RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Concordia University Chicago (CUC) athletics had a busy week last week, including competing at nationals and multiple Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) matchups.
 
Track & Field
The Cougars competed at the Chicagoland Championships, hosted by Elmhurst College.
 
On the women's side, Danielle Giovenco (Hoffman Estates, Ill.)  secured fourth in the 10000m with a time of 44:59.04. This ranks third in the NACC. Noor Sammour (Berwyn, Ill.) leapt 1.43m in the high jump to tie for tenth. Madison Hipshire (Riverview, Mich.) placed 13^th in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:13.41. Aniyah Isom (Chicago, Ill.) finished 17th in the long jump with a leap of 4.90m.
 
On the men's side, Korey Randle (East Moline, Ill.)  leapt for 6.76m, placing first in long jump. Randle also took eighth in the triple jump with a leap of 13.65m. This mark ranks 68^th in the DIII Outdoor Rankings and ranks first in the NACC. The 4x400m relay team consisting of Vincent Scarnato (Pottstown, Pa.), Kamren Hannah (El Paso, Texas),  Austin Knight (Forest Park, Ill.), and Jamel Goins (Columbus, Ohio) finished sixth with a time of 3:24.26. This ranks 68^th in the DIII Outdoor Rankings and tops the NACC performance list. Scarnato, Hannah, Knight, and Julian Switzer (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) competed in the 4x100m, placing seventh with a time of 42.90, which ranks second in the NACC.
 
The Cougars' next meet will be the Wisconsin Lutheran Invite on Saturday, April 18, hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) in Wauwatosa, Wis.
 
Baseball (13-13, 8-5)
The CUC baseball team played four games this week.
 
CUC first finished its series against Benedictine University, where the Cougars won 3-1. Brandon Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) went two-for-three at the plate with three RBIs. He picked up back-to-back home runs to secure all three runs. Jack Carroll (North Aurora, Ill.) got the win on the mound, picking up a career-high 10 strikeouts in eight innings pitched. Four other Cougars picked up hits on the day in Cam Buckley (New Lenox, Ill.), Xavier Zagerman (Chandler, Ariz.), Austin Koberstein (Milwaukee, Wis.), and Richie Sperando (Darien, Ill.).
 
The Cougars then played a doubleheader against a strong Aurora University squad. In game one, the team fell 14-3 (7 inn.). Jake Mahler (Vernon Hills, Ill.) led the offense going three-for-four with a double and a stolen base. Jack Linko (New Lenox, Ill.) went two-for-two with one run and one double. Buckley followed, going two-for-four at the plate with one run and one RBI.
 
In game two, CUC fell 15-4 (7 inn.). Sperando led at the plate, going two-for-three. J. Mahler went two-for-four at the plate with two runs and RBIs off his two solo home runs. B. Mahler went two-for-four at the plate. Buckley and Connor Jerkatis (New Lenox, Ill.) each collected an RBI.
 
After the doubleheader in Wis. got postponed from Friday to Sunday and relocated to River Forest, the Cougars hosted Marian University. In an intense extra inning thriller, CUC pulled off the comeback victory, 17-14 (10 inn.). Sperando led the offense, going four-for-five with two RBIs and three runs. B. Mahler went three-for-five at the plate with three RBIs and one run, picking up a double late in the game to put the Cougars ahead. Buckley went three-for-six with two RBIs and two runs. Zagerman picked up the game tying solo home run while going two-for-four at the plate with two RBIs. Game two of the doubleheader was postponed due to weather.
 
This week the Cougars play five games. They face North Park University on Monday, April 13. The single game will take place at 4:00 pm. Then the Cougars host Illinois Tech on Tuesday, April 14 for a doubleheader. First pitch will be at 12:00 pm. Then on Saturday, April 18, CUC hosts Edgewood University. The doubleheader will begin at 12:00 pm.
 
Softball (9-17, 4-10)
The Cougars played two doubleheaders at home this week.
 
First, they hosted Rockford University. The Cougars rallied to take the 13-8 victory in game one. Melisa Hadzic (Westchester, Ill.) went four-for-five at the plate, picking up two runs and four RBIs. Arissa Santos (Moreno Valley, Calif.) went three-for-three and collected one run and one RBI. Alyssa Campos (Eastvale, Calif.) went two-for-four, taking on a run and three RBIs. Eden Pufahl (Laguna Hills, Calif.) picked up the win in the circle while Katie Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) secured the save.
 
In game two, the Cougars fell 11-8 after the game was called after the sixth inning due to darkness. Santos went three-for-three at the plate, recording a run. Hadzic went two-for-four at the plate, collecting two runs and two RBIs. Campos also went two-for-four at the plate, tacking on two runs and an RBI.
 
