Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Week
Female: Camryn Opfer, Volleyball
A Seward High School alum, Camryn Opfer led the 10th-ranked Bulldogs to a 5-0 week while totaling 54 kills (.319 hitting percentage) and 54 digs. Opfer eclipsed 1,000 career kills and helped Concordia to victories over No. 9 Viterbo and over GPAC rival Hastings.
Male: Camden Sesna, Cross Country
A native of Kearney, Neb., Camden Sesna placed 36th in a large field of runners at the Augustana Twilight while clocking in at 20:19.33 in the four-mile race. Sesna finished higher than all other GPAC and NAIA competition and powered the Bulldogs to a 12th place finish overall out of 32 teams.
Previous BAAM Athletes of the Week
Aug. 30 – Federico Simonetti (soccer) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
Aug. 23 – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball)
2021-22 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Jaidan Quinn (baseball) / Kendra Placke (golf)
March – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Camry Moore (softball) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
February – Gage Smith (basketball) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
January – Carter Kent (basketball) / Rylee Haecker (track & field)
December – Carter Kent (basketball) / Sarah Lewis (track & field)
November – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
October – Lane Napier (football) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball)
September – Caydren Cox (football) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
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.
Homecoming set for Sept. 15-18: Homecoming will be early in the fall semester this year. Festivities are set to run Sept. 15-18 with the highlights included the Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. CT on Sept. 16 followed by home football versus Hastings at 1 p.m. on Sept. 17. More information about homecoming weekend, including how to register, is available HERE. At the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, six individuals and one team will join elite company. The Hall of Fame Class of 2022 is included in a release found HERE.
Tickets for Battle in the Vault go on sale now: Tickets went on sale to the general public on Sept. 1 for the Battle in the Vault. The event will feature the Concordia University Men’s Basketball program playing against Oklahoma Wesleyan University in a matchup of two teams that reached the 2022 NAIA national quarterfinals. The game time is still to be announced, but tipoff will likely be early in the afternoon from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Dec. 20. Following Concordia’s game, there will be two more contests at PBA: Drake University vs. Mississippi State University and the University of Nebraska vs. Queens University of Charlotte. Tickets will be sold via Ticketmaster.com and the Ticketmaster app in a mobile device. Simply search “Battle in the Vault” when using Ticketmaster. The purchase of one ticket will be good for all three games that day.
Yabut combines big smile, big game and big heart: Omaha native Ivan Yabut combines a big game with a big smile and a big heart. The sport of golf has provided Yabut a platform for reaching others and spreading the joy the game has given him. The Burke High School alum became the No. 1 player in the lineup for Concordia Men’s Golf in 2021-22 and is on track for a big final season in 2022-23. For more on Yabut, check out this feature HERE.
History to be made this Saturday-Sunday with Concordia’s first-ever lifting competition: For the first time in school history, Concordia will compete in a lifting competition. Head Coach Freddie Myles will take his weightlifters to the MidAmerica Nazarene University Open in Olathe, Kan., this Saturday and Sunday. Action is scheduled to get underway at 8 a.m. CT on both days. Meanwhile, the first powerlifting competition on the schedule will be the Midland University Warrior Open on Oct. 15. Between the men’s and women’s teams, Myles is coaching a total roster of 19 student-athletes in the inaugural year of competition. For more on the Concordia Lifting Sports program, click HERE.
Shooting Sports to get season underway with this weekend’s Fort Hays State Shoot: Dylan Owens will make his debut as Concordia Shooting Sports Head Coach this weekend as the Bulldogs compete at the Fort Hays State Fall Intercollegiate Shoot in Hays, Kan. Concordia is coming off a 2021-22 season that saw it place second at the Prairie Circuit Conference Championships and fifth at the ACUI National Championships (Division 2). Owens will be assisted on staff by graduate assistant coach Wyatt Hambly, the reigning high overall conference champion. As a highlight to the fall schedule, the Bulldogs will host the seventh annual Concordia Bulldog Sporting Invitational on Oct. 1-2. For more on the Concordia Shooting Sports program, including a season preview, click HERE.
