Bulldog Athletics Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Adam Van Cleave, Football
A senior from Columbus, Neb., Adam Van Cleave led the Bulldogs to a 32-29 win at Hastings. Named NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week, Van Cleave totaled 145 receiving yards (on 13 catches), 110 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Van Cleave is majoring in Accounting.
Female: Addie Kirkegaard, Volleyball / Taylor Slaymaker, Soccer
A senior from Hastings, Neb., Addie Kirkegaard helped the fourth-ranked Bulldogs to road wins last week over Hastings and Dakota Wesleyan. Kirkegaard tallied a combined eight kills and five blocks in the two wins. She is a Secondary Education major with a concentration in Biology.
A fifth-year Bulldog from Kearney, Neb., Taylor Slaymaker contributed to two shutouts as Concordia defeated Midland, 4-0, and Dakota Wesleyan, 1-0, last week. Slaymaker scored the final goal in the win at Midland and helped limit the two foes to a combined 15 shots. Slaymaker graduated this past May with a degree in Education (with an endorsement in coaching).
2025-26 BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
Basketball seasons tip off Saturday, Oct. 25: The 2025-26 Bulldog Basketball seasons will tip off on Saturday. Head Coach Drew Olson’s women’s program will welcome Kansas Christian College to Friedrich Arena for a 2 p.m. CT tipoff on Saturday. Meanwhile, Head Coach Ben Limback’s men’s program will be headed to Graceland University (Iowa) for a 3 p.m. start on Saturday. The Oct. 25 women’s contest will mark the earliest date in the calendar that Concordia has ever hosted an official basketball game (men or women). For a close look at the 2025-26 Bulldog hoops teams, check out the season previews linked below. In GPAC preseason basketball polls announced last week, Concordia landed at No. 3 (tied) on the men’s side and at No. 6 on the women’s side.
--Men’s Basketball | Women’s Basketball
Weightlifting kicks off 2025-26 season: Year four of Concordia Weightlifting is underway. The season got started this past Saturday (Oct. 18) with the Iowa-Nebraska State Championships in Ralston, Neb., where the Bulldogs earned the team title. Fifteen Bulldogs contributed to the championship, including five athletes who broke school records. New school standards were set for snatch, clean and jerk and overall total within their respective weight classes by the likes of Evan Fukuhara (79kg), Taylor Hedke (63kg), Enzo Mancini (110kg), Kaiden Mima (65kg) and Abby Nelson (53kg). Hedke (Marysville, Kan.) broke the school record for Q-points, which is a statistical formula to adjust the total weight lifted for body mass. Next on the schedule will be the Virus Weightlifting Finals (Dec. 4-7) in Daytona Beach, Fla. Concordia Powerlifting has also had one meet so far this season. The next powerlifting event is the Central Collegiate Cup Series (Nov. 22-23). For a closer look at Head Coach Freddie Myles’ programs, check out the links below. In another piece of news from this past weekend, Myles was recognized as 2025 Iowa-Nebraska Weightlifting State Organization Coach of the Year.
--Season Previews: Powerlifting | Weightlifting.
Featuring Concordia athletes: The Concordia Athletics website frequently profiles student-athletes and their stories. For two recent features on Bulldog athletes, check out the links below.
--Emery Custer
--Carson Fehlhafer
--Daylon Henson
--Niah Kirchner
--Concordia VB 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.
Women’s Soccer
· Current record: 11-1-4, 6-1-2 GPAC; receiving votes in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won at Midland, 4-0, on Oct. 15.
o Won at Dakota Wesleyan, 1-0, on Oct. 18.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The Bulldogs picked up two road wins they needed this past week in order to remain in the thick of the GPAC regular season championship race. Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad earned shutout victories over Midland, 4-0, and Dakota Wesleyan, 1-0. As part of those wins, five different Concordia players got into the goal scoring column. In the domination of Midland, a goal apiece came from Kyana Rios (5’), Lupe Sanchez (45’), Kierstynn Garner (63’) and Taylor Slaymaker (69’). Three days later, Elena Ruiz found the back of the net in the 69th minute for the game’s lone goal in Mitchell, S.D. At keeper, Aliya Vidro played all 180 minutes in goal and notched four saves as she recorded a pair of clean sheets. Slaymaker and the back line helped limit Midland/DWU to a combined 15 shots for the week. With her score at Midland, Garner pushed her career goal count to 66, moving her to No. 2 by herself on the program’s all-time goals list. Among GPAC players, Garner ranks first in points (44), first in assists (10) and second in goals (17). Through 16 games, Concordia has outscored its opponents by a combined total of 40-9. In the current GPAC standings, the Bulldogs reside in first place with 20 points with Morningside (19 points in eight GPAC games) and Dordt (19 points in nine GPAC games) hovering in second place. Head Coach Nick Smith’s squad has the middle of this week off before welcoming Dordt to Bulldog Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
· For additional news and notes, check out the program’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 22 – Bye.
o Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Dordt (7-5-2, 6-2-1 GPAC), 3:30 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 7-8, 5-3 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Lost at Midland, 3-0, on Oct. 15.
o Won at Dakota Wesleyan, 2-1, on Oct. 18.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: Entering last week, the Bulldogs were staring down a difficult week against two foes that stood tied for second place in the GPAC standings. Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad was doomed at Midland (3-0 loss) by a rough seven-minute stretch. Concordia then bounced back to claim a 2-1 victory on the grass at Dakota Wesleyan. The result in Mitchell, S.D., was an important one in regards to the Bulldogs maintaining their position in the top four in the conference standings (currently in fourth place with 15 points). In the defeat in Fremont, all three Warrior goals occurred between the 73rd and 80th minutes in what was otherwise a competitive contest. Midland (receiving votes nationally) edged Concordia in shots, 19-17 (seven shots on goal apiece). Three days later, the Bulldogs earned perhaps their most impressive win yet this season as they won despite an 18-6 disadvantage in shots (10-3 in shots on goal). Concordia built a 2-0 lead at DWU thanks to a goal apiece from Ricards Busmeisters (12’) and Michael Wyvill (55’). The Tigers avoided the shutout with a goal in the 68th minute. Goalkeeper Inigo Chavarria turned in a fine effort as he made nine saves while playing all 90 minutes. The Bulldogs will enjoy a bye in the middle of this week before returning to Bulldog Stadium to host Dordt on Saturday afternoon. Only two games remain in the regular season.
· For a closer look at this week’s matchups, check out the game notes linked HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 22 – Bye.
o Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. Dordt (4-5-6, 1-3-4 GPAC), 1 p.m.
Volleyball
· Current record: 18-2, 11-1 GPAC; ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won at Hastings, 25-14, 25-16, 25-18, on Oct. 15.
o Won at Dakota Wesleyan, 25-15, 25-22, 25-17, on Oct. 18.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: It was a week of road dominance as the fourth-ranked Bulldogs handled both Hastings and Dakota Wesleyan in straight sets. Only one of the six sets was particularly close (25-22 in the second set at DWU) as Concordia outhit the two opponents collectively, .272 to .040. The Bulldogs also owned statistical advantages in kills, 89-52, digs, 136-109, blocks, 19-7, and aces, 5-3. Five Concordia players registered at least 10 kills for the week: Ashley Keck (23), Ella Waters (16), Kya Scott (14), Ava Greene (12) and Molli Martin (11). The blocking efforts were led by Greene (eight), Martin (eight) and Waters (seven). On the pins, Waters hit .306 for the week. Keck also paced the team in digs with 36 while libero Emma Brueggemann added 34 digs over the two wins. Among GPAC players, Keck continues to top the leaderboard in kills per set (3.99) while Brueggemann ranks second in digs per set (5.20). Following the loss to Northwestern on Oct. 10, the Bulldogs slipped two spots in the NAIA coaches’ poll to No. 4. The program has been included inside the NAIA top five in 22 straight national coaches’ polls. In the GPAC standings, Concordia (11-1 GPAC) sits behind only the Red Raiders (11-0 GPAC). On this week’s slate, the Bulldogs will host Mount Marty and then travel to play College of Saint Mary.
· For a feature on the volleyball senior class, click HERE.
· For additional news and notes on Concordia Volleyball, check out the team’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Oct. 22 vs. Mount Marty (10-12, 3-8 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
o Saturday, Oct. 25 at College of Saint Mary (12-10, 5-6 GPAC), 5 p.m.
