Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Noah Schutte, Basketball
Schutte, a native of Laurel, Neb., averaged 21.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and shot 54.8 percent from the floor last week as he led the Bulldogs to victories over Hastings, Concordia Chicago and Concordia Wisconsin. Schutte was named the GPAC Player of the Week.
Female: Kristin Vieselmeyer, Basketball
Vieselmeyer, who hails from Holyoke, Colo., was recognized as a CIT all-tournament honoree last week as she played an instrumental role in wins over Hastings, Concordia Wisconsin and Concordia Chicago. Vieselmeyer totaled 36 points and 20 rebounds during the week. Her 21 points in the CIT championship game were a career high.
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
Jan. 24 – Rylee Haecker (track & field) / Calvin Rohde (track & field)
Jan. 17 – Kylahn Freiberg (track & field) / Garrett Seagren (basketball)
Jan. 10 – Sadie Powell (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
Dec. 13 – Chase Berry (track & field) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Taysha Rushton (basketball)
Dec. 6 – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Gage Smith (basketball)
Nov. 29 – Rylee Ladd (powerlifting) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
Nov. 15 – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Federico Simonetti (Soccer)
Nov. 8 – Kylahn Freiberg (cross country) / Kaden Peters (football)
Nov. 1 – Breyer Meeks (shooting sports) / Carlos Orquiz (soccer) / Morgan Nibbe (volleyball)
Oct. 25 – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Isaiah Shaddick (soccer)
Oct. 18 – Korrell Koehlmoos (football) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
Oct. 11 – Rylee Haecker (cross country) / DJ McGarvie (football)
Oct. 4 – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Korrell Koehlmoos (football)
Sept. 27 – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Ryan Wokutch (soccer)
Sept. 20 – Tanner Muff (shooting sports) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Katie Welker (shooting sports)
Sept. 13 – Kierstynn Garner (soccer) / Jack Nelson (shooting sports)
Sept. 6 – Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / Camden Sesna (cross country)
Aug. 30 – Federico Simonetti (soccer) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
Aug. 23 – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball)
2022-23 BAAM Athletes of the Month
December – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Gage Smith (basketball)
November – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball); Noah Schutte (basketball)
October – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball); Korrell Koehlmoos (football); Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
September – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball); Camryn Opfer (volleyball); Camden Sesna (cross country)
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.
Concordia Invitational Tournament a success: After the event was cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Concordia Invitational Tournament returned this past weekend with near capacity crowds inside Friedrich Arena. Head Coaches Ben Limback, Drew Olson and Mandi Maser (dance) each led their Bulldog teams to CIT championships while delighting the home fans. Concordia Ann Arbor emerged as the winner of the cheer competition in a close battle with CUNE. For scores and statistics from the 70th CIT, check out our tournament page HERE.
Dance wins first ever CIT title, cheer places second in close battle: It was a historic day for CUNE Cheer and Dance this past Saturday as both squads competed to win Concordia Invitational Tournament championships. Head Coach Mandi Maser’s dance team came out on top while outperforming runner up Concordia Chicago. In the cheer competition, the Bulldogs placed second with a score that was .08 points shy of CIT champion Concordia Ann Arbor (now a four-time CIT titlist). This marked the fourth year that CIT has included cheer and dance competitions – it was the first time CUNE hosted them alongside basketball. It’s been an especially impressive month of January for Bulldog Dance, which has outscored all of the opponents it has gone up against so far this season. The run includes winning three separate competitions against GPAC foes. For more details on the CIT competitions, click the recap links below.
--Cheer CIT recap
--Dance CIT recap
Powerlifting takes four first-place medals at Nebraska State Championships: The Bulldogs were represented by 10 lifters at the Nebraska State Championships held at Midland in Fremont, Neb., this past Saturday (Jan. 28) and came away with four first-place finishes. The event featured a combined 87 collegiate, high school and adult athletes who competed in the standard powerlifting disciplines of squat, bench press and deadlift. Every single Bulldog improved compared to the team’s most recent outing, the Midwest Regionals on Nov. 19. First place claims were made by Dax Davis (67.5kg), Adrian Hernandez (110kg), Hunter Powers (75kg) and Emma Singer (60kg). Between powerlifting and weightlifting, Head Coach Freddie Myles has led the Bulldogs into a total of six competitions in the program’s inaugural 2022-23 season. To recap the season to date for Head Coach Freddie Myles’ programs, check out the Concordia Lifting Sports home page HERE.