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.
Cross Country
· The season officially got started on Sept. 2 as 42 Bulldogs represented Concordia Cross Country at the Augustana Twilight at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, S.D. While in action at the Augustana Twilight that featured 323 runners on the men’s side and 313 competitors on the women’s side, the Bulldogs outran all opposing GPAC and NAIA competition. Overall, the Concordia women placed ninth out of 28 teams and the Bulldog men finished 12th out of 32 teams. Head Coach Matt Beisel’s squads are both receiving votes in the NAIA national poll. For more information on Concordia Cross Country, click HERE.
· At least to start the season, the Bulldogs proved they are currently one of the top teams in the GPAC. On the women’s side at the Augie Twilight, Concordia defeated 18th-ranked Hastings (14th place) as well as other GPAC rivals in Northwestern (11th), Morningside (17th), Doane (19th) and Mount Marty (27th). In addition, the Bulldogs placed in front of NCAA Division II schools such as Wayne State College and Concordia St. Paul.
· On the men’s side of things, Dordt will be a heavy favorite to win the GPAC. However, the Defenders were not present in Sioux Falls. Concordia managed to beat out the conference foes that were present: Doane (14th), Midland (22nd), Northwestern (24th), Mount Marty (25th), Hastings (28th) and Morningside (30th). Both Doane and Northwestern were ranked above the Bulldogs in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll. The ultimate goals are to qualify the women’s team for nationals for the first time since 2019 and to qualify the men for nationals for the first time since 2013.
· Not so surprisingly, Kearney, Neb., native Camden Sesna led the way for the men’s team at the Augustana Twilight. He ran the four-mile race in 20:19.33 and placed 36th overall while topping all over NAIA runners in the field. The top five for the men also included Calvin Rohde (20:37.71; 61st), Jimmy Nguyen (21:10.04; 103rd), Charlie Hayden (21:29.22; 129th) and Micah Willweber (21:32.41; 133rd). Newcomers within the team’s top 10 were Nguyen (21:10.04), Aaron Jendro (21:35.65) and Travis Kuncl (22:03.06).
· The GPAC runner up in 2019, Kylahn Freiberg emerged as the frontrunner on the women’s side. She paced the 5k Yankton Trail in 18:50.33 and finished 28th overall and second out of GPAC/NAIA competition. Freiberg and returning national qualifier Rylee Haecker (19:07.82; 42nd) will provide a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup. The team’s top five was rounded out last week by Hannah Beintema (19:31.57; 64th), Rhaya Kaschinske (19:46.46; 80th) and Julie McIntyre (19:51.47). McIntyre is the wife of new Bulldog graduate assistant goalkeeper coach Michael McIntyre.
· Concordia has this week off from competition while gearing up for the Greeno/Dirksen Invitational at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Sept. 17. If will be the first team the Bulldogs have attended the Greeno meet since 2015. Most of the season will follow a pattern of having a meet every other week, with the exception of having races scheduled on Sept. 17 and Sept. 24.
Football
· A defensive battle underneath the lights at Doane marked the start of the 2022 season for a Concordia squad that opened the campaign receiving votes in the NAIA preseason poll. Despite holding the Tigers without a touchdown, the Bulldogs fell by a 12-10 score in Crete, Neb., on Sept. 3. Neither team cracked 300 total yards in a battle that was decided by a 47-yard field goal in the final minutes. The loss snapped what had been a six-game win streak for Head Coach Patrick Daberkow’s program. For more information on Concordia Football, click HERE.
· Daberkow is now 3-3 versus Doane in his six seasons as head coach. Entering last week’s contest, the Bulldogs had won five-straight games against in-state opponents. The 2021 team swept through Doane, Hastings and Midland, marking the first time a Concordia football team had done so since 1970. During the now-broken five-game win streak versus the state of Nebraska, the Bulldogs allowed an average of just 12.4 points per game.
· The good news is that the Concordia defense remains stout. Not only did coordinator Corby Osten’s unit hold Doane out of the end zone, it also allowed only 278 total yards and 11 first downs. Leading the way individually, linebacker Michael Grindey made 13 tackles and forced a fumble. The Bulldog defense forced a turnover in the fourth quarter when Kam Baker jarred the ball loose. The fumble was recovered by Isiaha Conner. A sack apiece was registered to Lukas Coe and Kyle Sterup and the unit came up with a combined 11 tackles for loss.
· At quarterback, Austin Jablonski made his first career start. The former University of Nebraska walk on showed off his athleticism in rushing for 95 yards on 21 attempts. He scored the game’s lone touchdown on a nine-yard rush in the first quarter. The Bulldogs will need to find more rhythm in the passing game. Jablonski completed 9-of-28 passes for 83 yards. The top pass catcher was tight end Luke Lang: four receptions for 29 yards. The offense was without two-time First Team All-GPAC tight end Garrett Schardt.
· At running back, Devin Zeigler got the call and toted the rock 13 times for 42 yards with a long of 13. Zeigler will run behind an experienced offensive line that features returning starters in left tackle Kaden Peters, center Johnny Robinson III, right guard Christian Schlepp and right tackle Gavin Mull. The new starter is left guard Toby Hager, who is also the team’s long snapper. The run game will get a boost from the talents of Jablonski. Daberkow mentioned after the game that improvement in the rushing attack will be a key.
· The Bulldogs will have to wait to atone for last week’s loss. They have a bye this week as the focus now turns toward the homecoming matchup with Hastings on Saturday, Sept. 17. Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is set for 1 p.m. CT on that date. Three of Concordia’s home games will come during the month of October with one also on the slate in November.
Volleyball
· These are fun times for the Bulldogs, who went 5-0 last week with the highlights being a GPAC home win over Hastings and a three-set rout of ninth-ranked Viterbo University (Wis.) as part of the College of Saint Mary Labor Day Classic (Sept. 2-3). Additional wins last week came over Presentation College (S.D.) in three sets, Dakota State University (S.D.) in four sets and Evangel University (Mo.) in four sets. Head Coach Ben Boldt’s squad now stands at 10-0 with all nine nonconference regular season matches in the books. For more information on Concordia Volleyball, click HERE.
· The program has started a season at 10-0 or better for the fourth time during the GPAC era. The other extended unbeaten runs were 18-0 in 2005, 12-0 in 2019 and 12-0 in 2018. Ben and Angie Boldt also guided the ’18 and ’19 teams. Currently, there are four other NAIA volleyball programs that are undefeated with at least 10 wins: William Carey (Miss.) (12-0), Mount Vernon Nazarene (Kan.) (11-0), College of Saint Mary (10-0) and Southern Assemblies of God (Texas (10-0).
· Concordia’s attacking prowess was on full display last week as it averaged 14.12 kills per set and hit .295 over the five victories. Meanwhile, Bulldog opponents hit .150 with an average of 11.0 kills per set. For the week, five Concordia hitters racked up 37 or more kills: Gabi Nordaker (55), Camryn Opfer (54), Ashley Keck (43), Carly Rodaway (39) and Kalee Wiltfong (37). As the quarterback of the attack, Bree Burtwistle averaged 11.29 assists per set with 192 total assists for the week. In the back row, Rebecca Gebhardt totaled 78 digs.
· Opfer will go down as one of the top players in program history. Her first kill in last week’s win over Viterbo marked the 1,000th of her career. Opfer became just the fourth player in school history record both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for a career. Her career totals now stand at 1,060 digs, 1,044 kills, 138 blocks and 52 aces in 97 matches. On the program’s all-time lists, Opfer resides in seventh place for kills and eighth place for digs. Also last week, Opfer moved past Claire White (1,033 kills) on the all-time list.
· Burtwistle has made the transition at setter appear seamless. The Stanton, Neb., native and Midland transfer currently ranks sixth in the NAIA in assists per set (10.80). Her 378 overall assists put her at No. 11 among NAIA setters. Also on the national leaderboard, Nordaker ranks 19th in hitting percentage (.348) and Gebhardt ranks 58th in digs per set (4.69). Opfer is hitting .234, a phenomenal percentage for an outside hitter.
