SEWARD, Neb. – Two Bulldog seniors who stood out throughout the 2025-26 academic year have been honored appropriately. Concordia University, Nebraska Athletics has announced Nick Velders of men’s tennis and Katie Welker of shooting sports as Bulldog Athletics Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Month for March 2026. The winners emerged from a vote conducted on Tuesday (April 7) among attendees at the BAAM luncheon. BAAM luncheons are held every Tuesday (when classes are in session) at 12 p.m. CT inside the Dog House Grill.
A senior from Gelderland, The Netherlands, Velders has carried an unbeaten singles record into April. In March, Velders posted records of 7-0 in singles and 6-2 in doubles while leading the Bulldogs to wins in five of their eight matches. Velders was honored as GPAC Player of the Week on both March 4 and 25. In recent action, Velders posted singles wins over GPAC opponents from Hastings and Morningside. His season singles record has moved to a spotless 15-0 with 12 wins at No. 2 and three at No. 1. He also sports a 13-4 doubles record. Velders is ranked nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association at No. 37 in singles and No. 27 in doubles. Named an NAIA Second Team All-American last season, Velders owns a sparkling 34-2 career singles record as a Bulldog. Velders has helped Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squad to a 13-4 overall record (1-1 GPAC). The team is currently receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
A senior from Hamill, S.D., Welker also garnered the BAAM monthly award in September. She capped her Concordia career at the 2026 ACUI Collegiate Clay Target National Championships by earning national titles for women’s HOA doubles trap and women’s open doubles trap. She also placed third nationally in skeet and was honored as an All-American by the ACUI. Overall at the national championships, Welker busted 544 out of 600 possible targets. She led Head Coach Dylan Owens’ Bulldogs to a seventh-place team nationals finish. Earlier in the month, Welker wone doubles trap and high over all (HOA) championships at the Iowa Western Community College Invite. As part of Welker’s senior season, she also won overall titles at the Midland Invite and Southeast Community College Invite. Welker was the women’s HOA conference runner up and was chosen to the Prairie Circuit All-Conference team back in the fall.
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.
2025-26 BAAM Athletes of the Month
March – Nick Velders (tennis) / Katie Welker (shooting sports)
February – Jonny Jurchen (track & field) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
January – Hayden Kluthe (track & field) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
December – Brooks Kissinger (basketball) / Adysen McCarter (track & field)
November – Ava Greene (volleyball) / Brooks Kissinger (basketball)
October – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Adam Van Cleave (football)
September – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Katie Welker (shooting sports)
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Christian Gutierrez (baseball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
March – Jennifer Katz (softball) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
February – Abby Krieser (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
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)