Bulldog Athletics Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Kaylei Denison, Softball
A junior from Waverly, Neb., Kaylei Denison threw a complete game shutout in the first game of Concordia’s Monday doubleheader sweep of Hastings. Denison worked around six hits and five walks and fanned seven Bronco hitters. She lowered her season ERA to 3.55 (90.2 innings). Denison is majoring in Psychology.
Male: Vaughn Hendrickson, Track & Field
A sophomore from Fort Wayne, Ind., Vaughn Hendrickson won the 10,000-meter race at the Concordia Invite in a personal best time of 31:41.85 (fifth fastest in school history). That performance places Hendrickson at No. 1 in the GPAC and at No. 11 in the NAIA this season. He is an Elementary Education major.
2025-26 BAAM Athletes of the Month
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
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.
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.
Winter seasons-in-review: All Concordia winter sports teams have now wrapped up their 2025-26 seasons. Check out our season-in-review articles linked below for a detailed look at the men’s basketball, women’s basketball, wrestling and track & field programs. A full review on the overall winter sports season can be read HERE.
--Men’s Basketball
--Women’s Basketball
--Wrestling
--Outdoor Track & Field (preview with details on the indoor season)
Powerlifting, Weightlifting teams gearing up for nationals this week: Both the Concordia Powerlifting and Weightlifting teams have competed in one event during the spring semester. Head Coach Freddie Myles’ squads are gearing up for national championship competitions coming up this week. The 2026 USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championships will take place in Kenner, La., April 9-12. Meanwhilie, the 2026 University Weightlifting National Championships will be staged in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 9-12. For additional details on the two programs (and for national championship previews), check out the following links: Powerlifting | Weightlifting.
Profiling standout Concordia student-athletes: Concordia Athletic Communications frequently highlights student-athletes and their unique stories. In recent feature releases, the journeys of seniors Ashley Keck, Taylor Larsen and Mariana Molano have been detailed. Recently, a feature on the successful season for women’s basketball was released. Links to recent feature stories can be found below.
--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.
Softball
· Current record: 15-12, 4-4 GPAC.
· Most recent:
o Won vs. Hastings, 2-0, on April 6.
o Won vs. Hastings, 8-3, on April 6.
· Links: 2026 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Polls
· Notable: The Bulldogs went eight days without a game (due chilly and rainy spring weather) before returning to action on Monday. Concordia swept the home doubleheader from Hastings, winning by scores of 2-0 and 8-3. In game one, there were a combined 17 runners left on base. Bulldog starter Kaylei Denison routinely wiggled out of jams. She tossed a complete game shutout while working around six hits and five walks. Denison fanned seven hitters and benefited from error-free defense behind her. The only runs came on Grace Zaugg’s two-run homer to center in the fourth. In game two, the Concordia bats broke loose with 12 hits, including seven that went for extra bases. At the top of the lineup, Mary Beth Hart and Taryn Ganstrom both went 3-for-4 while Grace Maguire went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs. Additionally, Tobi Topp blasted a solo homer in the fifth. In relief, Lilly Elsasser earned the pitching win as she threw four shutout innings with just one hit allowed. The sweep was an important one for Head Coach Brock Culler’s squad, which sits in the middle of the GPAC standings with another seven GPAC doubleheaders left to be played. The Concordia lineup is led by four regulars batting .325 or better: Hart (.408), Keira Farritor (.391), Aubriana Krieser (.361) and Ganstrom (.325). Up next, the Bulldogs will travel to Mount Marty on Wednesday before hosting Northwestern on Saturday.
· For additional news and notes on the softball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, April 8 at Mount Marty (11-17, 2-6 GPAC), 4 p.m. DH.
o Saturday, April 11 vs. Northwestern (21-12, 6-4 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH.
Outdoor Track & Field
· Weekends of outdoor competition: 2.
· Most recent:
o Hosted the Concordia Invite on April 6.
· Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | TFRRS Performance Lists
· Notable: With cold and rainy conditions occurring late last week, the Bulldogs called an audible and moved the Concordia Invite to Monday. The weather remained cool and windy, but Concordia managed to come away from the meet with 13 event championships and eight performances that met either the NAIA A or B national qualifying standards. The program’s newest automatic national qualifiers are Jack Habegger (5,000-meter race walk) and Adysen McCarter (triple jump). McCarter broke her own school record while landing at 39’ 6 ½.” McCarter was a winner at the Concordia Invite and so too were teammates Vaughn Hendrickson (10,000 meters), Jonny Jurchen (race walk), Emma Kucera (javelin), Kiki Nyanok (long jump), Trey Robertson (steeplechase), Adrianna Rodencal (100 / 400 hurdles), Kayla Svoboda (pole vault) and Ransom Watts (5,000 meters). Fresh NAIA B standards came from Luke Hammang in the race walk and Addie Reimer in the high jump. Named NAIA National Track Athlete of the Week on April 1, Rodencal continues to lead the nation in the 100 hurdles. The Bulldogs boast three of the top 14 nationally in the men’s race walk. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads will look to build upon those performances this weekend with the Hastings Bronco Invite scheduled to unfold on Saturday.
· For additional news and notes on the track & field programs, click HERE.
· Up next:
o Saturday, April 11 at the Hastings Bronco Invite, 10 a.m.
Baseball
· Current record: 23-12, 11-3 GPAC; receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Most recent:
o Lost at No. 12 Kansas Wesleyan, 4-1, on April 1.
o Won vs. Dordt, 6-3, on April 6 (in Lincoln).
o Won vs. Dordt, 3-1, on April 6 (in Lincoln).
