Bulldog Athletics Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Alex Johnson, Baseball / Kaiden Mima, Weightlifting
A graduate student from Olathe, Kan., Alex Johnson piled up a career-high 15 strikeouts and became Concordia’s all-time strikeout leader (288 career K’s) as part of a doubleheader sweep of Northwestern. Johnson limited the Red Raiders to just one run in seven innings. Johnson is 5-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 46 innings this season. He holds a Business Administration degree.
A junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., Kaiden Mima is now a back-to-back national champion after he claimed first place in the 60 kg weight class at the 2026 National University Weightlifting Championships. Mima broke American University records across all categories while posting a total of 244 kg. He is a Biology major.
Female: Taylor Hedke, Powerlifting / Weightlifting
A senior from Marysville, Kan., Taylor Hedke accomplished an impressive feat in earning All-America honors in both powerlifting and weightlifting in competitions that took place on back-to-back days in different regions of the country (New Orleans and Salt Lake City). Hedke placed second at 60 kg in powerlifting (437.5 kg total) and fourth at 63 kg in weightlifting (176 kg total). She owns an Accounting degree.
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)
2025-26 BAAM Athletes of the Week
April 7 – Kaylei Denison (softball); Vaughn Hendrickson (track & field)
March 31 – Daniel Caballeros (men’s tennis); Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
March 24 – Nick Velders (men’s tennis); Katie Welker (shooting sports)
March 17 – Ben Chisholm (men’s tennis); Taylor Larsen (dance)
March 3 – Raelyn Kelty (women’s basketball); Brooks Kissinger (men’s basketball)
Feb. 24 – Adysen McCarter (track & field); Cal Price (wrestling)
Feb. 17 – Mary Beth Hart (softball); Jonny Jurchen (track & field)
Feb. 10 – Gabe Lujan (wrestling); Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
Feb. 3 – JJ Jones (basketball); Hayden Kluthe (track & field)
Jan. 27 – Zac Kulus (basketball); Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
Jan. 20 – Hayden Kluthe (track & field); Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
Jan. 13 – Cole Price (wrestling); Ayla Roth (women’s basketball)
Dec. 16 – Jonny Jurchen (track & field); Adysen McCarter (track & field)
Dec. 9 – Ashley Keck (volleyball); Brooks Kissinger (basketball)
Dec. 2 – Brooks Kissinger (basketball); Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
Nov. 18 – Oliver Benson (soccer); Braxtyn Koch (football); Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
Nov. 11 – Ava Greene (volleyball); Brooks Kissinger (basketball)
Nov. 4 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer); Hugo Garrote (soccer)
Oct. 28 – Keeli Green (cross country); Vaughn Hendrickson (cross country)
Oct. 21 – Addie Kirkegaard (volleyball) / Taylor Slaymaker (soccer); Adam Van Cleave (football)
Oct. 14 – Oliver Benson (soccer); Kierstynn Garner (soccer)
Oct. 7 – Carlos Collazo (football); Katie Welker (shooting sports)
Sept. 30 – Hugo Fuentes & Nick Velders (tennis) / Peyton Atwood (football); Sadie Mares (soccer)
Sept. 23 – Oliver Balazs (soccer); Katie Welker (shooting sports)
Sept. 16 – Carson Fehlhafer (football); Ella Waters (volleyball)
Sept. 9 – Sam Blevins (shooting sports); Molli Martin (volleyball)
Sept. 2 – Emery Custer (golf); Slade Leicht (soccer)
Aug. 26 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer); Ashley Keck (volleyball); Sean Stratman (soccer)
News and notes:
BAAM luncheons are held every Tuesday (when classes are in session) 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.
Powerlifting, Weightlifting National Championships result in top 10 team finishes: Between the powerlifting and weightlifting programs, Concordia combined for five top 10 national team placements last week. In powerlifting the Bulldogs placed fifth on the women’s side and sixth on the men’s side in action that occurred in Kenner, La., April 9-12. In simultaneous competition that took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, Concordia Weightlifting earned placements of third for co-ed, fifth for men and eighth for women. The individual medalists in powerlifting were Teya Badger (third), Dax Davis (fourth), Taylor Hedke (second), Wyatt Hosick (third) and Will Peterson (second). In weightlifting, Kaiden Mima starred as a back-to-back national champion. He was joined with medalist honors by teammates Evan Fukuhara (second), Taylor Hedke (fourth) and Enzo Mancini (fourth). Impressively, Hedke garnered All-America honors on back-to-back days in different sports in different regions of the country. The national championships wrapped up the 2025-26 competition seasons for Head Coach Freddie Myles’ Bulldogs. This was the fourth year of competition in the young history of the two lifting sports programs.
--For additional details on the two programs (and for national championship recaps), check out the following links: Powerlifting | Weightlifting.
Alex Johnson featured by Lincoln’s channel 8 ABC as Athlete of the Week: Channel 8 out of Lincoln (ABC affiliate) profiled Alex Johnson on Sunday as its Athlete of the Week. The recognition came after Johnson broke the school record for career strikeouts. The Olathe, Kan., native collected a career-high 15 strikeouts in a seven-inning complete game effort against Northwestern. For Channel 8’s feature on Johnson, click HERE.
Program record five Bulldogs from CUNE Dance earn All-America awards: A Concordia Competitive Dance program record five Bulldogs were honored on April 2 as 2026 NAIA All-Americans. The honor roll included Lana Tillman (first team), Bianca Romshek (second team), Addison Sample (second team), Hanna Bitner (third team) and Taylor Larsen (third team). For a complete listing of the All-Americans, click HERE.
Profiling standout Concordia student-athletes: Concordia Athletic Communications frequently highlights student-athletes and their unique stories. In the most recent feature, the journey of Gideon Stark was detailed. Stark will return as the quarterback for Bulldog Football in 2026. Check out the links below for feature articles.
--Gideon Stark
--WBB: ‘Press’
--Ashley Keck
--Taylor Larsen
--Mariana Molano
--Men’s Tennis Seniors
Bulldog Coaches Show airs every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT: The Bulldog Coaches Show has returned for an 11th year. 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 2025-26 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, basketball and volleyball. In addition, Eric Allgood will call select volleyball matches in place of Cyza.
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 with the 2023-24 academic year, Concordia Athletics began a partnership with Hudl 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 via the Hudl account. For select JV streams, check out that specific sport’s Facebook page.
Tennis
· Current records: men – 15-4, 3-1 GPAC | women – 13-5, 4-1 GPAC.
· Most recent:
o M – Won vs. Midland, 7-0, on April 8.
o M – Won at Mount Marty, 7-0, on April 12.
o W – Won vs. Midland, 4-3, on April 8.
o W – Won vs. Northwestern, 7-0, on April 11.
o W – Won at Mount Marty, 7-0, on April 12.
· Men’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: It was an eventful week of conference action as Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squads went 3-0 on the women’s side and 2-0 on the men’s side. All team scores were 7-0 with the exception of the women’s match with Midland, which ended in a 4-3 squeaker. In that contest, the team score was 3-3 with No. 6 singles being the last remaining match. At that spot, Nina Milic came through with a 6-1, 6-2, victory. On the women’s side, Milic, Chakira Derman, Alana Lopez Pagan and Mariana Molano all went 3-0 in singles for the week. Meanwhile, the men did not drop a doubles or singles match in action against Midland and Mount Marty. Standout Nick Velders hardly broke a sweat in winning by scores of 6-2, 6-0, and 6-0, 6-0, in his singles matches last week. Notably, Velders has vaulted all the way up to No. 13 in the NAIA men’s singles rankings released by the ITA. In addition, Daniel Caballeros is ranked No. 22. The Bulldogs also boast two ranked doubles combos. On the women’s side, Molano and Ishane Derman are ranked 30th in the NAIA for doubles. Both teams will complete regular season play this week. Both squads will be at Doane in the middle of the week while the women will also host College of Saint Mary on Friday. Concordia controls its own destiny for second place in the GPAC standings (with Morningside currently leading the way for men and women).
