Dual Preview: Concordia to host No. 8 Doane on Friday

By Jacob Knabel on Dec. 9, 2024 in Wrestling

SEWARD, Neb. – GPAC dual action will resume on Friday when the Concordia University, Wrestling program will host eighth-ranked Doane. The matchup is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. CT from Friedrich Arena. The dual will represent the first conference wrestling for the Bulldogs since they hosted GPAC Day of Duals No. 1 on Nov. 26. Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad owns a 3-1 conference dual record while Doane sits at 3-0.

Concordia vs. No. 8 Doane
Friday, Dec. 13 | 7 p.m. | Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Results: TrackWrestling

The layoff following GPAC Day of Duals No. 1 ended this past weekend as 26 Bulldogs took part in the Connor Oppenheim Open hosted by Doane. In an event that featured wrestlers from 38 institutions, Concordia came away with 51 total wins and three individual place finishes. Most notably, NAIA 10th-ranked Creighton Baughman won the 141-pound open division and both Cal Price (third place) and Evan Sepanlou (fourth place) took home place finishes in the amateur division. Now in his fifth season of collegiate wrestling, Baughman has improved to 8-0 this season after winning all five of his matches at the Oppenheim Open. Each of his opponents were NAIA wrestlers, including Grand View University (Iowa)’s Drew Woodley, who Baughman defeated, 6-4, in the championship bout. Baughman ran his career Concordia win total to 66 (106 counting his two seasons at Iowa Western Community College).

Elsewhere, Steven Barnes went 3-2 at 149 pounds and defeated Waldorf’s 20th-ranked Tyler Okada. Barnes was one of 22 Bulldogs to emerge with at least one victory at the tournament. Concordia competitors with at least three wins at the Oppenheim Open included Baughman (5-0), Cal Price (4-1), