SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University Nebraska has selected its Hall of Fame Class of 2022. The latest group of inductees includes six individuals and one team (as outlined below). The Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony is set to make its return in 2022 after being canceled in 2020 and 2021 as a consequence of COVID-19. The class of 2022 will officially join elite company at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, Sept. 16 in conjunction with homecoming weekend on campus.
The Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1994 to pay tribute and give recognition to former athletes, coaches, teams and others who have made exceptional contributions to the athletic programs at Concordia, and who exemplify the Christian principles to which Concordia adheres. For more information about the Hall of Fame, and for information on how to nominate someone, click HERE. The Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is responsible for voting on new inductees each year.
Concordia University Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022
*More complete bios for each new Hall of Fame member will be released following the induction ceremony in September.
Elizabeth King ‘16 – Track & Field
· Two-time NAIA National Champion and two-time NAIA National Runner Up.
· Six-time NAIA All-American.
· Six-time GPAC Champion.
· Six-time NAIA National Qualifier.
· Eight-time All-GPAC award winner.
· Graduated with school and GPAC meet records in the javelin and with the GPAC meet record in the hammer.
· 2016 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Midwest Region and National Field Athlete of the Year, as selected by the USTFCCCA.
· Named 2015-16 Concordia Senior Female Athlete of the Year.
Bernie Ochoa ‘04 – Soccer
· 2000 GPAC Co-Player of the Year.
· Three-time All-GPAC (first team in 2000, second team in 2001 and first team in 2002).
· 2000, 2001 and 2002 NAIA All-Region IV team selection.
· 2000 NAIA Honorable Mention All-American
· Totaled 31 goals and 10 assists over three seasons as a Bulldog (after transferring from San Francisco State University).
· Led Concordia to a combined 26 wins over three seasons (12-7 record in 2000).
Grant Schmidt ‘83 – Coach / Athletic Director
· Winningest basketball coach in Concordia history with a 445-276 overall record in 23 seasons (1989-2012) as Head Coach of the men’s basketball program.
· Led the Bulldogs to nine national tournaments, eight total conference championships (including regular season and postseason) and two district titles.
· First coach to ever lead the men’s basketball program to the national tournament (1991).
· Coached 2004-05 squad to the NAIA Division II national championship game and a school record 32 wins.
· Served as Concordia Director of Athletics for 15 years while also coaching basketball.
· Named the 2003 Athletic Administrator of the Year in the GPAC and for NAIA Region III.
Bob Schulze ‘64 – Track & Field, Football, Cross Country, Swimming & Diving
· Earned the following Tri-State Conference meet medals: gold in 220-yard dash in 1963, silver in 100-yard dash in 1963 and bronze in 880-yard relay in 1962.
· Set a then school record with a 100-yard dash time of 10.0 seconds in a dual versus Dana College; broke his own school record with a time of 9.8 in a dual with Nebraska Wesleyan.
· Competed at the Nebraska Track & Field Federation Meet and ran a 6.25 in the 60-yard dash (second place).
· Contributed to then school record 440-yard, 880-yard and sprint medley relays.
· Started at halfback for the 1962 Tri-State Conference championship football team.
· Member of school’s first-ever cross country and swimming & diving teams.
Andrew Walquist ‘06 – Cross Country/Track & Field
· 11-time NAIA All-American (three times in cross country and eight times in track & field).
· Eight-time GPAC Champion combining titles in cross country and track.
· 2003 and 2004 GPAC Cross Country Runner of the Year.
· Won cross country championships in 2003 and 2004 at the conference meet and in 2004 at the NAIA Region IV meet.
· Earned GPAC Outstanding Athlete of the Year awards for the 2005 and 2006 indoor track & field seasons.
· Winner of the NAIA A.O. Duer Award presented to a student-athlete who excels in scholarship, character and citizenship.
Clarence Woods ‘06 – Football
· Two-time first team All-Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1987 and 1988).
· 1988 Team MVP and Team Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year.
· Named team’s Top Offensive Rookie in 1984.
· Career totals of 125 receptions, 2,011 receiving yards (third most in program history) and 16 touchdowns (13 receiving, two rushing, one kick return).
· In 1988, caught 58 passes for 951 yards and seven touchdowns.
2001 Football Team
· Remains the Concordia Football program record holder for most wins in a single season with 10.
· As part of the 10-2 campaign, the Bulldogs shared the GPAC regular season title, advanced to the national quarterfinals and finished the season ranked No. 7 in the NAIA postseason coaches’ poll.
· Only football team in school history to qualify for the NAIA playoffs.
· Four players named First Team All-GPAC: kicker Jess Boyd, linebacker Erik DeHaven, safety Sean Stewart and tight end Ross Wurdeman.
· Coaching staff featured Head Coach Courtney Meyer, Offensive Coordinator Bill McAllister and Defensive Coordinator Tim Preuss.