Bulldog Weekly Report (March 15, 2016)

By Jacob Knabel on Mar. 15, 2016 in Athletic Announcements

Bulldog Booster Club Athletes of the Week

Male: Andrew Schulte, wrestling

Schulte, a native of Corona, Calif., became the first national champion in Concordia wrestling history when he captured the 141-pound title on March 5. Schulte finished his season with a winning streak of 26 while breaking the program record for overall victories in a campaign (40). Schulte was also named the GPAC wrestler of the year.

Female: Autumn Owens, softball

Owens, who hails from Henderson, Nev., helped power the Bulldogs to a 9-1 record at the Tucson Invitational. Over 10 games in Arizona, Owens went 16-for-32 (.500) with two doubles, three home runs, six runs scored, 14 RBIs and an .844 slugging percentage. Earlier on Tuesday she was named the GPAC player of the week.

News and notes:

Lurz/McLaughlin pick up national honors: Prestigious honors were thrown at assistant coach Ed McLaughlin and junior Zach Lurz, both of the Concordia track and field program, last week. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association tabbed McLaughlin as the 2016 NAIA National Men’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year and Lurz the 2016 NAIA National Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year. Lurz won his second career indoor shot put title at the 2016 national championships.

Track hosts Bulldog Challenge Thursday through Saturday: Concordia track and field will welcome 45 high school teams and more than 2,000 athletes to campus for this weekend’s annual Bulldog Challenge. The event is separated into four different divisions. For more information, including event schedules, click HERE.

Men’s golf tops Doane in match play: The Bulldog men’s golf program won two of three two-man matches last week to defeat Doane in a head-to-head meet in Fort Myers, Fla., on March 7. Concordia wins were delivered by the combos of Russell Otten and Nolan Zikas (4 and 3) and by Tyler Ehresman and Garrett Suchanek (1-up). For more on the match-play victory, click HERE.

Nine basketball players collect Scholar-Athlete honors: A total of nine Concordia men’s and women’s basketball players garnered 2016 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition on Monday. Senior Micah Kohlwey is now a three-time Scholar Athlete.
MBB Scholar-Athletes: Chandler Folkerts, Justin Damme, Micah Kohlwey, Stephen Llewellyn.
WBB Scholar-Athletes: Carissa Gutz, Laurel Krohn, Becky Mueller, Shelby Quinn, Erin Vieselmeyer.

Dance/Cheer lands three on Scholar-Athlete list: For the first time ever, the NAIA award dance and cheer student-athletes as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes in 2016. Three Bulldogs made the list: juniors Angelica Blomenberg, Aly Miller and Katherine Vogel.

Bulldogs land high national finishes: Three Bulldog winter athletic teams captured top-10 national finishes in championship events that took place March 3-5: men’s indoor track and field (third), women’s indoor track and field (fifth) and wrestling (eighth). In addition, women’s basketball is likely to garner a top-25 ranking when the postseason poll is released on March 23. Head coach Drew Olson’s squad appeared at No. 16 before its first-round national tournament loss to Goshen College (Ind.) on March 9.

Bulldog Coaches Show airs every Thursday at 4 p.m. CT: New this year is the Bulldog Coaches Show, which runs for a half hour every Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. CT on KOOL 103.5 FM. The show can also be heard live via 104.9 Max Country’s website or by downloading the TuneIn Radio app and then searching “KOOL.” Throughout the 2015-16 season, Bulldog football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball contests were aired live on Max Country.

Concordia Sports Network: Live webcasts for most home varsity contests can be accessed by visiting http://www.cune.edu/csn at game time. Check team schedules/results pages for webcast dates. Scrimmages, exhibitions and junior varsity events are not broadcasted.