Adams ready to again serve as spark for baseball team as opening to spring sports season nears: When Jay Adams is hot, everything falls into place for Concordia Baseball. The local product has flourished at the top of the order for the Bulldogs and has become the player opponents least want to see at the plate with the game on the line. We featured Adams last week and his meaning to the program in a story linked HERE. Towards the end of last week, GPAC preseason polls were released. Concordia Baseball is the favorite in the league while Bulldog Softball landed at No. 8 in the GPAC coaches’ preseason poll.
Bulldog Coaches Show airs every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT: The Bulldog Coaches Show is underway in its eighth 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 2022-23 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 is in his eighth 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 in 2019-20, Concordia Athletics partnered with PrestoSports for live video and statistical 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.
Men’s Basketball
· Since Christmas break began, it had been an up and down run for the Bulldogs, but things turned in a decidedly positive manner last week. They went 3-0 and hoisted the CIT championship trophy. The results included an 80-42 win over Hastings on Jan. 25, an 89-70 triumph over Concordia University Chicago on Jan. 27 and an 82-64 victory over Concordia University Wisconsin in the CIT title game. The three-game win streak immediately followed a three-game skid and has put Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad at 14-9 overall (8-7 GPAC). CUNE currently resides in fifth place in the GPAC behind Jamestown (11-3), Morningside (10-3), Dordt (9-5) and Northwestern (9-5). For more information on Concordia Men’s Basketball, click HERE.
· Home games have typically been a cure for anything that may be ailing the Bulldogs. The home mark on the season stands at 10-2 and CUNE has gone 30-2 over its last 32 contests played inside Friedrich Arena. During that run, the Bulldogs have played in front of some of the most raucous crowds the arena has seen since it first went into use beginning with the 2009-10 season. Examples included last week’s CIT games and the GPAC tournament contests of February 2022. In this season’s 12 home games, Concordia has outscored its opponents by an average margin of 79.8 to 64.3 and has outshot its foes 45.8 to 38.3 percent.
· A 13-game series win streak over Hastings ended on Dec. 10 when the Broncos came back in the closing minutes to take it, 70-68. The Bulldogs avenged that defeat in emphatic fashion last week as they jumped on Hastings early and never gave the visitors a chance. Noah Schutte needed less than seven minutes of game time to knock down three treys, the final one making it a double-digit lead that carried through the rest of the way. Schutte finished with 23 points and five rebounds in only 23 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Gage Smith and Garrett Seagren recorded 10 points apiece and Trey Scheef poured in three triples off the bench. Concordia shot 50.0 percent from the floor while limiting the Broncos (13-9, 6-8 GPAC) to 31.5 percent.
· The Bulldogs did not know exactly what they were going to see against Concordia Chicago (8-4), a squad that had not played in the calendar year 2023 due to some unfortunate circumstances. CUNE found itself in a battle with its lead cut to five (66-61) with just over eight minutes remaining. The evening marked a breakout performance for freshman Zac Kulus, who netted treys at the 10:17, 6:49, 6:19, 3:56 and 2:50 marks of the second half. The Omaha Concordia High School product finished the game with a career high 19 points on 5-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Schutte totaled 22 points and 12 rebounds and Gage Smith (13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists) narrowly missed a triple-double. In making his second career start, Jaxon Weyand snared eight rebounds.
· An early second half push from Concordia Wisconsin (6-13) made things interesting in the CIT championship game. The Bulldogs’ 15-point lead was slashed to six (48-42) before the likes of Schutte and Kulus helped restore order. Brad Bennett was red hot with six treys in the first half on his way to a game high 23 points. Schutte booked 19 points (11-for-12 free throw shooting), five assists and five rebounds. Other double figure scorers were Kulus (14) and Payson Gillespie (10). For the night, CUNE made 13-of-28 shots from 3-point range and owned a 45-35 rebound advantage. Schutte was named the CIT MVP and Smith was chosen to the all-tournament team.
