Bulldog Athletics Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Male: Oliver Balazs, Soccer
A freshman from Budapest, Hungary, Oliver Balazs emerged with his first career goal as part of Concordia’s 3-1 win last week over York University. The Business Administration major has provided a lift since a late arrival to campus. Balazs has started each of the past three games.
Female: Katie Welker, Shooting Sports
A senior from Hamill, S.D., Katie Welker won the high overall female championship at the Midland Invite as she cracked 279/300 targets. Welker also earned a title in trap with a perfect 100. The Biology major shot 85 in sporting and 94 in skeet.
2025-26 BAAM Athletes of the Week
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.
Dr. Brandon Seifert receives call to NAIA Hall of Fame: As announced by the NAIA on Sept. 15, Concordia alum Dr. Brandon Seifert has been selected to the NAIA Hall of Fame Class of 2025. A star in cross country and track & field as a Bulldog, Seifert won a national title in the mile. In track, he totaled eight All-America awards and six individual conference titles. In cross country, Seifert raced to three All-America awards and three conference championships. For more details on Seifert’s hall of fame selection, click HERE.
Tennis competes at GPAC Individual Tournament: Head Coach Lisa Hart and the tennis programs hosted the 2025 GPAC Fall Individual Championships the weekend of Sept. 12-13 at Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb. For recaps and results from the event, click the links below. As part of the fall slate, the Concordia women also earned a 6-1 win over Wartburg College (Iowa) on Sept. 6. This Friday and Saturday, both Bulldog squads will be in Salina, Kan., for the ITA Regional Championships. The women had been scheduled to play at Nebraska Wesleyan University today (Sept. 23). However, that match has been moved to Tuesday, Oct. 7.
--GPAC Fall Championships recaps: Men’s Tennis | Women’s Tennis.
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
Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025: The Concordia Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2024 was revealed to the public on July 23. The new inductees will include Sarah Kortze ’14, Philly Lammers ’20, Courtney Meyer ’65, Randy Pospishil ’73 and the 2014-15 men’s track & field team. The class will be officially inducted as part of a ceremony on Oct. 10 in conjunction with homecoming weekend on campus. For more details on the Hall of Fame, click HERE.
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.
Cross Country
· Most recent:
o Men – placed 14th/23 (9th/17 in Gold Division) at Greeno/Dirksen Invite on Sept. 20.
o Women – placed 14th/22 (8th/16 in Gold Division) at Greeno/Dirksen Invite on Sept. 20.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: Outing No. 2 of the 2025 season saw Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads compete in the largescale Greeno/Dirksen Invite co-hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska Wesleyan University. Concordia emerged from Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln with overall place finishes of 14th out of 23 on the men’s side (ninth out of 17 in the Gold Division) and 14th out of 22 on the women’s side (eighth out of 16 in the Gold Division). The Gold Division included non-Division I teams/athletes. Individually, recent GPAC Runners of the Week Keeli Green and Trey Robertson paced their respective sides. Green completed the 5k race in 18:21.78 and placed ninth in the Gold Division (16th overall). Meanwhile, Robertson finished the men’s 8k in 25:42.04, good for 15th in the Gold Division (41st overall). Each of the Bulldogs’ top five on the men’s side came in under 27 minutes. On the women’s side, sophomore Annaka Schlachter clocked in at 19:56.65 and placed in the top 50 of the Gold Division. Both teams’ top 10 finishers were similar when compared to the Augustana Twilight. The Concordia squads placed favorably compared to their GPAC competition. A new set of conference and NAIA ratings will be released this week. The Bulldogs will take this week off from competition while gearing up for the Briar Cliff Invite on Oct. 4.
· For additional news and notes on the Concordia Cross Country teams, click HERE.
· Up next:
o Saturday, Oct. 4 at Briar Cliff Invite (North Sioux City, S.D.), 10 a.m.
Men’s Soccer
· Current record: 2-6, 0-1 GPAC.
