Bulldogs ranked fourth in NAIA North Region

The third-year Concordia mat program is ranked fourth in the NAIA North Region Wrestling Pre-season Coaches Poll that was released on Tuesday.

Tied at the top is Midland University and 2011 GPAC and North Region champion Morningside College. Edging Concordia for third place is Northwestern College.

“It is just a pre-season poll which means nothing,” noted Bulldog head coach Doug Reese. “The nice thing is that the region coaches have recognized what we have built here at Concordia in the past two seasons. In our first season, we had no one ranked and place last in the region. Things have changed quickly for Bulldog wrestling.”

Individually, the Bulldogs have ranked a number of wrestlers in their weight classes. 
Sophomore Adam Joseph (Hasting, Neb.), a 2011 NAIA National Championship qualifier, is ranked second at 133 pounds. Junior Brandon Starkey (St. Paul, Neb.), who has 55 career wins and two appearances at the national championships, is ranked second at 149 pounds. Junior College All-American Alfredo Torres (West Covina, Calif.) is ranked second at 174 pounds.

Three-time Iowa state champion Dillon Heesch (Dayton, Iowa) is ranked third, and sophomore Blake Augustyn (Ord, Neb.), who posted a pin, technical fall, and a major decision in the 2011 national championships, is ranked fourth at 165 pounds.

Junior national championship qualifier Alex Rostvet (Hastings, Neb.) is ranked fifth at 141 pounds, as is freshman 197-pound wrestler Seth Bass (Bellevue, Neb.). Bass placed third in the 2011 Nebraska state championships. Freshman Nebraska state medalist Kale Hintz (Hebron, Neb.) is ranked sixth at 184 pounds. 

Concordia opens up the 2011-2012 wrestling campaign on Nov. 6 at the Baker College Invitational in Baldwin City, Kan.