Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Hugo Fuentes, Tennis
A junior from Denia, Spain, Hugo Fuentes helped lead the Bulldogs to the GPAC tournament final this past weekend. Fuentes scored a major victory in the 4-3 GPAC semifinal team win over Mount Marty with a triumph at No. 1 singles. Fuentes also won at No. 1 doubles versus Doane and Morningside at the GPAC tournament.
Female: Ishane Derman, Tennis
A freshman from Lomé, Togo (Africa), Ishane Derman starred for a Concordia squad that made history with its first ever GPAC tournament title. Derman breezed through her matches at No. 4 singles in the GPAC quarterfinals and semifinals while breaking the school record for singles wins in a season. Derman owns an 18-2 singles mark on the season.
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
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)
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Week
April 22 – Ishane Derman (tennis) / Christian Gutierrez (baseball) / Nick Velders (tennis)
April 15 – Brad Hallock (baseball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
April 8 – Brad Hallock (baseball) / Rylee Ladd (powerlifting)
April 1 – Taryn Ganstrom (softball) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
March 25 – Ishane Derman (tennis) / Grady Works (tennis)
March 18 – Hagen Heistand (wrestling) / Jennifer Katz (softball)
March 4 – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Feb. 25 – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
Feb. 18 – BAAM luncheon canceled
Feb. 11 – Jonny Jurchen (track & field) / Abi Wohlgemuth (track & field)
Feb. 4 – Abby Krieser (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
Jan. 28 – Makynna Robbins (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Jan. 21 – Megan Belt (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball) / Abi Wohlgemuth (track & field)
Jan. 14 – Raelyn Kelty (basketball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Dec. 17 – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
Dec. 10 – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
Dec. 3 – Vaughn Hendrickson (cross country) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
Nov. 19 – Daylon Henson (football) / Addie Kirkegaard (volleyball)
Nov. 12 – Keegan Beisel (cross country) / Vaughn Hendrickson (cross country)
Nov. 5 – Angela Banks (soccer) / Austin Jablonski (football)
Oct. 29 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Devin Harris (shooting sports)
Oct. 22 – Taylor Hedke (weightlifting) / Austin Jablonski (football)
Oct. 15 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Hugo Garrote (soccer)
Oct. 8 – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Kaylee Hinton (shooting sports)
Oct. 1 – Carter McKenna (shooting sports) / Kya Scott (volleyball)
Sept. 24 – Ishane Derman (tennis) / Daylon Henson (football)
Sept. 17 – Mark Arp (football) / Ella Waters (volleyball)
Sept. 10 – Hannah Beintema (cross country); Trey Robertson (cross country)
Sept. 3 – Nolan Fuelberth (soccer); Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
Aug. 27 – Martin Herrera (soccer); Ashley Keck (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.
Ninety Bulldogs earn NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards from spring sports: A total of 90 Bulldogs earned 2024-25 NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards from Concordia spring sports: baseball, men’s, golf, women’s golf, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s track & field, women’s track & field and softball. For a complete listing of the honorees, click HERE.
GPAC postseason success continues for Bulldog teams in 2024-25: Out of seven GPAC postseason tournaments that have unfolded in 2024-25, Concordia Athletics teams have appeared in six of them. GPAC tournament championship game/match qualifiers include men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis. The conference baseball and softball tournaments will get started this week. Head Coach Lisa Hart’s women’s tennis squad made history this past weekend while claiming the first GPAC tournament title ever for the program.
Profiling two standout seniors: Recently, we profiled two seniors ahead of senior day festivities for the baseball and softball programs: pitcher Alex Johnson and center fielder Jennifer Katz. Both Bulldogs have starred this spring for their respective teams. For details on their journeys, check out the stories linked below.
--Features: Alex Johnson | Jennifer Katz
Devin Smith named Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA: For the second time in five years, Concordia University, Nebraska’s Devin Smith has been honored as an Athletics Director of the Year Award winner by the National Association of Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Smith was announced by NACDA as one of the 28 honorees for 2024-25 on Monday (March 17). The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior College/Community Colleges). Winners will be recognized in conjunction with the 60th Annual NACDA & Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., on June 10. For more details on the award, click HERE.
Bulldog Coaches Show airs every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT: The Bulldog Coaches Show is underway in its 10th 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 2024-25 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 completed his 10th season calling Concordia volleyball.
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 on the Concordia Sports Network.
Tennis
· Current records: men – 14-8, 4-2 GPAC | women – 17-4, 4-2 GPAC
· Last week (GPAC tournament):
o W – Won vs. College of Saint Mary, 4-0, in quarterfinals.
o W – Won vs. Doane, 4-1, in semifinals.
o W – Won vs. Morningside, 4-2, in championship match.
o M – Won vs. Doane, 4-0, in quarterfinals.
o M – Won vs. Mount Marty, 4-3, in semifinals.
o M – Lost vs. Morningside, 4-0, in championship match.