· Last week:
o Won vs. York University, 3-1, on Sept. 17.
o Lost at Northwestern, 2-1, on Sept. 20.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: This past week saw the conclusion of nonconference play and the beginning of GPAC action. Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad got past rival York University, 3-1, in the middle of the week before enduring a 2-1 loss at Northwestern. The result in Orange City, Iowa, marked the program’s first defeat in a conference regular season game since Sept. 21, 2022, snapping a 30-game string (20-0-10). There were three different Bulldog goal scorers in the win over York: Hugo Garrote (18’), Oliver Balazs (25’) and Ricards Busmeisters (87’). In goal, Nolan Fuelberth made seven saves to help preserve the victory. In the weekend road trip, Concordia avoided the shutout when Kail Olbrich produced a goal in the 89th minute (assisted by Joe McCarroll). Both Red Raider goals came after a scoreless first half. Fuelberth again got the start in goal. Through eight games, the Bulldogs have scored eight goals and have allowed 12. The team’s leading goal scorer on the season is Busmeisters with three. Two players have started all eight games: Garrote and Slade Leicht. Concordia has a bye in the middle of this week, providing extra time to regroup and prepare for Saturday’s home clash with Briar Cliff.
· For a closer look at this week’s matchups, check out the game notes linked HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Briar Cliff (3-3-1, 0-0-1 GPAC), 1 p.m.
Golf
· Most recent completed tournament:
o Men – Placed 13th/18 (334-321-299–954) at the Siouxland Invite on Sept. 8-9.
o Women – Placed 2nd/11 (334-329–663) at the Siouxland Invite on Sept. 16-17.
· Men’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Women’s Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster | Statistics
· Notable: It’s been a strong fall for the women’s program, which has now placed second at three straight tournaments. The latest runner-up claim came at the Siouxland Invite (Sept. 16-17) in northwest Iowa, where the Bulldogs shot 334-329–663 and finished just two strokes out of first. Individually, senior Emery Custer claimed the first tournament title of her career as she carded a two-round total of 77-78–155 and rallied back to defeat a competitor from Morningside. Dating back to last season, Custer has placed in the top five of four consecutive tournaments. Custer was followed in the lineup at the Siouxland Invite by senior Maddie Lewis (sixth place) and freshman Olivia James (15th place). As a team, Concordia has averaged an 18-hole score of 330.0. Meanwhile, the men began the Bent Tree Intercollegiate on Monday and has continued the tournament with round three on Tuesday. On day one action, the Bulldogs shot 323-334–657 and sat in ninth place (out of nine). Junior Jude Elgert emerged as the bright spot as he carded a Concordia personal best round two score of 73. Elgert began Tuesday tied for 17th place. Next up for the men will be the Nebraska Intercollegiate (Oct. 6-7). As for the women, they will return to the course next Monday-Tuesday (Sept. 29-30) for the York Invite.
· Up next:
o Men – Sept. 22-23 at Bent Tree Intercollegiate (hosted by Iowa Western CC).
o Women – Sept. 29-30 at York Invite.
Shooting Sports
· Last week:
o Placed 7th/12 at Midland Warrior Invite on Sept. 20-21.
· Links: 2025-26 Schedule | Roster
· Notable: In the third outing of the fall semester, the Bulldogs placed seventh out of 12 teams (1,341 targets cracked towards the team leaderboard) at the Midland Warrior Invite. Senior Katie Welker led the way as she won the high overall female championship by cracking 279/300 targets across the three disciplines that were contested at Lincoln Trap & Skeet Club. Welker and freshman Brianna Helsene shot 100 straight in trap as a major highlight. Concordia came away from the Midland Invite with team placements of fifth in trap (485), sixth in skeet (475) and ninth in sporting (378). While Welker and Helsene shot perfect 100s in trap, the Bulldogs were paced by Devin Harris in skeet (99) and Welker in sporting (85). Also in trap, Clayton Gellerman shot 96 and Brody Ferguson came through with a 95. In skeet, Hinton (97), Washburn (94) and Welker (94) each shot 94 or better. Ten Concordia athletes cracked the team’s top five in one or more of the three disciplines. The season will continue this Friday through Sunday with the Prairie Circuit Conference Championships at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Neb. The Bulldogs placed third in the conference last season.
· This week:
o Prairie Circuit Conference Championships in Grand Island, Neb., Sept. 26-28.
