The academic and softball career of Jennifer Katz took her from Louisville High School (southwest of Omaha) to Dodge City Community College to Southwestern Community College and ultimately to Concordia University, Nebraska. In a four-year stretch, Katz wore four different softball uniforms with four different school names stitched across her jersey. This May, she’ll proudly walk across the stage to accept degrees in biology and chemistry as someone with a near spotless grade-point average.
Katz likely never planned for such upheaval as she surveyed her options coming out of high school, but she knows the journey has better prepared her for her future. Without question, Katz is someone who knows how to quickly find comfort in new surroundings.
“It was definitely difficult,” Katz said of the college transitions. “I made some really good friends at both of my JUCOs. Leaving them was hard. I had to start over with a whole new friend group and new team. It worked out really well. The transition was fairly easy. The team was great and Coach (Brock) Culler was great in helping with everything. The hardest part was leaving all my friends. Once I got here and got settled in, everything was so much better. It ended up becoming a second home.”
Katz says she considered attending Concordia out of high school before opting for the junior college route. As fate would have it, Concordia re-entered the picture. This time, the stars aligned for Katz, who stated that “coming to Concordia was one of the best decisions I have ever made.” In year two as a Bulldog, Katz has thrived while emerging as the team’s most consistent performer. The Omaha area native was selected as Concordia’s March Female Athlete of the Month after she sizzled with a .423 batting average over the time period.
In another year of adapting, Katz showed promise in 2024 when she took over the center field role for Coach Culler’s program. She started all 48 games and batted .271. Then in 2025, Katz kicked it up a few notches. The Louisville High School product is putting together a First Team All-GPAC résumé while hitting .389 with 12 doubles, four triples and four home runs to go with a .673 slugging percentage. Impressively, Katz has recorded nine outfield assists and has swiped 11 stolen bases while displaying a well-rounded game.
Culler remembers that first meeting with Katz when she arrived in his office along with her father Brian. Katz had reached out first at the urging of Dodge City teammate and best friend Alicyn O’Neill, who had played for Culler at Grand Island Central Catholic High School. After time spent at two different JUCOs, Katz was looking for the place where she could hang her hat for multiple years.
Said Culler of the recruiting visit, “When she walked in, you could see she’s tall and athletic, looks strong, speaks well and is a good student. It was kind of a no-brainer. I didn’t see her play live, but I saw video and she looked great. Then talking with her in person, I got a good sense for what she was going to bring.”
The second visit made the difference for Katz. Culler seemingly hit all the right notes in the mind of Katz. Said Katz, “I came on a visit and loved it. Everything felt right this time. Things were different. I loved the coach. I felt like God was calling me to come here. This is where I was supposed to be as far as academics, athletics and everything … The Christ-centered community made it click in my head – this is why you were called to come here. You’re going to build yourself up and become a better person. This is where you’re meant to be.”
If there were any downsides, it was simply that Katz felt she had to prove herself as a softball player all over again while getting accustomed to new teammates and a new environment. She jumped right into a large junior class that was still in the process of attempting to help rebuild the program. Thankfully, Katz found that she was welcomed into the class and into the team’s culture. She quickly made friends and managed to feel increasingly more comfortable.
From 2024 to 2025, something clicked. Culler sensed that Katz wasn’t satisfied with what she accomplished as a junior. Katz really caught fire at the Tucson Invite when she went 13-for-25 (.520) with six doubles, two triples and 10 RBIs. Ever since, Katz has flirted with a .400 season batting average while playing at a high level in center field.
“She’s a very dedicated hard-working person,” Culler said. “She’s making adjustments constantly on the field and in the classroom. She’s a 4.0 kid. She’s always looking to get better all the time. She had a decent season last year, but that wasn’t good enough for her. She went to work and identified the things She needed to work on. She did those things and here we go. This is where she’s at.”
Katz likely wouldn’t be able to recite any of her stats very specifically. Those results are the product of an approach that has clearly worked. She placed the focus on having fun this season. It’s the reason she developed a passion for the sport as a child. She says her older siblings, brother Jeffrey and sister Julie, made a big impact on her athletics career. When it comes down to it, softball’s still a kid’s game.
“Stepping into this year, I’m a senior and I want to have fun and enjoy my teammates, coaches and the sport,” Katz said. “My sole focus was not to care about how I do but be here to have fun and enjoy it. I’m definitely more focused on God and the blessings He’s given me. He’s given me these talents and allowed me to find three schools I could go play at. I think it’s amazing.”
From an academic perspective, Katz hasn’t wavered in her desire to become a veterinarian. Katz remembers loving animals all the way back to when she was in kindergarten. Following graduation, Katz will enroll in the Iowa State University-University of Nebraska Lincoln Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine. After all, her last name is Katz.
“I was one of those kids as a kindergartener who said I wanted to be a veterinarian,” Katz said. “I stuck with it all the way through. The classes I took at my junior colleges helped prepare me to come to Concordia. Dr. (Connie) Callahan has been a great help in getting me there. The classes I’ve gotten here have been extremely helpful. I’m so glad I’ve gotten to learn under many of these professors. They’re amazing. I definitely think they’ve prepared me for vet school and confirmed what I want to do with my life.”
Based on her track record, Katz will find a way to make more friends and thrive in another new situation in veterinary school. But first thing’s first, Katz will do everything in her power to make the 2025 season last as long as possible. On Saturday (April 19), Katz will be honored as one of eight seniors inside the program. The recognition will be well-deserved. For Katz, she came here simply to “enjoy it and have a good time.” She just so happened to find stardom on the softball field and a second home while growing stronger in her faith. That’s the Katz meow.