STORM LAKE, Iowa – A day after the ninth-ranked Concordia University wrestling team clipped Doane in a GPAC dual, a group of 14 Bulldogs made their way to the Buena Vista University Open in Storm Lake, Iowa. In Saturday’s tournament action, freshman Nate Bennett claimed the 165-pound ‘B’ bracket title and three others earned place finishes for Concordia. The Bulldogs recorded a combined 19 wins on the day.
Assistant coach Levi Calhoun traveled with the team. Calhoun oversaw additional place finishes by junior Kolton Larsen (second in 157 ‘B’), sophomore Tristain Sichmeller (third in 174 ‘B’) and sophomore Demitrius Miller (fourth in 184 ‘A’). None of the Bulldogs who competed in Friday’s 23-22 victory at Doane made the journey to Storm Lake.
Bennett entered the day having gone 3-4 over his outings at the Dakota Wesleyan and University of Nebraska-Kearney opens. The native of Carrollton, Texas, was a perfect 4-0 at Buena Vista. He earned decisive victories (technical fall and a pin) on his way to the semifinals, where he defeated Wayne State College’s Caleb Thomas, 7-3. He then prevailed, 12-6, over Chris Paulsen of Briar Cliff in the title bout.
Larsen equaled Bennett’s team best four wins on the day. Larsen pinned Trenton Simpson of Iowa Lakes Community College and then snuck past North Iowa Area Community College’s Colby Winnett on a tiebreaker, moving him to the championship match. That’s where Augustana College’s Jackson Sweeney majored Larsen, 15-5.
Demitrius Miller emerged as the lone Bulldog to place in the ‘A’ brackets. Miller advanced to the semifinals at 184 by winning his first two matches. That run included a 12-10 victory over Grand View University’s (Iowa) Casey Crawford.
Miller, Tommy Andrews (285) and Sichmeller each collected two wins at the BVU Open. Another five Bulldogs picked up exactly one victory.
The Bulldogs will make their home debut on Friday (Dec. 9) when Northwest Kansas Tech visits Walz Arena for a 7 p.m. CT start time. The Mavericks have not yet competed in a dual. Concordia has won its first two duals of the season, collecting wins over GPAC foes Dakota Wesleyan and Doane.