Bulldogs claim seven matches on way to 35-12 win at Doane
CRETE, Neb. – The 15th-ranked Concordia University wrestling team used a workmanlike effort to take care of an improving Doane squad, 35-12, inside Fuhrer Field House in Crete, Neb., on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs got pins at 133 and 197 as part of a performance that included wins in seven of 10 bouts.
The victory opened up the dual season for a Concordia team that tied for second in the GPAC standings in 2013-14. Third-year head coach Dana Vote’s No. 1-ranked North Group outfit has lived up to preseason expectations thus far.
“It feels good to get that first dual win out of the way,” Vote said. “I thought we looked a little bit flat coming off two big tournaments to open the season. But our guys did some good things and were able to put a win on the board.”
Doane trailed just 10-8 following Martin Phillips’ win by technical fall over Brock Dalton at 149. The Bulldogs responded by winning five of the final six bouts, including Kale Hintz’s pin of one of the Tigers’ top wrestlers from a year ago in Kyle Hoffman at 197. Hintz, who normally competes at 184, moved up a weight in place of Ken Burkhardt Jr. Said Vote, “It was a really nice win for Kale.”
At 133, junior eighth-ranked Eric Franklin (6-3) picked up his first win by fall in the Bulldog singlet. The transfer from Ellsworth Community College wiped out Taylon Lienemann in 3:23 to follow up a second-place claim over the weekend at the Dakota Wesleyan Open.
“Franklin wrestled well,” Vote said. “He was tough. He scored points and got the pin. He got us going tonight.”
Noel Richardson continued his impressive early-season run at 184. The junior from Junction City, Kan., came up just short of a major decision by knocking off Austin Borne, 9-2. Richardson (7-4), who won six matches at the Dakota Wesleyan, needs only one more victory to equal his season total as a sophomore.
Sophomore Foster Bunce (ranked No. 16 at 141) and senior Enrique Barajas (ranked No. 7 at 149) both posted major decisions at their respective weights. Bunce (4-4) won by a 14-4 score while Barajas (9-4) came through with a 13-4 triumph at 157.
The Bulldogs also received two wins via forfeit. Junior Austin Starkey (165) and sophomore Ceron Francisco (285) both went unopposed on Tuesday night.
Doane had entered the match with a 2-0 dual mark that included wins over Regina (51-6) and Dakota Wesleyan (38-15). The Tigers have made significant strides since Concordia defeated them 39-6 in last year’s meeting in which Doane managed only three takedowns the entire night.
The Bulldogs close the week on Thursday with another road dual. Concordia will go head-to-head with NCAA Division III Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, at 7 p.m. In last season’s contest between the two teams, the Bulldogs won 39-7 in a match held in Seward. Thursday’s tilt will mark the first dual of the season for the Beavers.
