SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Athletic Department is pleased to announce its 2020-21 Senior Athletes of the Year. As unveiled on July 15, the Male Senior Athlete of the Year award is shared by Jacob Cornelio of the track & field program and Jake Fosgett of the baseball program while the Female Senior Athlete of the Year honor has been bestowed upon Addie Shaw of track & field. The awards are a result of a vote conducted by members of the athletic department.
Criteria for the Senior Athlete Award is based upon the athletic department vision components of Christian character, academic achievement and competitive greatness.
Said Director of Athletics Devin Smith, “I have enjoyed watching and supporting the impressive Bulldog careers of Jacob, Jake and Addie. All three have proven to be influential leaders on campus and members of nationally relevant teams that raised the profile of their respective programs. These three individuals are the type of well-rounded student-athletes that embody what Bulldog Athletics are all about: servant leadership, commitment to excellence academically and athletically and Christian character. Their impact on Concordia will continue in the aftermath of their time with the Bulldogs.”
A native of Elk Grove, Calif., Cornelio improved steadily throughout his career as a thrower. Cornelio (also known as “Cob”) reached the pinnacle as an athlete by winning two NAIA national titles – in the weight throw in 2020 and in the hammer throw in 2021. He concluded his career as the school record holder in the hammer throw with a toss of 219 feet, a mark he achieved in his final collegiate meet. A greatly respected leader among his teammates, Cornelio returned in the spring of 2021 after having the 2020 outdoor season wiped out due to COVID-19.
By his career’s end, Cornelio had claimed six total All-America awards (including the two national titles), four individual GPAC championships and nine all-conference awards while making seven appearances at national championship meets. Not only the school record holder in the hammer, Cornelio ranks No. 2 all-time in the weight throw and sixth in the discus. He is also a CoSIDA Academic All-District and All-America award winner. Cornelio helped the Bulldogs to three NAIA top 10 national finishes (four top 25 claims).
Throws coach Ed McLaughlin will dearly miss Cornelio as a person, above all else. Said McLaughlin, “(Cob’s) arrival on campus was a game changer for our program. I know that sounds weird, but his leadership and influence on everyone was evident from an early age. He is the kind of person that everyone wishes they were friends with and type of guy who is friends with everyone. He is also a great student, husband and father. Coaching Cob was some of the most fun I have ever had. He was easy to talk to and discuss things. We could try things and if they did not work out, he was great about resetting to the original plan. He was exceptional at adding the things that did work and making them part of his personal technique. He is amazing at helping everyone else and pulling them along with him. He is going to be great coach if he ever wants to be. His connection to my family is something I will always cherish.”
Fosgett, who also hails from California (Carlsbad), served as the ace of the pitching staff for a Concordia Baseball team that enjoyed the best season in program history in 2021. This past spring, the righty hurler posted a 9-1 record to go along with a 1.43 earned run average and 101 strikeouts in 56.2 innings. He allowed opposing batters to hit just .153. Among all pitchers in the NAIA, Fosgett ranked first in opponent batting average, second in ERA and second in strikeouts per nine innings (16.04). His contributions led the Bulldogs to a 42-12 overall record, a sweep of GPAC regular season and postseason titles and a spot in the NAIA World Series.
In his career, Fosgett made 51 appearances on the mound and recorded a 16-4 record, 2.98 ERA and 247 strikeouts in 160.1 innings. On the program’s all-time lists, he ranks second in strikeouts, third in ERA and fifth in wins. Fosgett was twice named first team All-GPAC, was chosen as the 2021 GPAC Pitcher of the Year and garnered honorable mention All-America recognition this past season. He played a key role for three separate teams that won GPAC championships and advanced to the NAIA national tournament.