· There will be just one match this week, but it’s a big one. The 10th-ranked Bulldogs will meet No. 2 Midland (11-1, 1-0 GPAC) in Fremont, Neb., at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday. The Warriors vaulted up to No. 2 in the coaches’ poll thanks to wins over No. 1 Missouri Baptist University and No. 4 Park University (Mo.). In last season’s matchups, Midland won two of three from Concordia, but the Bulldogs toppled the Warriors in the GPAC quarterfinals. Going back a bit further, Concordia has won four of the last six matches versus Midland.
Golf
· Entering the week, both the men’s and women’s teams have competed in one official tournament. The Concordia men have already raised the bar with a program-record breaking performance at the UC Ferguson Classic held in Oklahoma City on Aug. 29-30. The Bulldogs placed 10th out of 18 teams in a very strong field. Meanwhile, the women placed eighth out of 11 teams at the Mount Marty Fall Invite on Sept. 1-2. As of this morning (Sept. 6), the men were back in action while co-hosting the Blue River Classic. For more information on Concordia Golf: Men | Women.
· There’s growing excitement inside the men’s program as the Bulldogs are just merely getting started. At the UC Ferguson Classic, they shot a two-round total of 283-284–567. School records were broken for both an 18-hole score (283) and 36-hole tournament score (567). The previous school standard for a two-round tournament score had been 583 accomplished by the 2017-18 and 2021-22 teams. Drew D’Ercole led the way overall by shooting a two-round total of 71-68–139 for a three-under-par. He placed in a tie for 23rd out of 102 golfers in the UC Ferguson field.
· A two-time state medalist at Yutan High School, freshman Jake Richmond put together a fine first collegiate tournament while shooting 69-73–142, good for a tie for 36th overall in Oklahoma City. The rest of the lineup featured Justin Webert (72-71–143; T-43rd), Ivan Yabut (71-72–143; T-43rd) and Jake Hagerbaumer (76-75–151; T-77th). Two Bulldogs competed as individuals: Gavin McWhorter (80-74–154; T-84th) and Josh D’Ercole (81-77–158; T-91st).
· The 10th place finish as a team won’t tell the entire story. At the UC Ferguson Classic, the Bulldogs beat out GPAC rivals Northwestern (12th), Dordt (13th), Briar Cliff (15th) and Dakota Wesleyan (16th). Concordia also placed in front of Sterling College (Kan.) (11th), a team currently receiving votes in the NAIA coaches’ poll.
· The score for the Concordia women at Mount Marty rested at 351-373–724. The Bulldogs placed above Doane as part of the event that included golfers from seven GPAC institutions. Lauren Havlat paced Concordia by shooting 81-90–171, good for 17th place in the field of 60 golfers. A consistent two-day effort from Maya Nurse (87-86–173) put her in a tie for 21st place. The lineup of five was rounded out by Eschliman (85-94–179; T-29th), Ashley Gerczynski (98-103–201; T-43rd) and Sarah Wilson (102-107–209; 49th). In addition, Ericka Kroeker competed as an individual and shot 113-117–230 (56th). Eschliman’s 85 on day one represented a career low. The lineup will get a boost in the near future when freshman Emery Custer makes her collegiate debut.
· In this week’s action, the men are in the process of playing a 54-hole Blue River Classic with all three rounds being contested at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln. Doane is co-hosting the event with the Bulldogs. The men will also turn around early next week and play at the Siouxland Invite (Sept. 12-13). As for the women, they are off from competition until next week’s Lila Frommelt Fall Classic (Sept. 14-15) hosted by Briar Cliff. Both squads are also looking forward to hosting an alumni event at Highlands on Saturday.
Women’s Soccer
· So far, it’s been two games and two wins by one-goal margins over opponents from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs passed the test in their first road trip of the season, which wound up in a 1-0 victory at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., on Sept. 3. The 2-0 start for Head Coach Thomas Goines’ squad also includes a 3-2 win over Southwestern College (Kan.). For more information on Concordia Women’s Soccer, click HERE.