· Limback has now won seven CIT championships as a head coach, including two (2006 and 2007) during his tenure at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Since returning to his alma mater, Limback has guided the Bulldogs to CIT titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2023. As a program, CUNE has won 29 all-time CIT championships with 16 coming under the direction of former Head Coach Grant Schmidt. The event first got started in 1951 and has occurred annually (with a few exceptions) since then. Friedrich Arena has played host to the event in 2013, 2017 and 2023.
· Fresh off his CIT MVP award, Schutte has 1,000 career points in his sights. He enters the week having totaled 953 points in 75 career collegiate games. No one who saw him play in high school would be surprised by that production. Schutte totaled more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his prep career at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge High School. Among GPAC players, Schutte ranks seventh in scoring average (18.2), seventh in free throw percentage (.806), eighth in field goal percentage (.539) and 15th in rebounding (6.1). He’ll be in line for plenty of postseason accolades after last season being named Honorable Mention All-GPAC and an NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team selection.
· The remaining five games left in the regular season will all be against GPAC opponents. That stretch begins Wednesday with a trip to Fremont, Neb., for a 7:45 p.m. CT tipoff at Midland (9-14, 3-12 GPAC). Concordia won the first meeting in Seward, 83-47, on Nov. 16. Then on Saturday, the Bulldogs will be back at home to host Dordt (17-5, 9-5 GPAC) at 3:45 p.m. CUNE knocked off the Defenders in Sioux Center, Iowa, 87-72, on Nov. 19.
Women’s Basketball
· The Bulldogs have found a groove as they enter the final month of the 2022-23 regular season. They concluded January with three wins last week, topping it off with another CIT championship victory. As part of the week’s success, CUNE defeated Hastings, 73-62, Concordia University Wisconsin, 100-49, and Concordia University Chicago, 85-33. Those results moved Head Coach Drew Olson’s squad to 15-7 overall (11-5 GPAC). Currently in fourth place in the GPAC standings, the Bulldogs are looking up at Dordt (15-1), Jamestown (12-4) and Briar Cliff (12-4) with Northwestern (10-5) just behind. For more information on Concordia Women’s Basketball, click HERE.
· The Bulldogs entered the month of January sitting just barely above .500 at 7-6 overall. Fast forward a month later and CUNE looks like a different, more confident team. During the course of January, CUNE went 8-1 and claimed wins over two ranked teams: then No. 21 Dakota Wesleyan and then No. 15 Northwestern (on the road). Over that stretch, the Bulldogs averaged 76.3 points to their opponents’ 56.9 and outshot their foes, 42.7 percent to 33.3 percent. The offensive balance over those nine games was striking. Five CUNE players averaged at least 8.3 points: Taysha Rushton (11.8), Sadie Powell (9.7), Abby Krieser (9.4), Kristin Vieselmeyer (8.4) and Kendal Brigham (8.3).
· Before thinking about CIT, the Bulldogs took care of Hastings in the middle of last week and earned a regular season sweep of the Broncos (8-14, 4-12 GPAC). After a 33-33 halftime stalemate, CUNE turned on the jets and outscored Hastings 22-7 in the third quarter. Krieser continued her tear by going for 14 points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots while Rushton added 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. Hastings stayed in the game to some degree by making 14-of-29 shots from 3-point range. However, the Broncos were just 6-for-24 inside the arc and committed 17 turnovers. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs shot a solid 45.9 percent from the field and went 7-for-8 from the foul line.
· The opening matchup of CIT was no contest as CUNE outscored Concordia Wisconsin (9-10), 25-6, in the first quarter and kept piling on. All 13 Bulldogs who saw action registered in the scoring column with Rushton (15) and Vieselmeyer (11) notching double figures. CUNE stifled the Falcons into shooting only 25.9 percent (14-for-54) from the floor and flustered them into 20 turnovers. The Bulldogs knocked down 15 treys and dominated the boards, 53-33. In the win, Mackenzie Koepke became the sixth player in program history to reach 200 career 3-point field goals. It was also a fine performance for Taylor Farrell, who posted eight points in the opening half. Koepke and Farrell were the lone two Bulldogs with prior CIT experience.
· It was more of the same in the CIT championship, which saw CUNE’s defense lock down even tighter. The Cougars (9-10) shot a miserable 18.8 percent (12-for-64) from the floor and star guard Katherine Benes went 0-for-12 from the floor and was held scoreless. A big weekend continued for Vieselmeyer who totaled 21 points and nine rebounds in the championship and was named CIT all-tournament. Rushton garnered CIT MVP honors and posted 13 points, four assists and two steals versus CUC. Brigham contributed nine points off the bench. Once again, all 13 Bulldogs scored. CUNE also took the rebounding battle, 52-42, and netted 16-of-17 foul shots.
· This year’s CIT dominance was a continuation from the previous seven events. The Bulldogs have won eight CITs in a row and own an active CIT win streak of 16. Entering this year’s tournament, CUNE had won its previous 14 CIT games by an average margin of 31.6 points per game. In his 17 years as head coach, Olson has a record of 27-3 at CIT with 12 championships. Four other coaches in program history have won CIT titles: Carl Everts (seven), Mark Lemke (four), Micah Parker (four) and Todd Voss (four). CUNE has won 31 all-time CIT titles and has reigned supreme in 30 of the past 35 CITs.
· As stated, Koepke became the sixth Bulldog to knock down 200 or more 3-point field goals in a career. Now with 202 3-point field goals, Koepke (837 career points) is joined in that club by Kristen Conahan (323), Melissa Tinkham (266), Andrea Janssen (247), Brenleigh Daum (232) and Bailey Morris (201). Rushton will soon add her name to the group. The Midland, Texas, native enters the week with 193 career 3-point field goals to her credit. Speaking of Rushton, she’s made her way to No. 19 on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,258 points. Rushton’s career totals also include 226 assists, 225 rebounds and 135 steals in 82 games.
· It will be conference play only for the final six games of the regular season. Up next is Wednesday’s 6 p.m. CT clash at Midland (3-18, 1-15 GPAC). The Bulldogs will seek a regular season sweep having taken the first meeting in Seward, 84-59, on Nov. 16. Then on Saturday, CUNE will get another shot at third-ranked Dordt (21-1, 15-1 GPAC). The Defenders will be at Friedrich Arena for a 2 p.m. tipoff. Dordt protected its home court, 76-65, from the Bulldogs back on Nov. 19.
Wrestling
· The 2022-23 GPAC dual schedule is in the books after the Bulldogs took on three conference foes at the GPAC Day of Duals No. 2 held at Long Lines Family Recreation Center in Sioux City, Iowa, on Jan. 28. Concordia came away with wins over Northwestern, 21-15, Briar Cliff, 19-17, and Jamestown, 37-12. Those results left the Bulldogs with a final season GPAC dual record of 6-2 (11-2 overall). Head Coach Chase Clasen helped steer the program to a third-place regular season finish after it placed in a tie for sixth in 2021-22. For more information on Concordia Wrestling, click HERE.
· Clasen referred to the day in Sioux City as perhaps the best of the season for his Bulldogs. In the first matchup of the day, the Bulldogs defeated the Red Raiders (5-7, 4-4 GPAC) while taking six matches, including three by major decision. Those major decisions came courtesy of Creighton Baughman (141), Issiah Burks (165) and Stephen Duffy (184), three individuals who set the tone for the day. At 197, Logan Davidson clinched the day’s first team victory with his 5-0 blanking of Kaleb Lind, ranked third in the GPAC in that weight class. Bryce Karlin (125) and Tommy Wentz (157) also picked up wins over their Northwestern counterparts.
· In dual No. 2, Concordia split the 10 matches with the Chargers (4-4, 4-4 GPAC), who placed second in the GPAC last season. Briar Cliff owned an 11-3 advantage after the first four weight classes. That’s when the Bulldogs got on a roll with wins from Wentz (decision at 157), Burks (pin at 165), Jose Sanchez (decision at 174) and Duffy (major at 184). Notably, Sanchez upended the conference’s third-rated competitor at 165 (moved up a weight in the dual). Briar Cliff won by decision at 197 and 285, but it wasn’t enough to erase what had been a 19-11 team deficit.
· There was much less drama in the final clash of the day in Sioux City. Concordia triumphed in eight matches over Jamestown (6-11, 3-6 GPAC) while getting a pin from both Karlin (125) and Baughman (141). Contested wins were also claimed by Grant Wells (decision at 133), Sanchez (decision at 174), Duffy (decision at 184) and Davidson (major at 197). The Bulldogs were the beneficiary of two forfeit wins as well. The Jimmies did manage to notch two pins (at 149 and 285).