Football
· Current record: 5-1, 5-1 GPAC; ranked No. 23 in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won at Hastings, 32-29, on Oct. 18.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The run of wild, rollercoaster games continues for a Bulldog squad now sitting at 5-1. In this past Saturday’s visit to Hastings, Concordia surrendered the lead late in the fourth quarter only to mount an 11-play, 75-yard drive that was capped with the game-winning touchdown, a 26-yard toss from Gideon Stark to Adam Van Cleave. A pick by linebacker Dylan Meyer on the ensuing Bronco possession sealed the 32-29 road victory. Van Cleave emerged as the game’s biggest star as he caught 13 receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 30 times for 110 yards and a touchdown. Van Cleave received the lion’s share of the carries at tailback with top back Carlos Collazo sidelined by injury. Through the air, Stark went 29-for-55 for 306 yards and two scores (three interceptions). The Bulldogs managed to overcome four turnovers, a blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown and a blocked PAT. Kicker Peyton Atwood shined as he went 4-for-4 on field goals and made two PATs, allowing him to eclipse a program record for career PATs (109). On the defensive side of the ball, Concordia put forth a strong effort in limiting Hastings to 252 total yards. Two Bronco touchdowns came on defense/special teams. With six GPAC regular season games in the books, Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s squad is tied for second in the GPAC, one game behind undefeated Dordt (6-0). In a showdown this Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa, the Bulldogs will take on 11th-ranked Morningside. The Mustangs will be coming off a 14-13 upset loss at Northwestern.
· For details on each week’s matchup, check out the game notes linked HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Oct. 25 at No. 11 Morningside (5-2, 5-1 GPAC), 1 p.m.
Shooting Sports
· Most recent:
o Placed 4th/17 at Hastings Invite on Oct. 4-5.
· Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: In outing No. 5 of the fall semester, the Bulldogs placed fourth high overall out of 17 teams at the Hastings Bronco Invite (Oct. 4-5) held at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Neb., the same location of the previous week’s Prairie Circuit Conference Championships. Head Coach Dylan Owens’ squad cracked 1,706 targets towards the team scoring, placing behind only William Penn University (1,817), Midland University (1,786) and Iowa Western Community College (1,740). Individually, senior Katie Welker continued an impressive fall by running 100 straight in trap. A native of Hamill, S.D., Welker emerged as the lone female to shoot a perfect score in trap at the Hastings Invite. From an HOA standpoint, it was a tight race between Welker and Devin Harris for the top score among Bulldogs. Harris wound up with a total of 351/400 with Welker on his heels at 350. Of the 18 Concordia athletes in the field, eight shot 300 or better HOA while battling the elements. The HOA total for Harris put him at No. 6 among all athletes in the field at the Hastings Invite. By discipline, the Bulldogs shot team totals of 481 in trap, 466 in skeet, 374 in sporting and 385 in super. Individual leaders by event were Welker in trap (100), Harris and Welker in skeet (96) and Harris in sporting (81) and super (80). Concordia had two consecutive weekends off from competition. However, many Bulldogs lent their services to the Kids & Clays Sporting Clays Tournament at Oak Creek Sporting Club in Brainard, Neb., Oct. 10-11. The final event on the fall slate is the SECC-Beatrice Bobcat Invitational this Saturday and Sunday.
· Up next:
o SECC-Beatrice Bobcat Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 25-26.
Cross Country
· Most recent:
o Men – placed 7th/16 at Holiday Inn Express Classic on Oct. 11.
o Women – placed 14th/17 at Holiday Inn Express Classic on Oct. 11.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | NAIA Polls: Men | Women
· Notable: For the first time this season, the Bulldogs competed on back-to-back Saturdays. At the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by Dordt on Oct. 11, Concordia placed seventh out of 16 teams on the men’s side and 14th out of 17 teams on the women’s side. However, the place finishes don’t tell the whole story. Head Coach Matt Beisel came away pleased by the large number of personal and season bests achieved in Sioux Center, Iowa. The sizable field featured NCAA Division I and II runners and a combined nine NAIA teams that are either ranked or receiving votes nationally. The top finishers for the Bulldogs were sophomore Annaka Schlachter (23:09.90 6k time) and junior Trey Robertson (25:23.97 8k time). The place finish for the women’s team was hurt by the absence of top runner Keeli Green, who sat out due to sickness. She is expected back for the next meet. Both Concordia teams are getting major contributions from freshmen, including the seven (combined men and women) that ran in the Gold Division at the Holiday Inn Express Classic (meant for the best 10 runners from each school). Beisel is training his teams with the hopes of them peaking when it matters most. The Blazing Tiger Classic (co-hosted by College of Saint Mary and Doane) is up next and will take place this Saturday. It will be the final meet prior to the 2025 GPAC Championships scheduled for Nov. 8.
· For additional news and notes on the Concordia Cross Country teams, click HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Oct. 25 at Blazing Tiger Classic in Ashland, Neb.