· The Bulldogs are one of four teams in the GPAC without a blemish on the record. The other three are Presentation (3-0), College of Saint Mary (2-0) and Hastings (2-0). Every team in the conference has played at least two games against non-league foes. Concordia placed sixth in the GPAC a year ago but has many veterans who experienced the GPAC tournament title run in the spring of 2021. The favorites in the GPAC are the likes of Jamestown, Briar Cliff and Hastings.
· Goines mixed up the lineup a bit at Tabor and started four freshmen: Kierstynn Garner, Hannah Kile, Niah Kirchner and Elena Ruiz. An Omaha South High School product, Ruiz responded with a 47th-minute goal that proved to be the game winner at Tabor. Ruiz put three shots on goal in providing a spark on the attack. The lineup is a mix of newcomers and veterans. It was also made up last week of five players who are seniors academically: Aliyah Aldama, Allee Downing, Ellie Eason, Lina Kirst and Grace Soenksen. The latter is a two-time First Team All-GPAC performer.
· Sophomore keeper Angela Banks left last week’s game with an injury and was replaced in the first half by 2021 starter Kalie “Rocket” Ward. Named Honorable Mention All-GPAC last season, Ward was late in arriving to campus due to her military duties. Together, Banks and Ward combined for six saves while preserving the season’s first shutout. Concordia is comfortable in these types of low-scoring affairs. The Bulldogs won three times by 1-0 scores in 2021.
· Life on the road will continue this week as Concordia now takes on two opponents from the Heart of America Athletic Conference. First up is today (Sept. 6)’s 5 p.m. matchup with Graceland University (Iowa). Then on Saturday, the Bulldogs will face perhaps this season’s toughest test with a trip to No. 22 Benedictine College (Kan.) for a 5 p.m. kickoff. This will be the final full week of nonconference action.
Men’s Soccer
· Following the season opening trip to Oregon, the Bulldogs had some time to get their legs back underneath them. They went a week between games before returning to action on Sept. 3 at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. The result was a 3-2 Concordia win over the ’21 national tournament qualifying Bluejays, who reside in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Fifteenth-year Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad sits at 2-1 overall while also holding a win over Northwest University (Wash.). For more information on Concordia Men’s Soccer, click HERE.
· The game at Tabor got a little hairier than Weides would have wanted, but the Bulldogs held onto the lead in a frantic final 10 minutes of the game late on Saturday night. Concordia had mounted a seemingly commanding 3-0 lead when Carlos Orquiz converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute. Teammates Miguel Navarro (35’) and Dominic Abdel-Ahad (67’) also got on the board in the victory. The Bluejays made things tense down the stretch thanks to a goal apiece in the 75th and 80th minutes. No additional shots were recorded for either team the rest of the game. The Bulldogs held advantages in total shots, 14-11, and shots on goal, 5-4.
· Through the season’s first three games, Weides has called upon three different goalkeepers. The competition has been so close to call at that position that it has continued into the season. Federico Simonetti started game one, followed by Callum Goldsmith in game two and Gabriel Mendoza in game three. Simonetti was recognized as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30 after he made three saves in the shutout win over Northwest. Other than the late hiccup at Tabor, Concordia has played strong defensively.
· The contests have been close to this point with all three having been decided by one-goal margins. Cumulatively, the Bulldogs have outscored their foes, 4-3, with one goal apiece from Abdel-Ahad, Navarro, Orquiz and Ryan Wokutch. In terms of shots, Abdel-Ahad has been most active on the attack with eight shots. Next in line is Wokutch with five. Seven Concordia players have started each of this season’s first three games.
· Two nonconference challenges await this week as the Bulldogs ready for today (Sept. 6)’s battle with longstanding rival York College. Kickoff at York is set for 5:30 p.m. CT. Concordia will then prepare for its home opener on Saturday – a 1 p.m. tussle with 12th-ranked Bellevue University. In last season’s results, the Bulldogs defeated York, 4-2, and fell at Bellevue, 2-1. Weides has lost just once to York during his head coaching tenure.