· The season to date has included 13 duals and six tournaments. At 11-2 in duals, the Bulldogs far surpassed their win total from 2021-22 when they went 6-6 (3-5 GPAC). The two losses this season have come at the hands of the two highest rated teams in the GPAC. To this point, 26 Bulldogs have wrestled in at least one match. The following Concordia competitors own at least five wins on the season: Creighton Baughman (19-7), Tommy Wentz (18-9), Stephen Duffy (11-8), Issiah Burks (11-11), Grant Wells (11-11), Bryce Karlin (10-8), Jose Sanchez (10-14), Jeaven Scdoris (9-13), Garret Moser (8-9), Logan Davidson (7-4), Thomas Ivey (7-9), Kobe Lyons (6-2), Torrance Keehn (6-8) and Cy Renney (6-16). Karlin paces the team with eight pins, followed by Baughman with five and Renney and Wentz with four apiece.
· With 11 overall dual wins, the 2022-23 team has equaled the 2016-17 squad for the third most dual victories in a single season in program history. The record of 13 continues to be held by the 2015-16 (13-4) and 2019-20 (13-2) editions that won GPAC championships. There have now been five squads in school history to reach at least 10 dual wins. The 1970-71 squad coached by Roger Meyer went 10-3 and was the NIAC champion. Concordia sponsored wrestling from 1962-63 through 1977-78 and then went until 2009-10 before reintroducing the sport.
· This will be the final week of regular season action. The Bulldogs will host both Colby Community College and York University for two separate duals on Thursday. Wrestling will get started at 6 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. As part of the evening, Concordia will celebrate its senior class. Then on Saturday, select Bulldogs will compete at the Dave Edmonds Open hosted by Morningside.
Track & Field
· A final full-scale road meet of the 2022-23 indoor season unfolded last week as the Bulldogs competed at the Fred Beile Classic hosted by Doane on Jan. 28. The yields for Concordia athletes included 14 event championships, four fresh automatic national qualifying marks and seven new ‘B’ standards. The meet at Doane marked the fourth weekend of indoor competition this season for Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads, which have totaled 16 automatic national qualifying standards to date. For more information on Concordia Track & Field, click HERE.
· The first set of 2022-23 NAIA indoor ratings were released last week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). According to the coaches’ association calculations, the Bulldogs boast national rankings of No. 2 on the women’s side and No. 5 on the men’s side. Both Concordia teams got a boost from owning the No. 1 rated distance medley relays (at the time) and from holding more than 30 marks that met the ‘A’ or ‘B’ national reporting standard when the ratings were released. Top five rankings are nothing new for the Bulldog women’s program, which turned in 2022 NAIA national finishes of third for indoor and fourth for outdoor.
· Below is a complete listing of Concordia athletes who possess marks meeting either the ‘A’ or ‘B’ national reporting standard. The tally after four weekends of indoor competition includes 16 ‘A’ standards and 24 ‘B’ standards. In addition, four Bulldog pentathletes have eclipsed the minimum national reporting standard of 2,950 points. Amy Richert currently ranks No. 2 nationally in the pentathlon.