· For additional news and notes on the tennis programs, click the following links: Men | Women.
· This week:
o W – Wednesday, April 15 at Doane (9-10, 4-1 GPAC), 5 p.m.
o M – Thursday, April 16 at Doane (5-12, 2-1 GPAC), 5 p.m.
o W – Friday, April 17 vs. College of Saint Mary (5-2, 0-2 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Golf
· Most recent completed event:
o Men – Lost to Doane, 18.5 to 2.5, in Bulldog-Tiger Cup on April 11.
o Women – Placed 4th/11 (338-335-339–1,012) at the Concordia Bulldog Invite on April 7-8.
· Men’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The GPAC Championships are creeping closer as both of Head Coach Brett Muller’s squads wrap up their final regular season tournaments for the 2025-26 campaign. This past weekend, the men’s team went head-to-head with rival Doane in the annual Bulldog-Tiger Cup. The Tigers won the match play event handily, 18.5 to 2.5. Previously, the Bulldogs placed seventh at the Bethel College Invite at the end of March. As for the women, they are in the middle of the Wayne State Wildcat Classic as of Tuesday (April 14) afternoon. On day one at Wayne Country Club, Concordia shot 327 as a team and sat tied for 10th out of 15 teams. A week earlier at the Concordia Invite (April 7-8), the Bulldogs placed fourth out of 11 teams. Notably, senior Emery Custer placed in a tie for fourth and freshman Olivia James tied for eighth. Both Custer (85-79-76–240) and James (86-78-82–246) earned tournament medals for their efforts. Custer has placed in the top five of five tournaments during the 2025-26 season. Once the Wildcat Classic concludes, both teams will be focused on sharpening up for the conference tournament. The 2026 GPAC Championships will take place April 20-21 on the men’s side and April 27-28 on the women’s side (both at Dakota Dunes Country Club in Dakota Dunes, S.D.).
· Up next:
o W – Monday-Tuesday, April 13-14 at Wayne State Wildcat Classic (Wayne CC), 10 a.m.
o M – Monday-Tuesday, April 20-21 at 2026 GPAC Championships (Dakota Dunes CC).
Baseball
· Current record: 28-13, 16-4 GPAC; receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Dordt, 6-3, on April 6 (in Lincoln).
o Won vs. Dordt, 3-1, on April 6 (in Lincoln).
o Lost at Dordt, 4-3, on April 8.
o Won at Dordt, 15-9, on April 8.
o Won vs. Midland, 7-0, on April 10.
o Won vs. Midland, 11-5, on April 10.
o Won vs. Northwestern, 4-1, on April 11 (in Lincoln).
o Won vs. Northwestern, 4-2, on April 11 (in Lincoln).
· Links: 2026 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Polls
· Notable: Postponements resulted in Concordia playing four GPAC doubleheaders last week. The Bulldogs took three of four in their series with Dordt before then sweeping twin bills from Midland and Northwestern. For the week, Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad outscored its opponents by a combined total of 53-25. Cool and windy conditions made it a challenge for the hitters. The Bulldog pitching staff took advantage and racked up 84 strikeouts over 59 innings for the week. As part of the sweep of the Red Raiders, Alex Johnson racked up a career-high 15 strikeouts and became the program’s all-time leader for career strikeouts (288 and counting). Both Johnson and Caden Bugarske earned two wins on the week. In another impressive performance, Micah Sweeton threw a five-hit shutout (one walk) in the seven-inning win over Midland. Out of the bullpen, Warren Rose was unhittable with seven strikeouts in 2.1 scoreless innings. Offensively, Carson Burnett, Alex Draper and Bronx Lewis led the way with eight hits apiece for the week. Lewis launched three more home runs, running his GPAC leading total to 17. Catcher Jake Watson also left the yard twice and played every inning behind the plate. The program honored a class of 12 seniors this past Saturday. The 7-1 week puts Concordia (16-4 GPAC) in the thick of things at the top of the GPAC along with the likes of Morningside (29-12, 17-3 GPAC) and Doane (31-8, 16-4 GPAC). The Bulldogs are scheduled to go on the road for a four-game series at Dakota Wesleyan this Thursday and Sunday.
· For additional news and notes on the baseball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Thursday, April 16 at Dakota Wesleyan (16-21, 7-13 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.
o Sunday, April 19 at Dakota Wesleyan (16-21, 7-13 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.
Softball
· Current record: 17-14, 6-6 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won vs. Hastings, 2-0, on April 6.
o Won vs. Hastings, 8-3, on April 6.
o Lost at Mount Marty, 6-3, on April 8.
o Won at Mount Marty, 13-3 (5 inn.), on April 8.
o Won vs. Northwestern, 4-2, on April 11.
o Lost vs. Northwestern, 7-5, on April 11.
· Links: 2026 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Polls
· Notable: It was a solid six-game week as the Bulldogs went 4-2 in a stretch that extends back to last Monday (April 6). Concordia took two from Hastings (home) before splitting with Mount Marty (away) and Northwestern (home). In the most eye-popping moment of last week, sophomore Keira Farritor homered in three consecutive at bats in the team’s 13-3 run-rule win at Mount Marty in game two. Farritor became the first Bulldog to slug three homers in a single game since Clarissa Eloge in 2010. At the top of the lineup, all freshman Mary Beth Hart did last week was hit. She went 11-for-21 (.524) with four doubles, a triple, eight runs scored and four stolen bases. In addition, Tobi Topp went 8-for-20 and homered twice on the week. Grace Zaugg added a long ball of her own. In the pitching circle, Kaylei Denison consistently worked out of jams in her complete game shutout of Hastings to begin the week and then limited the defending GPAC champion Red Raiders to two runs in seven innings to finish off the week. Defensively, Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad made just two errors on the week (.989 fielding percentage) in backing the likes of Denison and Kierstyn Linn. At 6-6 in league play, Concordia sits in the middle of the conference standings. The Bulldogs will attempt to move up this week as they play No. 22 Midland, Waldorf and Dordt.
· For additional news and notes on the softball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Tuesday, April 14 at No. 22 Midland (26-10, 8-2 GPAC), 2 p.m. DH.
o Friday, April 17 at Waldorf (3-29, 1-13 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.
o Saturday, April 18 at Dordt (29-8, 10-2 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.
Outdoor Track & Field
· Weekends of outdoor competition: 3.
· Last week:
o Competed at the Hastings Bronco Invite on April 11.
· Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | TFRRS Performance Lists
· Notable: After hosting the Concordia Invite on April 6, the Bulldogs turned around and competed at the Hastings Bronco Invite five days later. Concordia emerged from the Hastings Invite with 12 event championships. From a big picture perspective, the highlights were personal bests turned in by Jonny Jurchen in the 5,000-meter race walk (21:44.43) and by Emry Gutz in the javelin (195’ 1”). On the current national lists, Jurchen ranks sixth in the race walk while Gutz moved to 14th in the javelin with his NAIA B standard. Jurchen won his event at Hastings and so too did Harper Boche (shot put; hammer), Braxton Borer (110-meter hurdles), Lucas Corwin (400 meters), Adysen McCarter (triple jump), Josi Noble (400-meter hurdles), Byron Ostdiek (shot put), Addie Reimer (long jump), Trey Robertson (1,500 meters), Adrianna Rodencal (100-meter hurdles) and Cooper Stokebrand (discus). Through three full-scale meets this outdoor season, Bulldog athletes have combined for five automatic national qualifying standards and six B standards. Rodencal continues to lead the nation in the 100 hurdles. In last week’s USTFCCCA NAIA team ratings, Concordia landed at No. 7 on the women’s side and at No. 22 on the men’s side. Next up, the Bulldogs will be headed to Doane for a three-day meet that begins with multi events. The Dutcher Memorial was adjusted in effort to take advantage of the best days this week in terms of weather.
· For additional news and notes on the track & field programs, click HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday-Thursday, Sunday, April 15-16 & 19 at the Dutcher Memorial (hosted by Doane).