HEY CARDINALS NATION!

Welcome to our Athletics Department Newsletter. By subscribing, you will get any and all information about Concordia Athletics sent straight to your inbox every week. These will be going out every Monday.

Here’s what to expect in today’s newsletter:

• Blog

• Weekly Recap

• Quote of the Day

• Cardinal Toolbox

• Upcoming Events

• Read Time: ~ 5 minutes

🔨 BLOG

“EMBRACING COURAGE AS A CHRISTIAN ATHLETE”

Fear is a powerful emotion that can paralyze even the strongest athletes. It manifests in two forms - the fear of failure and the fear of timidity. These fears can paralyze us, preventing us from giving our all on the field or court. As athletes, it's crucial to understand the importance of courage and how it can help us overcome these fears.

1. Courage in the Face of Fear

Fear often stems from the pressure to perform well in front of our coaches, parents, teammates, and ourselves. We fear letting them down, hurting our reputation, or falling short of our own expectations. However, it's essential to remember that courage does not mean the absence of fear but rather the ability to press on despite it. Joshua 1:9 reminds us that God is with us in every challenge we face. Christian athletes must find strength in their faith and trust that God will guide through fear.

2. Redefining Failure and Success

One of the most significant misconceptions is equating mistakes with failure. Because you fail, that does not mean you are a failure. In reality, mistakes are opportunities for growth and learning. We are reminded that with Christ's strength, we can endure and overcome any challenge. Our faith teaches us that our worth is not defined by our athletic performance. Instead, it comes from being children of God. By redefining failure and success through a Christian lens, we can embrace courage and perseverance on our journey.

3. Harnessing Fear as Motivation

Fear can be a potent motivator when channeled correctly. Instead of dwelling on what might go wrong, we should focus on what we want to achieve. We are encouraged by the fact that God is our strength and support. When we use our fear as fuel for determination, it can propel us towards success. Our faith assures us that we are not alone in this struggle, and God's presence can give us the courage to push through our fears.

As Christian athletes, it's imperative to recognize that fear is a natural part of the build. However, it should not define or hinder one’s progress. Courage is an ally in overcoming the fear of failure and timidity.

By understanding that God is with us, redefining success, and using fear as motivation, we can grow as individuals who draw strength from our faith.

Remember, courage does not mean the absence of fear; it means confronting fear with faith and determination.

💭 QUOTE OF THE DAY

💬 VERSE OF THE DAY

🧰 CARDINAL TOOLBOX

“In order to get better you change limits.”

Here are some of Coach K’s most important leadership lessons:

⏪️ WEEKLY RECAP

FOOTBALL

After the uncertainty of cancellations and rescheduling, the Concordia football team headed to Waco to take on the Vanguard College Prep Vikings. The game started off slow as the Cardinals fell behind 20-0 early. After battling back to make it a one score game, the Vanguard offense took control. The Cardinals dealt with injuries and sickness throughout the game, but ultimately, fell 58-40 to the Vikings.

The Cards move to 3-2 overall and with district play starting in a two weeks, the Cardinals look to get things back on track this week. It’s homecoming week!

Here’s some stats from the Cardinals’ performance:

Alex Jones: 14-27, 248 passing yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 9 carries, 50 rush yds

Daniel Wolfmueller: 6 carries, 5 yds; 2 TDs, 6 rec, 98 yds, 1 TD

Henry Kalbas: 7 rec, 102 yds, 2 TDs

Talib Lusioli: 2 rec, 24 yds

Thomas Calder: 1 rec, 14 yds, TD

VOLLEYBALL

The Lady Cardinals got back on track this week, recording two Ws. They traveled to Shiner St. Paul in a battle of the Cardinals on Tuesday. They beat St. Paul 3 sets to 0. Then, they came back home to face San Juan Diego from Austin. The Cardinals came out swinging and had one of their best games of their season, winning in 3 straight sets. After the two victories, the Lady Cards have taken sole control over 2nd place in the district standings. The girls will now circle back around and play against every district team again a second time.

Here’s some game stats from the week:

@ St. Paul Shiner:

Calissa Allison: 15 kills, 13 digs, 11 assists

Emily Daves: 11 kills, 2 digs, 3 assists

Ella Kansas: 3 kills, 10 digs

Marisol Honstein: 16 digs, 3 assists

Brennen Pritchett: 8 digs, 12 assists

vs. Austin SJD:

Calissa Allison: 25 kills, 4 digs, 10 assists, 5 aces

Emily Daves: 10 kills, 4 digs, 2 assists, 3 aces

Ella Kansas: 7 kills, 10 digs

Marisol Honstein: 10 digs, 3 assists

Brennen Pritchett: 6 digs, 26 assists, 3 aces

‼️ UPCOMING EVENTS

VB @ Kerrville OLH: JV @ 5:00, V @ 6:00 Address: 235 Peterson Farm Rd, Kerrville, TX 78028 

VB vs Bulverde Bracken: JV @ 6:15, V @ 7:30 Address: 500 Immanuel Rd. Pflugerville, TX 78660

XC Meet @ Zion Walburg: First Race @ 8:30, Rolling Start After Address: 6101 FM 1105, Georgetown, TX 78626

FB HOMECOMING GAME vs SA Lutheran: Tailgate from 5-7pm, Kickoff @ 7:30 Address: 400 Park Ave, Hutto, TX 78634 

🏅 LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT CARDINAL ATHLETICS?

If you are looking for more ways to follow along and support our athletes, here are a few more things we do:

1. Interested in Sponsoring an Edition of our Newsletter? Shoot an email to our athletic director [email protected] and he will point you in the right direction!

2. Follow us on Social Media. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates throughout the season!

PLEASE SEND ANY ATHLETIC PICTURES TO [email protected] TO BE INCLUDED IN SOCIAL MEDIA!

We pray that your day is full of reminders of God’s love and faithfulness. May you faithfully build your life on Christ.

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

To God be the glory,

Coach T