SEWARD, Neb. – A break in the schedule will give way to a hectic weekend for the Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling program. Idle since Nov. 9, the Bulldogs are scheduled to dual Hastings on Friday before taking part in the Younes Hospitality Open hosted by the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad has competed in two tournaments and one dual in the opening month of the 2024-25 season.
Concordia at Hastings
Friday, Nov. 22 | 7 p.m. | Kiewit Gym (Hastings, Neb.)
Webcast: https://www.gpacnetwork.com/
Live Results: TrackWrestling
The dual season got started for Concordia on Nov. 6 with a 36-6 win at Midland. In that matchup, the Bulldogs got wins from: Aidan Trowbridge (forfeit at 133), Bryce Karlin (pin at 141), Steven Barnes (major decision at 149), Francisco Mendez (decision at 157), Tommy Wentz (technical fall at 165), Barret Brandt (pin at 174) and Hunter Weimer (pin at 184). Three days later, Watts took a group of 14 Bulldogs to the Dakota Wesleyan Open. The yields included 22 combined victories and a fourth-place finish by Cole Price in the 165-pound bracket. While making his Concordia debut, Price won five matches, including one by pin. At heavyweight, Mason Garcia notched three wins. In addition to Garcia and Price, five Bulldog competitors won multiple matches: Grant Wells (3-2 at 133), Brent Ward (2-2 at 165), Garret Moser (2-2 at 184), Calvin Gross (2-2 at 197) and Teegan Tschampel (2-2 at 197).
As of the week of Nov. 4, eight Concordia wrestlers were ranked at the conference level (full list below). Two-time NAIA national qualifier Creighton Baughman continues to rank atop the GPAC at 141 pounds despite having yet to wrestle this season. Baughman is one of three Bulldogs who own NAIA national rankings. Baughman is ranked 10th nationally at 141 while Wentz landed at No. 18 (165) and Garcia also checked in at No. 18 (285). Four Concordia competitors are ranked within the top three of the GPAC in their respective weight classes.
Hastings owns a 3-1 dual record having competed four times at the Loosbrock Duals hosted by Benedictine College earlier this month. At that event in Atchison, Kan., the Broncos earned wins over Colby Community College, 34-12, Bethany College (Kan.), 51-6, and Barton County Community College, 40-9. The defeat came at the hands of the host Ravens, 26-23. Hastings is led by second-year Head Coach Trey Heckadon. Hastings went 1-7 in GPAC duals last season with the lone victory coming against Midland. Outside of GPAC action, the Broncos defeated Waldorf and York. Based on the most recent rankings entering the week, two Hastings wrestlers were ranked in the GPAC: Creel Weber (fourth at 125) and Jack Morton (sixth at 149).
Concordia Ranked Wrestlers (week of Nov. 4)
133: Grant Wells – GPAC Rank: 6th
141: Creighton Baughman – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 10th
157: Hagen Heistand – GPAC Rank: 3rd
165: Tommy Wentz – GPAC Rank: 3rd | NAIA Rank: 18th
165: Cole Price – GPAC Rank: 4th
174: Barret Brandt – GPAC Rank: 5th
184: Hunter Weimer – GPAC Rank: 3rd
285: Mason Garcia – GPAC Rank: 4th | NAIA Rank: 18th
Hastings Ranked Wrestlers (week of Nov. 4)
125: Creel Weber – GPAC Rank: 4th
149: Jack Morton – GPAC Rank: 6th
Coming up early next week, the Bulldogs will serve as one of the hosts for GPAC Day of Duals No. 1 on Nov. 26. The schedule for that event is shown below.
GPAC Day of Duals No. 1 – Nov. 26
Round 1 | 12 p.m. CT
Mat 1 – Concordia vs. Dakota Wesleyan
Mat 2 – Hastings vs. Waldorf
Mat 3 – Midland vs. Briar Cliff
Round 2 | 1:30 p.m. CT
Mat 1 – Doane vs. Northwestern
Mat 2 – Midland vs. Waldorf
Mat 3 – Hastings vs. Dakota Wesleyan
Round 3 | 3 p.m. CT
Mat 1 – Concordia vs. Morningside
Mat 2 – Doane vs. Briar Cliff
Mat 3 – Open