Women’s Basketball

  • The 2015-16 season came to a conclusion on March 9 with fourth-seeded Concordia falling victim to a last-second 3-pointer in an 85-82 loss to fourth-seeded Goshen College (Ind.) in the first round of the 2016 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships. It was the fifth-straight national tournament appearance and eighth under tenth-year head coach Drew Olson, whose 2015-16 squad completed the campaign with a mark of 22-10. Concordia has fallen in the first round in three of the past four years. For more on Bulldog women’s basketball, click HERE.
  • The Bulldogs are now 22-15 all-time in 15 appearances at the national tournament. Olson’s tenure has accounted for half of those wins (11) and more than half of the appearances. Concordia is 9-6 in first-round games and has made four national semifinal advancements, including the 2015 run to the national title game for the first time in program history. Olson is one of five coaches to take the Bulldogs to the national championships and one of just three to make multiple journeys to the tourney.
  • Several Bulldogs playing in their first career national tournament games put together impressive performances. Foremost among them was freshman Quinn Wragge, a first team all-conference selection. The native of Crofton, Neb., registered her third double-double in four games while going for 24 points and 10 rebounds. Wragge finished her rookie season with a scoring average of 14.8, making her the first freshman to lead the team in scoring since Sarah Harrison in 2001-02. She also topped the Bulldogs in rebounding (6.6), steals (1.84), blocks (0.59), field goal percentage (.585) and minutes per game (27.1).
  • Other key contributions were delivered by national tournament first-timers in sophomore Sydney Feller and junior Erin Vieselmeyer, who combined for 28 points. While making her second career start, Feller dropped in a career high 15 points and knocked down 3-of-4 shots from beyond the arc and snared four rebounds. Vieselmeyer’s 13 points were just two shy of a personal best.
  • Senior Becky Mueller gave a strong showing in her final game as a Bulldog. She set a new personal high for points in a national tournament game with 23. That total allowed her to leapfrog both Jane Dartman (1,061) and Rachel Witzel (1,050) on the program’s all-time scoring list. Mueller finishes her career No. 20 in scoring with 1,071 points over 99 games. She earned second team all-conference accolades for last season’s national runner up.
  • Twenty-win seasons have become the norm for Concordia. Over the past 15 seasons, the Bulldogs have failed to notch at least 20 wins only three times with one of those years yielding 19 victories. Olson is now 248-88 over his first 10 seasons, giving him an average just under 25 wins per year. Olson entered the 2015-16 season ranked 20th among active NAIA Division II coaches in total wins. Of the 25 coaches on that list, only three sported a higher winning percentage than Olson.
  • The Bulldogs entered the 2016 national tournament with averages of 71.3 points per game offensively and 64.3 points allowed per contest. Out of 37 total national tournament games, only five times has Concordia eclipsed the 82 points it tallied last week. The 85 points allowed versus Goshen ranks as the fifth highest point total put up by a Bulldog opponent at the national championships. The school record for most team points scored in a single tournament game was broken last season in the 92-82 win over College of Saint Mary. The Bulldogs’ stingiest defensive effort occurred in 2005 when they held Western Baptist to just 28 points in a 70-28 first-round victory.
  • With just two seniors on the 2015-16 roster (Mueller and Jenna Lehmann), Olson has reason to believe that his 2016-17 squad will be even better. Wragge will be the headlining returner. In addition, Mary Janovich (second team all-conference) is on the mend after suffering a torn ACL in mid-January. Other current underclassmen with extensive starting experience are Brenleigh Daum and Shelby Quinn. In addition, Olson holds next season’s recruiting class in high regard.

