SEWARD, Neb. – Starring performances during the final month of 2021 have led to Carter Kent of the men’s basketball program and Sarah Lewis of the women’s track and field program being named the Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Month for December. Not just standout athletes, both Kent and Lewis have been regulars on recent lists of NAIA Scholar-Athletes and serve as veteran leaders within their respective teams. Kent was also recognized as a BAAM Athlete of the Month back in November 2019.
A Crete, Neb., native and Crete High School alum, Kent is enjoying his finest season yet in his fourth season as a Bulldog. During the month of December, Kent started all seven games and averaged 19.1 points per game while shooting 44.9 percent (44-for-98) from the floor, 40.4 percent (21-for-52) from 3-point range and 86.2 percent (25-for-29) from the foul line. He also contributed 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game over the month that saw Concordia go 5-2. Kent was named the GPAC Player of the Week on Dec. 7 following a 32-point outburst in a win over Northwestern. On the season, Kent is averaging 17.2 points and sports shooting percentages of 46.1 from the field, 37.4 from beyond the arc and 86.8 from the free throw line. His current tally of 1,471 career points places him 10th on the program’s all-time list.
Lewis, who hails from Mason City, Neb., garnered GPAC Track Athlete of the Week accolades on Dec. 15 following the first meet of the 2021-22 indoor season. Lewis enjoyed a big day at the Concordia Early Bird on Dec. 11 when she clocked times of 8.87 in the 60 meter hurdles and 58.10 in the 400 meters and collaborated on a 4x400 meter relay time of 3:56.83. Each of those times came in under the NAIA automatic national qualifying standard. The performances in the 60 hurdles and 400 meters represented personal bests that currently rank second and third, respectively, on the program’s all-time lists. On the current NAIA national leaderboard, Lewis ranks third in the 400 meters and eighth in the 60 hurdles. The 4x4 relay team ranks second in the NAIA. The accomplished Lewis is a six-time NAIA All-American and has been a standout for a program that has won five-straight GPAC championship meets.
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.
2021-22 BAAM Athletes of the Month
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)