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Cardinal fans are still flying high from last weekend’s capstone Concordia Invitational Tournament.
CUAA wrapped up a decades-long tradition with flare! The 2025 Concordia Invitational Tournament, which took place Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-25, in Ann Arbor, marked the end of the tournament’s 72-year run. CUAA has participated in CIT for 23 of those years.
This past weekend saw the men’s and women’s basketball, cheer, and dance teams from four Concordias compete. In addition to Concordia Ann Arbor, participating schools included Concordia Chicago, Concordia Nebraska, and Concordia Wisconsin.
Cardinal-athletes fought hard and flew high throughout the weekend. Here are some of the pinnacle moments.
Moments of camaraderie among students
Even in the face of intense competition, teams from different schools played with respect and treated their rivals as brothers and sisters in Christ!
Cheer’s CIT dominance
In 2018, the participating CIT schools decided to add a Saturday morning cheer and dance competition to the tournament. Cardinal cheerleaders have won the competition handily the past six years, and this year was no exception, thanks to a routine packed with high-flying jumps, stunts, and tumbling passes.
The dance team’s hip-hop hit the spot
Dare we say they brought the coolest outfits? We dare! The dance team’s routine might not have earned them a podium spot, but it was filled with the most swagger!
Cardinal fans turned out
It warmed our hearts to see a sea of red in the stands. The student and parent/alumni sections were packed throughout the weekend, and our pep band kept the beat alive!
“Who run the world?…”
GIRLS! Our women’s basketball team had a fantastic showing at this year’s CIT, falling just six points shy from a tournament victory. On Friday, they easily beat CUW to advance to the finals. Then, on Saturday, the women held CUNE to the tightest point margin we’ve seen in recent CIT history. The lady Cardinals played their games with incredible speed, hustle, and heart, making them champions in our hearts!
The men’s buzzer-beater against CUW
Easily the highlight of the tournament! In the Friday night match against Concordia Wisconsin, Cardinals guard Jason Jergens clinched the game in dramatic fashion. CUW’s Falcons led the scoreboard for nearly the entire game, but with just seconds left, the Cardinals were only down by two. Scroll or click below to see Cardinal fans soar after the last-minute heroic shot.
And above all else, Christ first!
Devotions, prayers, and benedictions scattered throughout the tournament reminded everyone that the CIT community, though competitors, shared something far more vital in the end: a belief in the gift of salvation won through Jesus Christ. In Him is our ultimate victory!
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Want in?
CUAA will continue to offer a variety of degrees in 2025-26 and beyond. Pursue a degree in healthcare at our North Building with its newly remodeled features and state-of-the-art simulation equipment, or earn your master’s degree in education through one of our well-established online programs. In the near future, Concordia will look to reintroduce church work training opportunities in Ann Arbor by building a new vision and model for the undergraduate degree programs here.