Baseball

  • Last week Concordia completed a spring break trip in Tucson, Ariz., where it played 10 games over a seven-day stretch at the annual Tucson Invitational held at the Kino Sports Complex. After beginning the trip with losses in three of four contests, the Bulldogs ended the trip with six-straight victories. Over that stretch, Concordia averaged 10.7 runs per game while winning several times in decisive fashion. Second-year head coach Ryan Dupic’s squad has jumped above .500 at 12-10 overall. To read recaps of recent action, click HERE.
  • The conclusion of the spring trip marked the third-straight year in which the Bulldogs have won the final six games of their Tucson Invitational slate. Under Dupic, Concordia is 15-4 in contests played in the state of Arizona. The 2014 team, then coached by Jeremy Geidel, dropped its first four games in Tucson before recovering to win each of the last half dozen. From 2011 to 2013, Concordia spent its spring breaks in Florida.
  • Despite a high strikeout rate (7.4 per game), the Bulldogs continue to trend on a record-setting pace in terms of runs scored. The 2015 team set a new program single-season standard by totaling 289 runs (6.6/game). So far in 2016, Concordia is averaging 7.6 runs per game. At their current rate, the Bulldogs are on pace for 420 runs scored in the regular season (assuming all 55 games are played as scheduled), which would shatter the 2015 record. Concordia has scored 15 runs or more five times already this season.
  • One reason for the offensive success is Christian Montero’s power bat, which came alive in Arizona. Over the 10 games in Arizona, the transfer from Iowa Central Community College went 13-for-35 (.371) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBIs. His 25 total bases equated to a .714 slugging percentage. On the season, the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is hitting .324 with team highs in homers (three), RBIs (21) and total bases (39).
  • Concordia’s pitching and defense also made huge strides after early struggles in Arizona. The Bulldogs allowed an average of 6.8 runs over the first four games before slashing that average down to 3.0 over the final six contests. Four hurlers combined on Concordia’s first shutout of the season in the 19-0, seven-inning blanking of the University of Winnipeg on March 8. Starter Casey Hall tossed four scoreless frames in earning the victory on the mound.
  • Right-hander Mark Harris made two starts over spring break in a homecoming for the Tucson native. After being tagged with a loss in the 7-3 defeat versus William Penn University (Iowa), Harris responded with a solid performance in the 5-2 victory over Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) on March 10. In that outing, Harris scattered nine hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He allowed just two earned runs and struck out four while evening up his record at 2-2. He sports a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings this season.
  • Dupic has frequently turned to junior right-hander Nic Seaman and freshman right-hander Jared Schipper out of the bullpen. The two have been important additions to the pitching staff. Over 16.0 innings (five appearances), Schipper has allowed 14 hits and just a single walk. He owns a 2.25 ERA and seven strikeouts. Meanwhile, Seaman has surrendered only one run over his six appearances (10 innings). Opposing batters are hitting .103 versus Seaman, who has struck out nine and walked only two. In addition, Josue Melchor has yet to give up a run in six innings. He has saved two games.
  • With its big offensive road trip, Concordia boosted its team batting average above .300 at .304. Six different regulars have averages better than .300: Taylor Dudley (.386), Taylor Bigandt (.378), Kaleb Geiger (.346), Alex Cargin (.333), Logan Ryan (.333), Montero (.324) and Ryan Fesmire (.306). Dudley cleaned up over the final eight games in Arizona, going 12-for-22 (.545) with a double, two triples and eight RBIs over that stretch.
  • There will be no rest for the weary as the Bulldogs hit the road on Tuesday (March 15) for a doubleheader at fourth-ranked Tabor College (Kan.) (14-7), a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Concordia is 5-7 so far this season against KCAC opponents. Then on Saturday, the Bulldogs are slated to host their home-opening doubleheader when Grace University (0-10) visits Plum Creek Park for a 1 p.m. first pitch.

Softball

  • After a layoff of 21 days since playing at the Cowtown Classic (Feb. 12-13) in Fort Worth, Texas, Concordia returned to action at the Tucson Invitational. The Bulldogs won nine of 10 games in Arizona from March 6 – 11. Concordia won its first nine contests of the trip before a 3-2 loss to Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) to conclude its run in The Grand Canyon State. Third-year head coach Todd LaVelle’s squad now stands at 12-3 overall. To read recaps of recent action, click HERE.
  • The Bulldogs’ impressive start has included Tucson Invitational blowouts of two teams that were either ranked or receiving votes. Concordia bludgeoned 25th-ranked University of St. Francis (Ill.), 15-2 in five innings, and then also run-ruled Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) (listed among others receiving votes), 9-1 in six innings. Four of the team’s nine victories in Arizona were of the run-rule shortened variety. The Bulldogs have already won seven games by five runs or more.
  • This is the second time in three seasons that Concordia has won at least 12 of its first 15 games. Among GPAC teams, only College of Saint Mary (7-1) has a better winning percentage thus far in nonconference play. The 2014 Bulldogs, in LaVelle’s first season, broke a program record for most wins to begin a campaign. That team won its first nine contests and sported a 14-1 record after 15 games.
  • An explosive offensive team, Concordia has scored 10 or more runs five times already this season. It averaged 9.2 runs per game in Arizona. The offensive outburst has pushed the Bulldogs’ season average up to 8.3 runs per contest. That figures ranks third best among all 186 NAIA softball programs. Concordia also ranks third nationally in batting average (.385) and fourth in slugging percentage (.545).
  • The ring leader behind Concordia’s offensive success was third baseman Autumn Owens, who went wild in Arizona. Over the trip’s final eight games, she went 15-for-26 (.577) with two doubles, three homers, 13 RBIs and a 1.000 slugging percentage. The most productive week in the career of the Henderson, Nev., sophomore pushed her season batting average to .477 (second on the team). She tops the Bulldogs in home runs (4), RBIs (19), total bases (37) and slugging percentage (.841). She was the hero of the 5-4 win over the University of Michigan-Dearborn on March 6, when Concordia ended the game with Owens’ walk-off RBI single.
  • Junior Kylie Harpst, a transfer from NCAA Division II Pittsburg State, enjoyed a big trip both with the bat and her pitching arm. At the Tucson Invitational, she went 18-for-35 (.514) with at least one hit in nine of the 10 games. She had a 4-for-5 performance that included three runs and four RBIs in the blowout of Purdue University-North Central on March 9. In the circle, Harpst went 4-1 with a 2.18 ERA while working 25.2 innings in Tucson. She’s now 6-2 on the year.
  • A former high school teammate of Harpst at Lincoln North Star, catcher Taylor Huff is also off to a big start. The junior went 17-for-30 (.567) with seven doubles, a triple, a homer and 15 RBIs at the Tucson Invitational. Formerly a member of the Creighton University softball team, Huff is now hitting .435 with 19 RBIs on the year. Her eight doubles are a team high.
  • Harpst and Michaela Woodward have combined to cover all but four innings in the circle. Woodward has gotten the most work with 48.1 total innings over 10 appearances (seven starts). Harpst has made eight appearances – all starts – as a pitcher. Both Harpst and Woodward have six wins apiece. Woodward has already won 26 games in her career since joining the program last season. She was a second team all-conference choice in 2015.
  • Concordia has a much lighter week ahead with only Wednesday’s doubleheader at Bethany College (Kan.) (8-16) on the slate. The twin bill is set to get started at 4 p.m. CT from Lindsborg, Kan. Following action against the Swedes, the Bulldogs will be off for more than a week before opening GPAC play at Northwestern on Thursday, March 24.