o Women’s 4x400m Relay, A (3:54.81)
o Women’s 4x800m Relay, B (9:39.96)
o Men’s Distance Medley Relay, A (10:10.06)
o Women’s Distance Medley Relay, A (12:20.68)
o Elena Batenhorst – No. 13 in NAIA in pentathlon (3,022)
o Rachel Battershell – 60 Hurdles, A (8.94); 400 Meters, B (57.64)
o Zach Bennetts – Pole Vault, A (15’ 11”)
o Chase Berry – Pole Vault, A (15’ 7”)
o Erin Boggs – Pole Vault, B (11’ 2 ½”)
o Dagne’ Buck – Weight Throw, B (55’ 7”)
o Mark Cooke – 60 Hurdles, B (8.29)
o Amira Cummings – Pole Vault, B (11’ 2 ½”)
o Josiah Edwards – Weight Throw, B (54’)
o Jenna Esch – 400 Meters, B (58.62); 600 Meters, B (1:36.86)
o Kylahn Freiberg – Mile, B (5:07.94); 3,000 Meters, B (10:24.45)
o Abby Gerber – Weight Throw, B (53’ 1 ½”)
o Rylee Haecker – 1,000 Meters, A (2:56.44); Mile, B (5:06.10)
o Brady Klute – Weight Throw, B (55’ 11”)
o Wyatt Loga – High Jump, B (6’ 7”)
o Erin Mapson – Pole Vault, A (12’ 2 ½”)
o Colton Meyer – 400 Meters, A (48.57)
o Hannah Newton – High Jump, B (5’ 4 ½”)
o Josi Noble – No. 17 in NAIA in Pentathlon (2,951)
o Alli Owings – Weight Throw, B (52’ 6”)
o Kamryn Pokorney – Weight Throw, B (51’ 11 ¾”)
o Josie Puelz – Pole Vault, A (12’ 9 ½”)
o Joel Rathe – Long Jump, B (23’ ¾”)
o Amy Richert – No. 2 in NAIA in Pentathlon (3,487); High Jump, B (5’ 4 ½”)
o Maddie Robinson – Shot Put, A (44’ 9”); Weight Throw, B (53’ 11 ¼”)
o Adrianna Rodencal – 60 Hurdles, A (8.89)
o Calvin Rohde – 1,000 Meters, A (2:28.60); Mile, A (4:12.88)
o Myles Sadd – High Jump, B (6’ 7”)
o Isabelle Salters – No. 15 in NAIA in Pentathlon (2,968)
o Darien Semedo – Shot Put, B (51’ 5 ¾”)
o Abi Wohlgemuth – Weight Throw, B (53’ 2 ¼”)
o Chris Wren – Weight Throw, A (62’ 10 ¾”)
o Zach Zohner – Pole Vault, A (15’ 7”)
· The newest automatic national qualifiers for the Bulldogs are Rachel Battershell (60 hurdles), Zach Bennetts (pole vault), Calvin Rohde (mile) and Zach Zohner (pole vault). The indoor season Rohde has enjoyed is worth highlighting. The Reed City, Mich., native has been especially motivated after falling short of qualifying for cross country nationals. He’s now qualified for the 2023 NAIA indoor meet in the 1,000 meters, the mile and as part of the distance medley relay. Nationally, Rohde ranks fifth in the 1,000 (2:28.60) and 11th in the mile (4:12.88). Meanwhile, the DMR (10:10.06) sits No. 2 on the national list.
· Pole vault coach Jason Berry is working on building up a small army of qualifiers in his event grouping. On the men’s side of things, three Bulldogs got over 15 feet at the Beile Classic, including the aforementioned new automatic qualifiers in Bennetts (15’ 11”) and Zohner (15’ 7”). Bennetts and Zohner placed 1-2 in the meet with teammates Chase Berry (15’ 3”) and Mayson Ostermeyer (14’ 11”) coming in third and fourth place, respectively. On the women’s side, Josie Puelz (12’ 4 ½”) and Erin Mapson (12’ ½”) were the top two place finishers while Amira Cummings (11’ 2 ½”) cleared the ‘B’ standard for the first time this season.
· Event titles at the Beile Classic were captured by Battershell (60 hurdles), Hannah Beintema (1,000 meters), Bennetts (pole vault), Lauren Dawson (5,000 meters), Jenna Esch (400 and 800 meters), Kylahn Freiberg (3,000 meters), Rylee Haecker (mile), Josi Noble (triple jump), Puelz (pole vault), Joel Rathe (long jump), Amy Richert (high jump), Rohde (mile) and Micah Willweber (1,000 meters). Out of those performances, ‘B’ standards were achieved by Freiberg and Haecker. Battershell is now qualified automatically in the 60 hurdles along with teammate Adrianna Rodencal. In the throws, Josiah Edwards recorded a fresh weight throw ‘B’ standard.
The Bulldogs will be able to get comfortable at home now as they prepare to host the Concordia Classic (Feb. 3), the Concordia Invite (Feb. 10) and the GPAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 17-18). Those meets are part of a 2022-23 indoor slate featuring five total home meets. Select Bulldog athletes will also be headed to the Devaney Center this weekend for the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational.