2025 GPAC Men’s Soccer All-Conference Teams
First Team: Ricards Busmeisters
Second Team: Oliver Balazs; Hugo Garrote; Slade Leicht
Honorable Mention: Inigo Chavarria; Nolan Fuelberth; Adrian Wambua; Mike Wyvill
SEWARD, Neb. – A total of eight Bulldogs from the 2025 GPAC tournament champion Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Soccer team raked in GPAC All-Conference awards, as announced by the league office on Thursday (Nov. 13). Headlining the list is first team award winner Ricards Busmeisters along with second team honorees in Oliver Balazs, Hugo Garrote and Slade Leicht. Four Concordia standouts were also recognized with honorable mention status.
The all-conference recipients helped lead Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad to a thrilling GPAC tournament title run. The Bulldogs (12-8) protected the home turf on Tuesday night, defeating Morningside, 2-1, in the championship game. The result has given Concordia an automatic bid to the national tournament.
A transfer from Iowa Western Community College, the sophomore Busmeisters immediately became the Bulldogs’ most dangerous attacking player and leads the team with 10 goals scored in 2025 (fifth most among GPAC players). The Riga, Latvia, native rose to the occasion in the GPAC tournament with a combined three goals over the semifinal and championship rounds. He produced the game winner in the semifinals and championship game. Busmeisters owns four game-winning goals on the season. He has converted all three PK attempts and has appeared in 16 games with 10 starts in his first season at Concordia.
A native of Budapest, Hungary, Balasz was another new addition this fall. In his role in the midfield, the freshman Balasz has been a consistent force in helping the Bulldogs win and retain possession. In 17 games (15 starts), Balasz has notched two goals and an assist. He was credited with the game-winning goal in the 3-1 nonconference victory over York University. His contributions extend beyond the stat sheet. In his rookie season, Balasz has established himself as one of the team’s most dependable players.
A junior from Jerez De La Frontera, Spain, Garrote elevated has elevated his play in year two with the Bulldogs. His stat line shows three goals and four assists on the year. He is the only Concordia player to have started all 20 games. As an attacking midfielder, Garrote came through with his most significant singular effort when he drilled a free kick for the golden goal in the GPAC quarterfinal win over Hastings. He also recorded two assists in the 3-0 home win over Mount Marty in the regular season. Garrote has earned his first career all-conference honor.
After three seasons as a heavy contributor, Leicht has stepped into the starting lineup for 19 of the team’s 20 games in 2020. Similar to Balasz, Leicht’s statistics won’t reflect his high level of play. The senior from Sachse, Texas, has registered one assist this season (in the win over Mount Marty). In his career, Leicht has appeared in 67 games (30 starts) and has tallied one goal and three assists. Leicht entered this academic year as a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
The honorable mention list includes two Bulldog goalkeepers: Inigo Chavarria (Jaca, Spain) and Nolan Fuelberth (Lincoln, Neb.). Chavarria transferred to Concordia prior to the start of this season and has started 12 games in goal. At the close of the GPAC tournament, Chavarria sports conference rankings of first in save percentage (.807) and second in goals against average (0.96). His season high for saves was nine in the 2-1 victory at Dakota Wesleyan. Chavarria earned two 2025 GPAC Player of the Week awards. Meanwhile, Fuelberth has earned his third career all-conference award. He was named to the GPAC’s second team in both 2023 and 2024. This season, Fuelberth has started eight games and sports a .731 save percentage and 1.73 goals against average. The graduate student from Lincoln has played in 37 career games as a Bulldog.
Additionally, honorable mention accolades went to center backs Adrian Wambua and Mike Wyvill. Both individuals have been instrumental in Concordia limiting its opponents to 25 goals over 20 games this season. A junior out of Lincoln Pius X, Wyvill is a repeat honorable mention selection. Wyvill’s one goal this season was the game winner at Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 18. He has appeared in 50 career collegiate games (with four goals) and has earned high marks in the classroom as a Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-District honoree. This marks the first career All-GPAC honor for Wambua, a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete. He has played in 66 career games (61 starts).
The NAIA National Championship tournament is up next for the Bulldogs, who will learn of their national tournament draw at 5 p.m. CT on Friday when the NAIA airs its official selection show. NAIA first and second round games are scheduled to be played on Nov. 20 and 22, respectively, on campus sites.