Tennis

  • Head coach Joel Reckewey’s squads navigated a busy stretch Wednesday through Friday last week with a match each day. Both Bulldog teams sandwiched a win over Friends University (Kan.) (March 10) between losses to Kansas Wesleyan University (March 9) and Seminole State College (Okla.), a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Concordia men are now .500 at 6-6 overall while the women are 2-10. For more information on Concordia tennis: MEN | WOMEN.
  • Each of the last four victories for the men have come by a final of 5-4. During that run, Concordia has claimed victims in Southwestern College (Kan.), Tabor College (Kan.) and Friends. At the time of the victory over the Falcons, the Bulldogs had won four of five matches. The Bulldogs’ six wins are the second most among GPAC teams behind only Midland’s 11.
  • A solid freshman season continued for Willy Pardos, who came away with wins in two of his three matches at No. 1 singles last week. His only loss was a three-set decision versus Seminole State’s Ismael Mzai. Pardos and fellow freshman Gabe Poling (No. 5 singles) are tied for the team wins lead with seven apiece. Juniors Patricio Esquivel (No. 4) and Javier Moreno (No. 5) are close behind with six each. Pardos and Poling were the only two Bulldogs to record two wins in last week’s action.
  • As a team, the Bulldog men have compiled a singles record of 32-40 and a doubles mark of 11-22. In terms of winning percentage, the combination of Esquivel and freshman Thomas Greeff (3-1) have had the most success. Moreno and Pardos have collaborated on four wins while playing 10 matches together at No. 1. No other pair has played together more than seven times this season.
  • The March 10 match versus Friends marked the first time this season that the Concordia women have defeated a team by a score of 9-0. The Bulldogs overwhelmed the Falcons as Annie Horn (No. 1), Katelinn Wurm (No. 2), Alison Ebel (No. 3), Hannah Boe (No. 4), Kayla Smock (No. 5) and Katie Hertz (No. 6) all claimed singles wins in straight sets. Hertz was the only player to go undefeated on the week. She went 2-0 at No. 6. Her match with Samantha Stafford of Seminole State went unfinished.
  • Hertz, a native of Billings, Mont., is now 2-3 in singles matches. Ebel (3-9), Horn (3-8) and Smock (3-7) are tied for the team wins lead with three apiece. Hertz is one of three Bulldogs with two victories on the season.
  • The Concordia women have produced records of 19-52 in singles matches and 7-26 in doubles bouts. The combo of Horn and Wurm at No. 1 leads the team with two doubles wins. Reckewey has tried 11 different combinations for his doubles lineups this season.
  • Both squads have a long break before returning to action on Saturday, April 2 when they are scheduled to host Morningside (M: 4-5 | W: 3-2) in the GPAC opener for both teams. The Bulldog men and women are slated to host just two GPAC matches apiece.