SEWARD, Neb. – For their performances throughout the calendar month, Adrianna Rodencal 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 December 2022. Rodencal and Smith were winners of a vote conducted on Tuesday (Jan. 10) at the BAAM luncheon. The delay in naming December athletes of the month is due to the absence of BAAM luncheons during the Christmas break.
A Lincoln Lutheran High School alum, Rodencal wasted no time in launching a successful start to her collegiate track career. The freshman from Lincoln took first place in three separate events at the Bulldog Early Bird Meet held Dec. 9-10. Rodencal’s wins came in the 200 meters (26.11), 60 meter hurdles (8.97) and as part of the 4x400 meter relay (4:06.26). Her time in the 60 hurdles met the automatic national qualifying threshold and ranks No. 16 in the NAIA (second in the GPAC). Rodencal entered Head Coach Matt Beisel’s program with high expectations after she won four individual state championships as a high school senior. Rodencal will attempt to help the Bulldogs add to their string of seven GPAC championships in a row.
A fifth-year member of the program, Gage Smith has enjoyed a productive 2022-23 season. During the month of December, he averaged 10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. The averages were brought down a bit by his brief appearance in the final game of the month. Most notably, Smith produced 17 points and 15 rebounds against fifth-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan in the contest played at Pinnacle Bank Arena. This past week, Smith collected 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in the win over Dakota Wesleyan. The Elizabeth, Colo., native has moved to No. 3 on the program’s all-time rebound list with 795 career boards. He’s also totaled 1,179 points, 213 assists, 111 steals and 59 blocks in his time as a Bulldog.
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
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)