Women’s Soccer
· Current record: 5-0-3, 0-0-1 GPAC; receiving votes in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. York University, 4-0, on Sept. 17.
o Tied at Northwestern, 3-3, on Sept. 20.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: This past week featured the nonconference finale and the GPAC opener as the Bulldogs went 1-1. They claimed a 4-0 blowout win over nearby York University before rallying for a 3-3 draw at Northwestern. Of the team’s seven goals on the week, two apiece came from Kierstynn Garner and Kyana Rios and one each was delivered by Savannah Andrews, Charli Preister and Lupe Sanchez. One of the most prolific strikers in program history, Garner (added two assists last week) has increased her goal counts to nine for the season and 58 for her career, third most in school history. Despite major statistical advantages (19-7 in shots) in the matchup with the Red Raiders, Concordia found itself trailing 3-1 in the second half. The Bulldogs were able to equalize as Rios (83’) and Garner (86’) both scored goals in the latter stages of the contest. Concordia had hoped to avenge last season’s 4-3 defeat at the hands of Northwestern. Head Coach Nick Smith’s program won each of its final eight GPAC regular season games of 2024 and wound up as the conference regular season and postseason runner up. Through eight matches this season, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 25-10. Conference play continues this week as Concordia will play at College of Saint Mary on Wednesday before hosting Briar Cliff on Saturday.
· For additional news and notes, check out the program’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Sept. 24 at College of Saint Mary (2-6, 1-0 GPAC), 3 p.m.
o Saturday, Sept. 27 at Briar Cliff (2-5, 0-1 GPAC), 3:30 p.m.
Volleyball
· Current record: 11-1, 4-0 GPAC; ranked No. 2 in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Last week:
o Won vs. No. 17 Midland, 28-30, 25-17, 25-19, 25-17, on Sept. 17.
o Won at Doane, 21-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-22, on Sept. 20.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: The GPAC record remains unblemished after the Bulldogs earned wins last week over No. 17 Midland, 28-30, 25-17, 25-19, 25-17, and Doane, 21-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-22. In both instances, No. 2 Concordia overcame a downer in the first set to win convincingly. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad has now earned three wins over teams ranked in the top 20 of the NAIA coaches’ poll (the others came against No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan University and No. 16 Viterbo University). The Bulldogs made an appearance on SportsCenter (No. 3 on top 10 plays list) last week thanks to an impressive rally that featured big efforts from Shandy Faalii and Emma Brueggemann to keep the ball alive. It then ended with a thunderous kill from Faalii. Over last week’s two matches, All-American Ashley Keck tallied a team high 36 kills while adding 28 digs and four aces. Others statistical leaders for the week were Ella Brueggemann in assists (46), Emma Brueggemann in digs (32) and Ava Greene in blocks (14). Concordia ranks fifth nationally in blocks per set (2.74). This week features home matches versus Hastings and Dordt. Prior to Saturday’s contest, the Bulldogs will honor their senior class of 10. The four-year seniors have helped Concordia to a combined record of 88-15 since the start of the 2022 season.
· For additional news and notes on Concordia Volleyball, check out the team’s homepage HERE.
· This week:
o Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Hastings (4-10, 1-3 GPAC), 7:30 p.m.
o Senior Day – Saturday, Sept. 27 vs. Dordt (11-4, 2-2 GPAC), 3 p.m.
Football
· Current record: 2-0, 2-0 GPAC; ranked No. 21 in NAIA coaches’ poll.
· Most recent:
o Won vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 27-22, on Sept. 13.
· Links: 2025 Schedule | Roster | Statistics | NAIA Coaches’ Poll
· Notable: After back-to-back home wins, the nationally ranked Bulldogs had a bye this past week. In major news that came following the 27-22 win over Dakota Wesleyan, senior defensive lineman Carson Fehlhafer and junior wide receiver Jonny Puelz were named GPAC Players of the Week. Fehlhafer was also recognized as NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week thanks to his eye-popping statistical production (seven tackles for loss and four sacks) in the most recent victory. Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s program will take a seven-game winning streak (second longest active streak in the NAIA) into Saturday’s road trip to Waldorf. The win streak is the longest for the program since the 2000 and 2001 teams combined to win nine in a row. Concordia has never played at Waldorf in program history. The Bulldogs won last year’s meeting in Seward by the final score of 45-7.
· For details on each week’s matchup, check out the game notes linked HERE.
· This week:
o Saturday, Sept. 27 at Waldorf (0-4, 0-4 GPAC), 1 p.m.