2024-25 Preseason Ratings: GPAC | NAIA
SEWARD, Neb. – Eleven Bulldogs appeared in the 2024-25 preseason conference wrestling ratings released this week by the NAIA National Office. The NAIA announced both conference and national ratings as part of the lead up to a new season. Head Coach Josh Watt’s Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling team landed four competitors in the NAIA rankings, including returning national qualifiers Creighton Baughman, Mason Garcia and Tommy Wentz.
Watts will make his official Bulldog debut as head coach in early November. He was officially announced as the program’s head coach on July 17.
As a team, Concordia checked in at No. 3 in the GPAC preseason ratings with 151 points. The top two in the ratings are Doane (215) and Morningside (154). Within the conference individual ratings, Baughman ranks No. 1 at 141 pounds while newcomer Hagen Heistand is situated at No. 2 at 157 pounds. In the NAIA national ratings, Baughman is 10th at 141 pounds, Heistand is 25th at 157 pounds, Wentz is 18th at 165 pounds and Garcia is 17th at 285 pounds.
2024-25 Concordia Preseason Ratings
125: Gabe Lujan – GPAC Rank: 5th
133: Grant Wells – GPAC Rank: 6th
141: Creighton Baughman – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 10th
157: Hagen Heistand – GPAC Rank: 2nd | NAIA Rank: 25th
157: Brent Ward – GPAC Rank: 6th
165: Tommy Wentz – GPAC Rank: 3rd | NAIA Rank: 18th
165: Cole Price – GPAC Rank: 5th
174: Barret Brandt – GPAC Rank: 5th
184: Hunter Weimer – GPAC Rank: 3rd
197: Collin Schwartzkopf – GPAC Rank: 5th
285: Mason Garcia – GPAC Rank: 4th | NAIA Rank: 17th
The Bulldogs finished last season with an 8-7 overall dual record (3-5 GPAC). Concordia placed fifth at the GPAC tournament and sixth in the conference regular season standings before moving on to place in a tie for 35th at the NAIA national tournament.
The first event on the 2024-25 schedule will be the Simpson University Luther Hill Invite on Nov. 2. The GPAC dual slate will open up with a matchup at Midland on Nov. 6. The complete schedule can be found HERE.