SEWARD, Neb. – As the result of voting that took place among members of the Concordia University athletic department, Samantha Liermann has been named the 2018-19 Concordia Senior Female Athlete of the Year and Christian Meza the 2019 Concordia Senior Male Athlete of the Year. Both standouts were four-year members of their programs with Liermann starring in track and field and Meza helping to transform the baseball program.
Liermann and Meza were announced as 2018-19 Senior Athletes of the Year on Monday (July 1). The award winners are selected based upon the athletic department vision components of Christian character, academic achievement and competitive greatness.
Said Director of Athletics Devin Smith, “Sam and Christian have been great ambassadors of Concordia Athletics who have brought considerable attention to their respective programs. These exceptional student-athletes exemplify positive character traits in terms of leadership, citizenship, commitment and work ethic that fully exhibit the ideals and core values of our university and athletic department. We are so appreciative of these two outstanding student-athletes who worked tirelessly at their crafts while influencing their coaches, teammates, peers and opponents in a positive manner.”
One of the top throwers in Concordia track and field history, Liermann recently claimed the third NAIA national title of her impressive career. The native of Wisner, Neb., has succeeded academically just as she has athletically. Tabbed the 2018 and 2019 College Sports Information Directors of the Year (CoSIDA) Academic All-American of the Year for track and field, Liermann concluded her collegiate career with a résumé including three national titles, two national runner-up claims, 10 All-America awards, four individual GPAC championships and 14 all-conference honors. Liermann earned degrees in recreation and sport studies and business administration with near spotless marks in the classroom. Her academic work helped lead to two NAIA Scholar-Athlete, two CoSIDA Academic All-America and two CoSIDA Academic All-District awards.
Liermann departed from Concordia as the women’s program record holder in the indoor (49’ 5”) and outdoor (50’ 8 ¼”) shot put. Especially gifted in the shot put, Liermann helped raise the level of the Bulldogs, which swept GPAC indoor and outdoor team titles in 2019. In addition, Liermann aided the 2016 women’s outdoor squad to a team national title, marking the first-ever women’s team national championship, in any sport, in Concordia history. Having qualified for nationals in all eight opportunities, Liermann starred for teams that placed in the top 10 nationally seven times.
“Perseverance. Determination. Resolve. I know they all basically are the same thing but that is how I describe Samantha,” wrote Coach Ed McLaughlin, who personally worked with Liermann as throws coach. “Samantha had to fight through numerous things during her athletic career which could have derailed both her academic and athletic focus, but she never showed a sign of giving up. She was never satisfied with getting second, whether it was in the classroom or the ring. Samantha also held other members of the squad to the same standard and with those high expectations she was able to bring up the performance of her teammates. It will be the individual moments that will mostly stand out – the day she called to tell me she was going to UNL, the day she decided to transfer to Concordia, the titles, the conversations about life, but also the way she persevered through unexpected challenges. She expected the best of herself and everyone around her, including me. She is a child of God, who was able to show us just how talented and powerful she could be and by doing so she liberated others to do the same.”
Meza proved to be a game changer for head coach Ryan Dupic’s baseball program. Meza made an immediate impact with his freshman campaign in 2016. One of the top Bulldogs to ever grace the diamond, Meza accomplished something no other player in baseball program history has done – earn GPAC Player of the Year honors. He was also recognized as an Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska selection as both a junior and senior. Meza took home the GPAC’s highest honor in 2019 after a season that saw him hit .339 with a .446 on-base percentage and .480 slugging percentage to go along with 16 doubles, three home runs and 40 RBIs. During his time at Concordia, the second baseman from San Diego, Calif., established himself as the top second baseman in the GPAC.
With Meza as the catalyst, Concordia captured GPAC regular-season titles in 2017 and 2019 (first GPAC championships in program history) and made NAIA Opening Round appearances to conclude both campaigns. The two-time first team All-GPAC selection completed his collegiate career with all-time program rankings of first in doubles (53), second in hits (216), second in RBIs (141), second in assists (391), second in at bats (636), third in games played (189), sixth in runs scored (117), tied for sixth in walks (67) and seventh in batting average (.340). Concordia’s four-year record with Meza on board sat at 120-91 for the winningest four-year period in school history.
Wrote Dupic, “Christian’s ability to perform at a high level combined with his infectious personality created a sense of confidence within our team. I’ll remember Christian’s laugh, the way he connected with his teammates, his desire to win and the way he was at his best in the biggest moments. There was no one I wanted at the plate more in a big at bat than Christian. Christian’s accomplishments on the field are many and well-documented. I’m proud of what he did on the field because he was a guy looking for an opportunity, and when he got it he made the most of it and more. That said, I’m just as proud of the growth he’s made as a person. He learned from the people around him and they learned from him. His desire to make memorable experiences with those around him helped our team stay on a committed vision to success and spread great joy to all involved.”
Liermann and Meza will be honored as part of the 2019 Hall of Fame induction ceremony that will take place Sept. 27. As Senior Athletes of the Year, Liermann and Meza will automatically be included in the pool of Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame candidates beginning in the year 2024.
Concordia Male Senior Athletes of the Year (since 2000)
2018-19: Christian Meza, Baseball
2017-18: Ceron Francisco, Wrestling
2016-17: Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
2015-16: Josh Slechta, Football / Track & Field
2014-15: Enrique Barajas, Wrestling; Von Thomas, Football
2013-14: Ben Hinckfoot, Track & Field
2012-13: Colin Morrissey, Cross Country / Track & Field
2011-12: Zak Goodrich, Baseball
2010-11: Dana Schmidt, Cross Country / Track & Field
2009-10: Zach Meineke, Cross Country / Track & Field
2008-09: Michael Saalfeld, Track & Field
2007-08: JaMaine Lewis, Football
2006-07: Jon Ziegler, Basketball
2005-06: Andrew Walquist, Cross Country / Track & Field
2004-05: Jason Jisa, Basketball
2003-04: Rick Dietz, Basketball
2002-03: Drew Olson, Basketball / Tennis
2001-02: TJ Kloster, Track & Field; Jarrod Pimentel, Baseball / Football
2000-01: Quinton Furr, Track & Field
Concordia Female Senior Athletes of the Year (since 2000)
2018-19: Samantha Liermann, Track & Field
2017-18: Mary Janovich, Basketball
2016-17: Amy Ahlers, Golf / Kali Robb, Track & Field
2015-16: Liz King, Track & Field
2014-15: Bailey Morris, Basketball
2013-14: Sarah Kortze, Cross Country / Track & Field
2012-13: Katie Rich, Basketball / Track & Field
2011-12: Amber Kistler, Basketball
2010-11: Beth Sutton, Track & Field
2009-10: Charista Zehnder, Track & Field
2008-09: Whitney Stichka, Basketball
2007-08: Katie Werner, Volleyball / Track & Field
2006-07: Gentri Brown, Soccer
2005-06: Jennifer Davis, Soccer / Softball
2004-05: Molly Engel, Cross Country / Track & Field; Kari Saving, Basketball
2003-04: Stephanie Beberniss, Track & Field
2002-03: Sara Schuelke, Cross Country / Track & Field
2001-02: Rachel Kirchner, Volleyball / Basketball
2000-01: Rachael Geidel, Cross Country / Track & Field