Following another season of many thrills produced by Concordia Athletics teams, it’s time to take a look at the top moments of 2020-21. The list begins with the top 10 moments (in no particular order) followed by a number of honorable mention selections.
TOP 10 MOMENTS: 2020-21
Track & Field: Bulldog athletes combine for five individual national titles
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of winning a national title. Four Bulldogs from the track and field program understand what that moment is like. At the NAIA indoor national meet, Rachel Battershell (400 meters) and Josie Puelz (pole vault) claimed national titles. Then in late May, Puelz repeated as a pole vault national champion while Jacob Cornelio (hammer throw) and Liz Stottlemyre (javelin) rose to the top of their respective events at the outdoor national championships. Battershell has won back-to-back 400 meter indoor national titles while Cornelio and Stottlemyre concluded their Concordia careers on a high. Puelz put together an incredible spring semester that saw her break school records for the indoor and outdoor pole vault.
Baseball: First World Series berth in program history
There has never been a finer season of baseball in the history of the program at Concordia. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad accumulated a school record 42 wins with the mountaintop moment occurring on May 20 when the Bulldogs won the Bellevue Bracket of the opening round and clinched a first-ever appearance in the NAIA World Series. Concordia made the historic run behind GPAC Pitcher of the Year Jake Fosgett and a powerful lineup that clubbed 90 home runs. In the NAIA postseason coaches’ poll, the Bulldogs landed at No. 12 for the highest ranking in program history.
Women’s Soccer: GPAC tournament champions
A series of close defeats to finish the regular season portion of the spring schedule led into the GPAC tournament for Head Coach Thomas Goines’ Bulldogs. Concordia regrouped for the postseason and edged Dakota Wesleyan, 2-1, in the quarterfinals, survived a PK shootout versus Midland in the semifinals and then topped Jamestown, 2-1, in the championship game. The third-seeded Bulldogs hosted each round while following the lead of senior goalkeeper Lindsey Carley (13 saves in the championship game). Contributions came from up and down the roster.
Football: Lane Napier reaches 400 career tackles, earns All-America status
When it comes to piling up tackles, no Bulldog in the modern era can compare to All-American linebacker Lane Napier. The native of David City, Neb., reached 400 career tackles in the final game of the 2020 season. No other Concordia defender has come close to that mark during the GPAC era (2000-present). Despite the shorter season (eight games in 2020), Napier was named a second team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. Also a four-time first team All-GPAC honoree, Napier will take a run at 500 career tackles. He will be back in 2021 for a fifth year.
Volleyball: national quarterfinal run represents new territory
Under the direction of the Boldts, the volleyball program keeps raising the bar. A season after reaching the NAIA round of 16, the Bulldogs forged on to the national quarterfinals this spring. Behind NAIA championship all-tournament selection Camryn Opfer, Concordia defeated defending national champion Marian (Ind.) to advance out of the opening round. Opfer (19 kills) and Kara Stark (14 kills) were the leaders on the attack in the historic win. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 8 in the NAIA postseason coaches’ poll for a new program high watermark.
Women’s Basketball: upset of No. 4 Marian moves Bulldogs to national quarterfinals
The result on March 19 showed just how far the Bulldogs had come since the 2020-21 season began. With the help of 27 points from freshman Taysha Rushton and a 17-point, six-rebound effort from Rylee Pauli, Concordia led most of the way while securing a 73-67 upset of No. 4 Marian (Ind.). That victory put the Bulldogs in the national quarterfinals. Head Coach Drew Olson did a fine job of rounding his team into form after an 0-3 start to the campaign. In her final season as a Bulldog, Cockerill earned All-America honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
Track & Field: Women continue GPAC dominance
The run of dominance displayed by Head Coach Matt Beisel’s Concordia Women’s Track & Field program has been impressive. With a sweep of indoor and outdoor GPAC titles, the Bulldogs have now won five conference meets in a row. At the conference indoor meet, event championships were won by Rachel Battershell (400 meters), Morgan De Jong (weight throw) and Kylahn Heritage (1,000 meters). Then at the GPAC outdoor meet, titles were seized by the 4x400 meter relay, Battershell (400 hurdles), Josie Puelz (pole vault), Addie Shaw (shot put; discus) and Liz Stottlemyre (javelin). Shaw’s outdoor meet was exceptional – she also placed second in the discus while putting up career bests in all three of her events.