Said Head Baseball Coach Ryan Dupic, “Jake’s been incredible during his career here. He’s certainly one of the best pitchers that this school has ever seen. His stuff is good enough to play professional baseball. It’s a matter of finding the right fit and seeing if it’s a fit for the organizations. What I’m most proud of with Jake is he has maximized himself. He’s improved as a person and player and has had a tremendous impact on our program. We wouldn’t have made the World Series without him. His teammates have the highest respect for him due to his incredible daily habits to improve. He’s truly one of the best pitchers in the country.”
Shaw has put herself in the conversation as one of the top throwers in school history. The native of Bassett, Neb., spent five years inside the program. This past outdoor season, Shaw concluded her collegiate career by recording two more GPAC individual titles and three more All-America awards. On the program’s all-time indoor lists, Shaw ranks first in the weight throw (64’ 4”) and second in the shot put. On the school all-time outdoor lists, Shaw sits second in the discus, fourth in the hammer throw and fourth in the shot put.
Shaw achieved NAIA national titles in the discus in 2018 and 2019 and was a three-time NAIA national runner-up finisher. Her career tallies include 11 All-America awards, four individual GPAC championships and 17 all-conference awards. She’s also a four-time NAIA National Field Athlete of the Week and earned two NAIA Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year accolades from the USTFCCCA. Shaw qualified for eight separate national championship meets, helping her teams to seven NAIA top 10 national finishes. She was also an instrumental figure in four team GPAC titles.
Said McLaughlin, “Addie has that no-quit attitude that you want from every athlete. She always showed up and was ready to go. She never shied away from putting in the work and she cared deeply about being at her best every day. Coaching her was great! She was sponge soaking up everything we could throw at her every day, always trying to get better and never being satisfied. She won titles and broke records, but she always felt she could do better. She could always explain it as well, which means it was easy to make changes when we needed and to leave things alone when we did not. It helps that she is very good at coaching the events as well. Her knowledge and application made working with her a true joy.”
Past Senior Athletes of the Year (since 2001)
Concordia Male Senior Athletes of the Year
2021: Jacob Cornelio, Track & Field; Jake Fosgett, Baseball
2020: Brevin Sloup, Basketball
2018: Ceron Francisco, Wrestling
2017: Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
2016: Josh Slechta, Football / Track & Field
2015: Enrique Barajas, Wrestling; Von Thomas, Football
2014: Ben Hinckfoot, Track & Field
2013: Colin Morrissey, Cross Country / Track & Field
2012: Zak Goodrich, Baseball
2011: Dana Schmidt, Cross Country / Track & Field
2010: Zach Meineke, Cross Country / Track & Field
2009: Michael Saalfeld, Track & Field
2008: JaMaine Lewis, Football
2007: Jon Ziegler, Basketball
2006: Andrew Walquist, Cross Country / Track & Field
2005: Jason Jisa, Basketball
2004: Rick Dietz, Basketball
2003: Drew Olson, Basketball / Tennis
2002: TJ Kloster, Track & Field; Jarrod Pimentel, Baseball / Football
2001: Quinton Furr, Track & Field
Concordia Female Senior Athletes of the Year
2021: Adrianna Shaw, Track & Field
2020: Philly Lammers, Basketball
2019: Samantha Liermann, Track & Field
2018: Mary Janovich, Basketball
2017: Amy Ahlers, Golf / Kali Robb, Track & Field
2016: Liz King, Track & Field
2015: Bailey Morris, Basketball
2014: Sarah Kortze, Cross Country / Track & Field
2013: Katie Rich, Basketball / Track & Field
2012: Amber Kistler, Basketball
2011: Beth Sutton, Track & Field
2010: Charista Zehnder, Track & Field
2009: Whitney Stichka, Basketball
2008: Katie Werner, Volleyball / Track & Field
2007: Gentri Brown, Soccer
2006: Jennifer Davis, Soccer / Softball
2005: Molly Engel, Cross Country / Track & Field; Kari Saving, Basketball
2004: Stephanie Beberniss, Track & Field
2003: Sara Schuelke, Cross Country / Track & Field
2002: Rachel Kirchner, Volleyball / Basketball
2001: Rachael Geidel, Cross Country / Track & Field