KEARNEY, Neb. – A day after thumping GPAC rival Hastings in a conference dual, Concordia University Wrestling traveled eight competitors to the Younes Hospitality Open hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The tournament on Saturday (Nov. 18) allowed for the small group of Bulldogs to gain experience against a strong field in Kearney, Neb. The trio of Barret Brandt, Sean Duffy and Bryce Karlin combined for each of the eight Concordia victories on the day.
This was the third tournament of the season for Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad. Clasen rested the 10 Bulldogs who competed in Friday night’s home dual.
A freshman from Syracuse, Neb., Brandt continues to impress with his pinning prowess. Entering the tournament, he had ended each of his 11 victories this season by fall. Brandt went 4-2 on Saturday with three more pins (to bring his season total to 14). Brandt finally did win a full seven-minute match when he earned a 14-12 decision over Charles Severance of Mary. Brandt was credited with sixth place in the 165-pound amateur division.
Karlin (141) and Duffy (184) also competed in the amateur division (as opposed to the “elite division”). The sophomore Karlin (Beatrice, Neb.) started his day at 2-0 with a pair of wins over NCAA Division II foes (one via fall). He was knocked out of the bracket with the two defeats that followed. In his bracket, Duffy picked up a pin and win via major decision before bowing out of the tournament in round four of the consolation.
Other wrestlers who represented Concordia at the Younes Hospitality Open were Dontario Norwood (149) and Teegan Tschampel (184) in the elite division and Aidan Trowbridge (125), Bryson Bussinger (125) and Cervando Tapia II (133) in the amateur division. There were wrestlers from 57 different institutions present in Kearney.
A pivotal day of conference dual action is coming up Tuesday when the Bulldogs will go head-to-head with Dakota Wesleyan and Morningside. The duals are slated to begin at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, and will be held at Long Lines Family Rec Center in Sioux City, Iowa, as part of a series of GPAC matchups.