· Links: 2026 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Polls
· Notable: Due to postponements caused by cool and rainy weather, the Bulldogs are in the midst of a jampacked week of action. Concordia played at Sandhills Global Youth Complex in Lincoln on Monday and came away with a doubleheader sweep of Dordt – by scores of 6-3 and 3-1. It was a day for pitching and defense as the two sides combined for only 20 hits over 14 innings of baseball. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad got solid starts from graduate students Alex Johnson (4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K) and Caden Bugarske (5.2 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 9 K) and scoreless work from the bullpen. Notably, freshman Trent Schlim saved both ends of the doubleheader with just one baserunner allowed in 2.1 innings of work. In game one, the Bulldogs fell behind 2-0 before exploding for five runs in the third. In that frame, Jake Watson delivered a bases clearing double and Luke Wilson and Alex Draper produced an RBI single apiece. Jimmy Blumberg later added an RBI single of his own. In game two, Wilson singled home a pair and another run came in on a wild pitch. Through 35 games, Watson leads the team with a .341 batting average. Bronx Lewis remains the GPAC leader with 14 home runs. GPAC play will continue with doubleheaders against the likes of Dordt (away), Midland (home) and Northwestern (Lincoln). Concordia will honor 13 seniors on Saturday.
· For additional news and notes on the baseball program, click HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, April 8 at Dordt (14-20, 4-10 GPAC), 2 p.m. DH.
o Friday, April 10 vs. Midland (11-22, 6-8 GPAC), 3 p.m. DH.
o Senior Day – Saturday, April 11 vs. Northwestern (20-14, 8-8 GPAC), 3 p.m. DH (at Sherman Field in Lincoln).
Golf
· Most recent completed tournament:
o Men – Placed T-7th/14 (313-331–644) at the Bethel College Invite on March 28-29.
o Women – Placed 3rd/6 (357-335–692) at the Bethel College Invite on March 28-29.
· Men’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: There were no varsity events this past week. Head Coach Brett Muller took both of his varsity teams to the Bethel College Spring Invite the weekend of March 28-29. The women came away with a third-place finish (357-335–692) out of six teams while the men tied for seventh (313-331–644) out of 14 teams. Most notably, senior Maddie Lewis earned a fourth-place individual trophy on the women’s side as she shot 84-83–167 for the tournament held at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kan. It was Lewis’ fourth top 10 tournament finish of the season. Teammates Savannah McFalls (89-82–171) and Emery Custer (83-89–172) followed close behind while placing eighth and 11th, respectively. The event marked the first tournament of the spring for a women’s team that enjoyed a strong fall semester. On the men’s side, two freshmen paced the Bulldogs: Logan Krabbenhoft (76-84–160) and Tyler Weismann (76-85–161), who placed 22nd and 26th, respectively. The men were coming off a record-breaking 18-hole score (278; -2) at the Doane Invite the previous week. As of Tuesday (April 7) morning, the women’s team had begun the two-day Concordia Invite at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln. The first two rounds will be played on day one and the third round will be played on day two. Meanwhile, the men will challenge Doane on Saturday in the annual Bulldog Tiger Cup.
· This week:
o W – Tuesday-Wednesday, April 7-8: Concordia Invite (Highlands GC in Lincoln, Neb.).
o M – Saturday, April 11 at Bulldog Tiger Cup (York CC in York, Neb.).
Tennis
· Current records: men – 13-4, 1-1 GPAC | women – 10-5, 1-1 GPAC.
· Most recent:
o W – Won vs. Hastings, 7-0, on March 26.
o W – Lost at No. 17 Morningside, 6-1, on March 29.
o M – Won vs. Hastings, 7-0, on March 25.
o M – Lost at No. 14 Morningside, 5-2, on March 29.
· Men’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: Holy week provided a break from competition. Conference play started up the previous week as the Bulldogs hosted Hastings and traveled to play nationally ranked Morningside. Both teams blanked Hastings, 7-0, while celebrating their seniors on back-to-back evenings. In the anticipated clash with the Mustangs (ranked 14th for men and 17th for women), the Concordia women were defeated 6-1 while the men fell by a 5-2 final score. One Bulldog was unbeaten on the week as Daniel Caballeros went 2-0 in both singles and doubles. As a result, Caballeros was named GPAC Player of the Week. In singles, Nick Velders kept his unbeaten record (15-0) intact. Velders won a tiebreaker in the first set in a push from his counterpart from Morningside at No. 2 singles. In the women’s matchup with Morningside (the rival Concordia took down in last season’s GPAC tournament title match), Nina Milic earned the team’s only point with a close win at No. 6 singles. Head Coach Lisa Hart’s men’s squad received votes in the most recent NAIA coaches’ poll and stands at 13-4 overall. The women are now 10-5 overall (both teams are 1-1 in GPAC play). This week will be much busier as the women play three times and the men twice within conference play. Both teams will host Midland – and the women will also host Northwestern.
· For additional news and notes on the tennis programs, click the following links: Men | Women.
· This week:
o M/W – Wednesday, April 8 vs. Midland (M – 5-10, 2-5 GPAC / W – 4-8, 1-1 GPAC), 1 p.m.
o W – Saturday, April 11 vs. Northwestern (9-6, 2-0 GPAC), 1 p.m.
o M/W – Sunday, April 12 at Mount Marty (M – 0-9, 0-1 GPAC / W – 1-10, 0-2 GPAC), 1 p.m.