We are proud to announce that Concordia was honored with three TAPPS 6A of the Year Awards for 2024-2025 school year!
- Coach Guinness Collins, Head Track Coach for Boys & Girls Track & Field, was named the TAPPS 6A Female Coach of the Year.
- Coach Matt Neidigk ’92, Athletic Director and Head Girls Basketball Coach, was named the TAPPS 6A Male Coach of the Year.
- Mr. Palomaki, Director of Vocal Music, was named the TAPPS 6A Fine Arts Teacher of the Year.
Award Recipient Resumes:
Coach Guinness Collins, Head Track & Field Coach and science teacher, was selected as the TAPPS 6A Female Coach of the Year. Under Collins’ leadership, the track and field season was a resounding success, highlighted by six athletes committing to compete at the collegiate level - two at Division I programs, three at Division II, and one at an NAIA school. The team earned an impressive five All-American honors and brought home four individual state titles. With seven TAPPS 6A All-State honors and a 4th place overall finish for the Boys team and a 9th place overall finish for the Girls team at the TAPPS 6A State Meet, the season showcased incredible depth and talent. Along the way, athletes set over 100 personal records and broke eight school records, capping off a strong finish to the year.
Coach Matt Neidigk ’92, Athletic Director and Head Girls Basketball Coach, was selected as the TAPPS 6A Male Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the Lady Crusader Basketball team (24-10 Overall and 6-4 District) went on an amazing playoff run, defeating the #1 and #2 seeds in their region to reach the TAPPS 6A State Final Four for the first time in nine years. The team battled a difficult district as well as injuries throughout the season but came together at the right time in the playoffs for a special season.
Mr. Michael Palomaki, Choir Director, Asst. Esports Coach, and theology teacher, was selected as the TAPPS 6A Fine Arts Teacher of the Year. For the fifth year in a row, under Mr. Palomaki’s leadership, Concordia claimed the Vocal Music State Championship! The Crusaders finished with 1,141 points, which is the most Concordia has earned in school history according to available school records and bested 2024’s previously set record by 42 points. Dating back to 2008-2009 school year, in the last 17 years, Concordia has been Vocal Music State Champs x12 times! Mr. Palomaki also won the TAPPS 6A Fine Arts Teacher of the Year award in the 2020-2021 school year.
History of TAPPS of the Year Honorees:
- Guinness Collins is the first TAPPS 6A Female Coach of the Year honoree for Concordia.
- This is the 3rd time in school history that a Concordia Coach has won the TAPPS 6A Male Coach of the Year award. In 2017-2018, Mr. Bobby Lindquist was selected as the TAPPS 6A Male Coach of the Year as he was leading the Football and Boys Track Teams at that time. Then, in 2020-2021, Head Baseball Coach Royce Kennedy was selected as the TAPPS 6A Male Coach of the year.
- Concordia received their first TAPPS Fine Arts Teacher of the Year award in 2015-2016. Since then, Concordia has won the Fine Arts Teacher of the Year eight of the last nine years including the last six years!
To learn more about all of our Athletic and Fine Art Programs at Concordia, or any of our extra-curricular activities, visit www.SaderNationTX.com