Softball: Moore leads Morningside Bracket title
May 5-6 represented the most rewarding two-day stretch of the season for a Bulldog squad led by ace pitcher Camry Moore. As part of the GPAC tournament’s Morningside Bracket, Concordia twice defeated the host Mustangs (ranked 13th in the NAIA at the time) while Moore fired all 14 innings. In the Morningside Bracket clincher, Moore dealt a two-hit shutout. A day earlier, Moore went 3-for-4 with two home runs. Regan Karel also produced a significant three-run shot and Hhana Haro and Kylee Nixon added two hits apiece. The 4-0 May 6 win clinched a spot in the national tournament opening round.
Shooting Sports: Bulldogs take Prairie Circuit title
The first conference championship in Shooting Sports program history was achieved on Sept. 27 when Head Coach Scott Moniot’s squad cracked 2,277 targets, holding off second-place Midland (2,257) at the Prairie Circuit Classic Fall Championship. As part of the championship weekend, Concordia broke school records in skeet and double trap. Individually, graduate student Erin Lokke won the high overall (HOA) competition (including men and women). The season also included titles at the Midland Ice Out and Bronco Invite.
Women’s Tennis: First-ever GPAC title claimed
It was a big spring for Concordia Tennis. The women’s team started out 5-0 in GPAC play and clinched a share of the regular season title on April 27 when it defeated Midland, 4-3. At 6-1 in the conference, Head Coach David DeSimone’s squad shared the title with Doane and Morningside. With the help of a deep lineup, the Bulldogs showed a knack for coming through in the clutch (won three GPAC matches by a 4-3 score). Six individuals earned All-GPAC honors.
HONORABLE MENTION
Baseball: Record book rewritten
This was more of a series of moments as the historic baseball team broke team single-season records for wins (42), runs scored (468), hits (599), home runs (90) and pitcher strikeouts (529). Individually, single-season records were set by Joey Grabanski for home runs (17) and RBIs (60), Jayden Adams for hits (76) and runs scored (65), Peyton Scott for stolen bases (24; tie) and Jake Fosgett for wins (nine; tie). Career standards were set by Keaton Candor and Jesse Garcia for home runs (29) and Nick Little for wins (27).
Cheer/Dance: Second-place finishes recorded at own invite
The Concordia Cheer and Dance teams made big leaps in 2021 under Head Coach Mandi Maser. The proof was in the results that were put forth on Feb. 6 when the Bulldogs placed second in dance (71.26) and second in cheer (66.18). Throughout the campaign, Concordia posted consistently higher scores than it had in previous years.
Women’s Golf: Placke captures pair of tournament titles
In her second full season of college competition, Kendra Placke continued down a path to stardom. She won tournament titles at the Lila Frommelt Fall Classic (Sept. 18-19) and at the Buena Vista Fall Invite (Sept. 26). Placke also placed seventh in the GPAC and led the team with a season scoring average of 80.6.
Men’s Tennis: Bulldogs reach GPAC championship match
From a results standpoint, Concordia enjoyed its best season during the GPAC era, going 5-1 in conference play (5-0 start). The Bulldogs placed second in the conference in the regular season and then advanced to the GPAC tournament championship match with a semifinal win over Doane, 4-2.
Wrestling: Ybarra bounces back from injury, earns spot on podium
There were some bumps along the way as Mario Ybarra battled through injury during the 2020-21 season. He returned to health in time for the NAIA national tournament and placed seventh at 133 pounds. The junior from Scottsbluff, Neb., collected the first All-America award of his career. He qualified for nationals for the second time.