national placements are a clear sign of the elite status of Concordia Women’s Track & Field. The Bulldogs spent much of the outdoor season ranked No. 1 in the NAIA.
VOLLEYBALL
Taking down No. 2 Viterbo for trip to national quarterfinals – Due to the circumstances brought about by COVID-19, Head Coach Ben Boldt’s program actually made two trips to the NAIA national quarterfinals during the calendar year 2021. The second one came courtesy of a five-set upset of second-ranked Viterbo University (Wis.) in pool play action at the national tournament. Camryn Opfer put together a remarkable performance, striking for 21 kills (.514 hitting percentage) and 16 digs. The Bulldogs finished the season ranked sixth in the NAIA for the best ranking in program history.
WRESTLING
Ybarra lands on podium – After shaking off injuries early in 2021, Mario Ybarra rounded into form at the national tournament and placed seventh at 133 pounds. The All-America finish was the first in the career of Ybarra, a native of Scottsbluff, Neb. As part of his national tournament run, Ybarra defeated the NAIA’s Nos. 11 and 4 seeds in the bracket. Ybarra had been a GPAC champion and national qualifier in 2020.