SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances throughout the calendar month, Jenna Esch of track and field and Jaidan Quinn of baseball have been recognized as the Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Month for April 2023. The three winners emerged from a vote conducted on Tuesday (Maty 2) at the final BAAM luncheon of the 2022-23 athletic year. Esch has earned this award for the first time while Quinn was also honored as the BAAM Male Athlete of the Month in April 2022.
A Hastings, Neb., native and Saint Cecilia High School alum, Esch capped the month of April with starring performances at the Drake Relays. At the prestigious meet in Des Moines, Iowa, Esch ran the leadoff legs for 4x400 meter (3:50.29) and 4x800 meter (9:20.98) relays that clocked automatic national qualifying times. Her split in the 4x8 was a personal best for an 800-meter race. The week prior, Esch ran a PR of 56.74 in the 400 meters at the Dutcher Memorial Classic and was named the GPAC Track Athlete of the Week. On the current GPAC performance lists, Esch ranks No. 2 in the 400 meters and No. 10 in the 800 meters. Esch and her relay teammates sport conference rankings of No. 1 in the 4x4 and No. 2 in the 4x8. In her young collegiate career, Esch has garnered two All-America awards (in the 4x4) and has helped the Concordia women’s track program win three GPAC team championships.
A Bonner Springs, Kan., native, Quinn made waves on April 22 when he homered in each of his first four at bats in a win at Midland. Those efforts led to Quinn being named the GPAC Player of the Week. In 20 games in April, Quinn batted .379 (25-for-66) with 28 runs, six doubles, 12 home runs, 31 RBIs, 67 total bases (1.015 slugging percentage) and a .506 on-base percentage. At third base, he successfully converted 35-of-40 chances. His four home runs in a single game broke the previous school record of three. On the season, Quinn is hitting .340 (54-for-159) with 64 runs, 12 doubles, 22 home runs, 59 RBIs, 132 total bases (.830 slugging percentage) and a GPAC best .507 on-base percentage in 50 games. He has handled 100 of 112 chances at third base. As a team, Concordia finished the regular season at 35-15 overall and will be the No. 2 seed in the 2023 GPAC tournament.
BAAM Athletes of the Month are rewarded out of the pool of student-athletes that garner BAAM Athlete of the Week recognition throughout the month.
2022-23 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Jenna Esch (track & field) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
March – Wyatt Hambly (shooting sports) / Claire Kee (shooting sports) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
February – Noah Schutte (basketball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
January – Rylee Haecker (track & field) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Gage Smith (basketball)
November – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
October – Bree Burtwistle (volleyball) / Korrell Koehlmoos (football) / Carly Rodaway (volleyball)
September –Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Camryn Opfer (volleyball) / Camden Sesna (cross country)