Shooters gotta shoot. Kristen (Conahan) Vogt is familiar with the concept. She sank a school single game shared record eight 3-point field goals in a November 2013 overtime win over Morningside. She poured in 26 points in a momentous 2012 national quarterfinal victory over Grand View. She went 5-of-7 from the perimeter in November 2012 when she dropped a career-high 31 points in a stomping of Midland. She knocked in five treys in a memorable triumph at NCAA D1 University of Nebraska-Omaha, in her hometown, in January 2012.
On and on she went as an All-American for the powerhouse Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Basketball program coached by Drew Olson.
What does it mean to Kristen that she remains the program record holder for career 3-point field goals more than a decade after her graduation? “Maybe that I shoot too much.” That was a joke – or perhaps her own modesty coming into play. The first game of her college career, Kristen shot 1-for-11 from the perimeter. It did not deter her.
As she said more seriously, “When you’re a shooter and you’re on, you’ve just got to let it go. Keep shooting.”
The one they called “Connie” followed that mantra to 323 career 3-point field goals and to selection as a Concordia Athletics Hall of Famer in the class of 2026. Of course, Kristen did more than just make treys. She amassed 1,656 career points and swiped 291 steals while thriving in Olson’s patented up-tempo, full-court pressure system. Kristen was named an NAIA Second Team All-American in 2011-12 and an NAIA First Team All-American in 2012-13. The numbers would have been even loftier, if not for an ACL tear that sidelined her for 12 games her senior season.
The injury robbed Kristen of a chance to graduate as the program’s all-time leading scorer. As she prepares to enter the school’s hall of fame, Kristen holds onto a top 10 spot on the scoring list. The stats helped her claim a spot in the hall of fame, but they won’t be talking points when she stands at the podium on homecoming weekend.
“The biggest thing was the sisterhood and the lifelong friends you gain,” says Kristen of her Concordia Experience. “Some kids go to large schools and join a sorority. For me, the team was that – from the bus rides, laughing and crying in the locker room, competing at practice, team dinners and road trips. The bonds you make really do last a lifetime. I’m truly thankful for my amazing teammates that I had the opportunity to not just play basketball with but form those relationships with. Those relationships help build a stronger team on the court.”
Out of Millard North High School, Kristen chose Concordia despite knowing very little about the school as a child. She liked that it was close to home but also far enough away to spread her wings away from her parents (Timothy and Jennifer) for the first time. There were other factors, such as the faith-based atmosphere and the brand new arena (Walz Human Performance Complex) that debuted during the 2009-10 season. It didn’t hurt that the Bulldogs had established themselves as a top-notch women’s basketball program.
Said Kristen of the Christian environment, “That’s not something you get in many places. That felt pretty special and something that really pulled at me to pick Concordia.”
Kristen became an instant impact player. She averaged 10.6 points as a freshman while finding her way for a team that struggled to get over the hump in crunch time. The 2010-11 team finished at 15-17, ensuring that it would start the following season off the national radar. Kristen and teammates such as Amber Kistler, Lori Laboda, Bailey Morris, Tracy Peitz and Katie Rich then collaborated on one of the greatest seasons in program history. The 2011-12 squad went 34-3 overall, swept GPAC regular season and tournament titles and reached the national semifinals.
Kristen explained, “That first year (2010-11) was tough. We went from a losing record my freshman season to almost winning a national title my sophomore year. It was a testament to how competitive and resilient my teammates were and their drive to get better in the offseason.”
A specific photo of the celebration that came in the final moments of the national quarterfinal win over Grand View sticks with Kristen and her teammates. It freezes an unforgettable occurrence in time. As Kristen says, “There’s just one picture our team can’t get over with everyone jumping up in the air. It’s hilarious. It was an exciting moment to feel like we’re moving on again. It’s something we’ll never forget.”
That same season, Kristen and the Bulldogs soaked in the rush of a Walz court storming that occurred when Concordia toppled Morningside in the GPAC Championship Game. Earlier that season, a pep rally was held after the Bulldogs won at UNO. Less than two weeks later, the Bulldogs prevailed in a pulse pounder over sixth-ranked Concordia Ann Arbor at the CIT Championship in Chicago. By the end of ’11-12, Connie had drained 104 treys (still a program standard for a single season).
Kristen also recalls traveling to Hawaii in December 2012. That particular team roared to a 15-0 start to the season. She also remembers having a front tooth knocked out at the Corn Palace and the letdown she felt when she attempted to come back from the torn ACL in February 2014 – only to aggravate the injury and finish her career on the sideline.
It didn’t overshadow her hall of fame career. Her presence on the court made Concordia believe it could beat anyone. As Olson remarked during Kristen’s senior year, “She just gives us a calming presence. She’s really good with her decision making with the ball. She stretches the defense out. They know she’s a great shooter and they have to honor her. She has that competitive greatness that all of her teammates feed off of. ‘Connie’s here, we’re going to be OK.’ She’s got that ‘it’ factor.”
Added another Concordia Athletics Hall of Famer and teammate Bailey Morris, “Connie just has a presence on the court that is hard to describe. She scares teams. She can shoot lights out and teams have to respect that.”
Oh yeah, Kristen also met her husband, Adam Vogt, at Concordia. A native of Syracuse, Neb., Adam (910 career points and an all-conference player) arrived as a freshman on the men’s basketball team at the same time that Kristen began her Concordia career. They quickly became friends and started dating at the end of their junior year. Adam and Kristen recently celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary. As Kristen says, “Three kids later, it keeps us busy.”
The three young Vogts might be just old enough to begin learning about the exploits of their mother, who Olson called “one of the best players in program history” and “the best shooter in program history.” Olson also referred to her as tough, fearless and unwavering. She was a leader.
The only one surprised at the hall of fame honor just might be Kristen herself. As she said on a Monday in the middle of July, “I was really surprised and very humbled and appreciative. I was always surrounded by amazing teammates and coaches. I feel like it’s more of a group award, but I was definitely excited to see that.”
The enshrinement of Kristen Vogt will bring back visions of Connie’s fluid, quick-release jumpers, running mid-range one-handers and quick, anticipatory hands that led to steals and fastbreak buckets.
When she arrived at Concordia, Kristen came to work. As she says, “My parents helped me mentally prepare for it. If you’re going to play sports in college, it’s a full-time job. Others are there to work hard as well. I don’t necessarily know if I thought I was going to get playing time right away, but once practice started, I recognized that I had a chance to contribute for this team. That definitely got me excited.”
All the while, Kristen never stopped shooting. “I’ve always had coaches that gave me the green light,” Kristen said. “To get the most out of your players, they can’t be walking on eggshells. I was very fortunate to play for great coaches that let me shoot.”
Shooters shoot. Kristen Vogt did it better than anyone to ever wear Bulldog Blue.
NOTE: Kristen graduated from Concordia with bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Business Administration. She says she’s applied what she learned academically and athletically in various jobs in her adult life. Kristen and Adam have three children: Levi, Joey and Ava. Kristen has coached one of her boys – in soccer. Meanwhile, Adam has spent his professional career as a high school teacher and coach.