· Men’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The rise of Concordia Tennis was on full display this past week as both of Head Coach Lisa Hart’s squads advanced to GPAC tournament championship matches in Sioux City. The women made history by claiming the first GPAC tournament title in program history. The postseason run included wins over College of Saint Mary, 4-0, Doane, 4-1, and Morningside, 4-2. The latter two victories avenged losses that occurred in the regular season. In the semifinal triumph over Doane, the Bulldogs captured the doubles point thanks to the efforts of Chakira Derman and Alana Lopez Pagan at No. 2 and Tessa Blough and Alexa Richert at No. 3. In singles, No. 2 Chakira Derman, No. 4 Ishane Derman and No. 5 Richert emerged victorious while clinching the team win. In the championship, Concordia took down the top seed, again winning at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles. Singles wins were claimed by Chakira Derman, Lopez Pagan and Nina Milic at No. 6. Meanwhile, the men fell one win short of a championship of their own. In the first two rounds, Concordia earned the doubles point versus Doane before having to rally back versus Mount Marty. The Bulldogs clinched versus Doane via singles wins by Nick Velders at No. 2, Ben Chisholm at No. 5 and Michael Bedrosian at No. 6. Singles winners versus Mount Marty included Hugo Fuentes at No. 1, Velders, Santiago Abadia at No. 4 and Chisholm. The Mustangs then defeated the Bulldogs despite a win for Concordia at No. 1 doubles. As part of a tremendous 2024-25 season, individual single season records have been broken by Abadia (doubles wins), Ishane Derman (singles wins) and Velders (singles wins). The historic run will continue for the women’s team, which has earned an automatic bid to the national tournament in Mobile, Ala.
· For additional news and notes on the tennis programs, click the following links: Men | Women.
· Up next:
o The women’s team will play at the NAIA National Championships in Mobile, Ala., where action will begin on May 13.
Golf
· Most recent:
o Men – Placed 10th/11 (317-313-318–948) at the 2025 GPAC Championships on April 21-22.
o Women – Shot 332-329–661 (fourth place) over the first two rounds of the 2025 GPAC Championships on April 28; the tournament will conclude on April 29.
· Men’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: The 2024-25 seasons are drawing to close for Head Coach Brett Muller’s squads. The men completed the campaign last week as they placed 10th in the GPAC with a three-round total of 317-313-318–948. Junior Jake Richmond led the way individually as he placed 23rd (74-74-80–228). Other Bulldogs to qualify for the individual leaderboard were Justin Webert (82-82-74–238; T-38th), Jaxson Fullerton (79-79-82–240; T-41st) and Jacob Dowd (82-81-82–245; 45th). The men’s tournament took place at Beatrice Country Club in Beatrice, Neb. On the women’s side, Concordia shot 332-329–661 on Monday as the GPAC Championships opened at Centura Hills Golf Club in Cairo, Neb. Prior to Monday, the Bulldogs’ season low score for 2024-25 had been a 334 over spring break. Entering round three of the conference tournament, junior Emery Custer (80-77–157) sat in a tie for third place, two strokes out of first. Meanwhile, teammates Maddie Lewis (83-83–166; T-17th), Savannah McFalls (84-85–169; T-24th) and Jennifer Gillotti (85-84–169; T-24th) each held down spots in the top 25 of the conference after day one. Concordia is aiming for a significant climb up the GPAC ladder after placing ninth in 2024. Once the GPAC Championships are in the books, the ’24-25 campaign will have concluded – unless an automatic berth to nationals is earned. The season began way back in August when the fall portion of the season kicked off.
Outdoor Track & Field
· Last week:
o Competed at the Drake Relays (April 25-26), Prairie Wolf Invite (April 26) and Rock Chalk Classic (April 26).
· Links: 2024-25 Schedule | Roster | TFRRS Performance Lists
· Notable: This past weekend represented the last opportunities to compete prior to the conference championships. Bulldog athletes took part in three separate meets, including the prestigious Drake Relays and the Prairie Wolf Invite hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan. Most significantly from a national perspective, Concordia’s women’s 4x400-meter relay advanced to the finals of the Drake Relays and automatically qualified for nationals with a time (3:47.33) that narrowly missed the school record and ranks No. 2 on the current national list. The 4x4 was made up of Adrianna Rodencal, Trinity Tuls, Isabelle Salters and Kayla Kirchner. In addition to contributing to the 4x4, Rodencal broke her own school record in the 100-meter hurdles by clocking in at 13.37 in the prelims at the Drake Relays. Rodencal wound up in sixth place in the event (filled with NCAA D1 competition) after running 13.71 in the finals. The bulk of the Bulldog roster traveled to Lincoln for the Prairie Wolf Invite. In that meet, junior Hayley Miles won both the long jump (17’ 8”) and triple jump (35’ 10 ¾”) and Mayson Ostermeyer took first place in the pole vault (15’ 5”). The list of Concordia runners up included Evan Hill in the pole vault (14’ 11”), Tayden Kirchner in the 400 meters (59.99), Trey Robertson in the 1,500 meters (4:01.79), Kayla Svoboda in the 100-meter hurdles (14.76) and the women’s 4x100-meter relay (48.13). The relay featured Cambria Saunders, Kennedy Canales, Coral Collins and Kiki Nyanok. Next up, Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads will be headed to Hastings for the GPAC Championships on Friday and Saturday. This past indoor season, the Bulldogs finished the GPAC meet with place finishes of third on the women’s side and fourth on the men’s side.
