SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances throughout the calendar month, record-breaking athletes Christian Gutierrez (baseball) and Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) have been chosen as the Bulldog Athletics Association Member Athletes (BAAM) of the Month for April 2025. The winners emerged from a vote conducted on Tuesday (May 6) among attendees at the BAAM luncheon. BAAM luncheons are held every Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT at the Dog House Grill when classes are in session.
A senior from La Mirada, Calif., Gutierrez has been a four-year mainstay in the rotation for Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s Concordia Baseball program. The veteran right-handed pitcher made four starts during the month of April and went 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22.1 innings. He was named the GPAC Pitcher of the Week on April 22 after he fired seven innings with no earned runs allowed in a victory over Dordt. With the help of Gutierrez, the Bulldogs went 16-1 in April and secured the outright GPAC regular season title. On May 6, Gutierrez was honored with 2025 Second Team All-GPAC accolades. In 12 starts this season, Gutierrez has gone 9-2 with a 3.57 ERA and 67 strikeouts (against only 13 walks) in 75.2 innings. Guterrez leads the pitching staff in wins, innings and complete games. On the program’s all-time lists, Gutierrez ranks first in innings pitched (283.2), tied for first in pitching starts (42), first in wins (30) and fourth in strikeouts (242).
A junior from Lincoln, Neb., Rodencal has shined as an elite athlete at the conference and national levels. In April specifically, Rodencal’s top performances included times of 13.37 in the 100-meter hurdles at the Drake Relays (broke her own school record), 1:01.36 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Hastings Invite, 47.14 as part of the 4x100-meter relay (school record) and 3:51.24 as part of the 4x400-meter relay at the Dutcher Classic. The Lincoln Lutheran alum was tabbed GPAC Track Athlete of the Week on April 2 and 16. Rodencal raised her game to another level at the 2025 GPAC Outdoor Championships as she broke conference meet records in the 100 hurdles (13.63) and 400 hurdles (58.90), won three individual GPAC titles and was named the GPAC Outstanding Female Athlete of the Meet. Rodencal currently ranks among the top three nationally in the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and 4x4 relay. Rodencal serves as a major reason why Head Coach Matt Beisel’s women’s squad placed second in the conference and is currently ranked in the NAIA top 10 by the USTFCCCA.
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.
2024-25 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Christian Gutierrez (baseball) / Adrianna Rodencal (track & field)
March – Jennifer Katz (softball) / Jaidan Quinn (baseball)
February – Abby Krieser (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
January – Adrianna Rodencal (track & field) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
December – Gabi Nordaker (volleyball) / Tristan Smith (basketball)
November – Austin Jablonski (football) / Kristin Vieselmeyer (basketball)
October – Carson Fehlhafer (football) / Kierstynn Garner (soccer)
September – Mark Arp (football) / Gabi Nordaker (volleyball)
2023-24 BAAM Athletes of the Month
April – Joey Grabanski (baseball) / Aubriana Krieser (softball)
March – Jessie Ciezki (shooting sports) / Zach Zohner (track & field)
February – Jaidan Quinn (baseball) / Mackenzie Toomey (basketball)
January – Kendal Brigham (basketball) / Noah Schutte (basketball)
December – Evan Fukuhara (weightlifting) / Hayley Miles (track & field)
November – Creighton Baughman (wrestling) / Abby Krieser (basketball)
October – Rebecca Gebhardt (volleyball) / DJ McGarvie (football)
September – Austin Jablonski (football) / Ashley Keck (volleyball)
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)