CUC then hosted Marian. The Cougars dominated game one, grabbing an 8-0 win in five innings. Santos went two-for-three at the plate, registering two RBIs. Eliza Auger (Littleton, Colo.) and Mayah Larenas (Chino, Calif.) both went one-for-one, recording one and two runs, respectively. Emily Garcia (Eastvale, Calif.) went one-for-two at the plate, grabbing three RBIs and scoring a run of her own. Linley Southern (Decatur, Ill.) went one-for-two, securing two RBIs. Pufahl picked up her second win of the week, facing seven batters in two innings pitched.
 
In game two, CUC fell 5-2. Haley Gulsby (Englewood, Fla.) went two-for-three, scoring one run. Garcia went two-for-four and added two RBIs. Santos, Campos, and Jazmine Gonzales (Riverside, Calif.) each picked up a hit.
 
This week the team has three doubleheaders. The Cougars will take a quick break from NACC play to host Lake Forest College on Wednesday, April 15. First pitch of the doubleheader will be at 2:30 pm. Then on Saturday April 18, NACC play resumes. CUC travels to Verona, Wis. to take on Edgewood. First pitch will be at 12:00 pm. Finally on Sunday, April 19, CUC plays a doubleheader in Milwaukee, Wis. The Cougars face Alverno College at 12:00 pm.
 
Men's Tennis (1-16, 1-4)
The Cougars played four matches this week.
 
First, the team traveled to Wheaton, Ill. to face Wheaton College, where the Cougars fell, 7-0. At No. 1 doubles,  Sam Smith (Munster, Ind) and Andres Villagran (El Paso, Texas) paired up and gave a valiant effort, but fell 6-2. Collin Dickey (Frisco, Texas) and August Barnes (Sodus, Mich.) would pick up a point at No. 2 doubles but dropped the match 6-1. Four Cougars secured points in their singles matches in Dickey, Barnes, Reynaldo Leal (Weslaco, Texas), and Kevin Bullens (River Forest, Ill.). Bullens led the charge, going to tiebreakers in each set. He secured six points in his first set before falling 7-0 in tiebreakers while he picked up six more points in his second set but fell 7-3 in tiebreakers.
 
The Cougars then hosted Olivet Nazarene University (ONU), falling 5-2. ONU swept the doubles matches but not without a fight from the Cougars. Smith and Villagran fought to a 6-3 battle at No. 1 doubles. Barnes and Dickey kept it close, just getting edged out, 7-5 at No. 2 doubles. Bullens and Kyle Pelzek (Hales Corner, Wis.) came up just short, 6-4 in the No. 3 position. The Cougars picked up two singles victories. Barnes secured the first victory, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 5 singles. Bullens followed with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles.
 
The Cougars resumed NACC play with a 7-0 loss to Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW). Despite Dickey and Barnes defeating their opponents, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles, the Falcons would claim the other two doubles matches and the doubles point. CUW swept the singles matches. Bullens held the closest match in the sixth position, falling in two 6-3 sets. Dickey, Leal, Villagran, and Barnes also picked up points in their respective singles matches but ultimately fell to the Falcons.
 
Finally, the Cougars hosted St. Norbert College (SNC). Bullens and Pelzek persevered to take the No. 2 doubles match, 7-5, but the Green Knights would walk away with the doubles point. Diego Loveshe (Franklin Park, Ill.) fought hard, putting it to the wire in both sets, falling 7-5, 7-5 at No. 6 singles. Bullens battled in a tight first set, falling 6-4, before dropping set two, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. Smith and Leal also picked up points in their respective singles matches.
Before the match, CUC honored its seniors, Bullens, Leal, Loveshe, Pelzek, Joshua Gustafson (Merrill, Wis.), and Nathan Stringer (Milwaukee, Wis.).
 
The Cougars finish out NACC play this week. They will travel to Glendale, Wis. to face Milwaukee School of Engineering at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 18.
 
Dance
The Cougars competed in the College Classic National Championship this past weekend.
 
The Cougars made their Nationals debut in Rally Dance, where they would pick up a score of 39.50. With only one day of competition in this category, CUC would finish in eighth place. For the first time in program history, the Cougars would advance to the finals in Team Performance after picking up a 78.74 score in the preliminary round. CUC focused on their technique in the finals, posting a score of 82.78 to secure sixth place. In the Pom category, the Cougars recorded a preliminary performance score of 82.62 in Group B. Falling just short of immediate qualification for the finals, CUC was sent to the semi-finals for an opportunity to make a push to the finals. The Cougars made adjustments and posted a final score of 81.88, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the finals. This concludes the 2025-26 CUC Dance season.
 
You can keep up with all things CUC Athletics on Twitter @CUChicagoSports, watch all the action at cucougars.com/coverage, and view all photos from the seasons here.