· For additional news and notes on the track & field programs, click HERE.
· This week:
o Friday-Saturday, May 2-3 at the 2025 GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Hastings. The meet schedule can be viewed HERE.
Baseball
· Current record: 37-9, 25-3 GPAC; ranked No. 15 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won at Dakota Wesleyan, 19-6, on April 25.
o Won at Dakota Wesleyan, 22-4, on April 25.
o Won at Dakota Wesleyan, 10-4, on April 26.
o Won at Dakota Wesleyan, 12-2, on April 26.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Polls
· Notable: The GPAC champion Bulldogs polished off the regular season this past weekend with another dominant four-game sweep. In a series originally scheduled to be played in Seward, Concordia outscored Dakota Wesleyan by a combined total of 63-16. Over the four games, the Bulldogs slugged 12 home runs and were issued 38 walks by Tiger pitching. All-American third baseman Jaidan Quinn stated one final case for GPAC Player of the Year accolades as he went 8-for-13 (.615) with five home runs and 12 RBIs in Mitchell, S.D. It was also a monster weekend for Matt Rhoades, who went 9-for-14 (.643) with four home runs and 14 RBIs, and for Brad Hallock, who went 6-for-12 (.500) with two home runs and nine RBIs. Both Quinn and Hallock are tied for third on the NAIA national leaderboard with 23 home runs this season. In a major development out of the bullpen, Maverick Wylder returned from injury and threw 2/3 of an inning. All four main Concordia starting pitchers picked up wins at Dakota Wesleyan. Now 22-1 over their last 23 games, the Bulldogs broke a GPAC record for most league victories in a season with 25 (previous record was 24 by Doane in 2022). In conference games only, Concordia outscored its opponents by a combined total of 291-101. The Bulldogs scored the most runs and allowed the fewest runs of any team in the GPAC over the 28-game league schedule. Offensively this season, the Bulldogs have slashed an impressive .317 BA / .455 OBP / .590 SLG. As the top seed in the GPAC, Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad will host GPAC tournament pod play this Wednesday through Friday. Should Concordia advance through pod play, it would also host the GPAC Championship Game on Monday, May 5.
· For additional news and notes on the baseball program, click HERE.
· This week (GPAC Tournament in Seward):
o Wednesday, April 30 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (12-35, 11-17 GPAC), 6 p.m.
o Thursday, May 1 vs. Briar Cliff/Midland, 12 or 3 p.m.
o Friday, May 2 vs. TBA, 12 p.m. (if necessary game at 3 p.m.).
o Monday, May 5 vs. TBA, 6 p.m. (Championship Game).
Softball
· Current record: 27-18, 12-10 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost vs. Bellevue, 9-2, on April 23.
o Won at College of Saint Mary, 6-3, on April 26.
o Won at College of Saint Mary, 4-0, on April 26.
· Notable: The regular season wrapped up last week as Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad dropped a nonconference tilt with Bellevue University before returning to GPAC play for a road doubleheader sweep of College of Saint Mary. The pair of wins over CSM allowed the Bulldogs to secure the No. 5 seed in this week’s GPAC tournament. Concordia hopes it built some positive momentum heading into the postseason. As highlights of the twin bill in Omaha, Aubriana Krieser went 5-for-7 with five RBIs and Megan Eurich fired a four-hit shutout that included 10 strikeouts in game two. Eurich and Kaylei Denison both earned victories in the circle. In addition, breakout center fielder Jennifer Katz made another sprawling highlight reel catch to rob a Flame of a hit. Going back to the single game with Bellevue, Taryn Ganstrom broke the program’s single season record for triples when she notched her ninth three-bagger of 2025. At the close of the regular season, five Bulldog regulars (40+ games) are hitting better than .300: Ganstrom (.366), Katz (.357), Aubrey Bruning (.337), Krieser (.323) and Delanie Voshell (.306). As for Eurich, she ran her season strikeout total to 132 and her career K total to 467 (three away from Amanda Beeson for No. 3 on the program’s all-time list). Eurich and her fellow seniors will now attempt to keep the season alive in the postseason as they look forward to playing No. 4 seed Dakota Wesleyan in Orange City, Iowa, on Wednesday. Concordia reached the GPAC Championship Series in 2015 and 2021 and earned automatic bids to the national tournament in both years. The ’15 team won the GPAC tourney title.
· For additional news and notes on the softball program, click HERE.
· This week (GPAC Tournament in Orange City, Iowa):
o Wednesday, April 30 vs. Dakota Wesleyan (33-14, 14-8 GPAC), 2 p.m.
o Wednesday, April 30 vs. Northwestern/Doane, 4 or 6 p.m.
o Thursday, May 1 vs. TBA.
o Saturday, May 3 – GPAC Championship Series (highest remaining seed hosts).