SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances between Feb. 1 – 28, Josie Puelz of the track & field program and Gage Smith of the men’s basketball program have been selected as the Bulldog Athletic Association Member (BAAM) Athletes of the Month for February 2022. Puelz and Smith were winners of a vote conducted on Tuesday (March 15) at the BAAM luncheon. The men’s basketball program has been responsible for four-straight BAAM men’s athlete of the month awards while the track & field program has raked in three BAAM women’s athlete of the month honors in a row.
A native of Lincoln, Neb., Puelz is excelling at a level that puts her among the greatest athletes in the history of Concordia Women’s Track & Field. The most significant highlight of the month of February for Puelz was her GPAC title-winning pole vault of 13’ 5” that set a new conference indoor meet record. She was subsequently rewarded with the GPAC Women’s Field Performance of the Meet (for the second-straight year). Also in February, Puelz took first place in the pole vault at the Concordia Invite. The Lincoln Lutheran High School alum went on to win the pole vault national title in early March. She broke her own school record by clearing 13’ 5 ¼” at the national meet. Puelz is one of three women’s track athletes in school history to claim at least three individual national titles. She helped the Bulldogs win the 2022 GPAC indoor championship and place third at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.
Smith, who hails from Elizabeth, Colo., has played a key role for a Concordia Men’s Basketball team enjoying one of the top seasons in program history. During the month of February, Smith averaged 15.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 59.4 percent from the floor, 41.2 percent from 3-point range and 66.7 percent from the foul line. Smith’s best single game outing during February was a 23-point, 17-rebound performance in the 74-73 win over Briar Cliff on Feb. 16. He went on to score 20 points in the GPAC tournament championship game victory over Jamestown and posted 16 points and 16 rebounds in the national round of 32 win over Marian University (Ind.). Smith is averaging 13.9 points and 8.0 rebounds on the season. He was named a First Team All-GPAC selection and ranks 10th in program history for career rebounds (619).
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
February – Gage Smith (basketball) / Josie Puelz (track & field)
January – Carter Kent (basketball) / Rylee Haecker (track & field)
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)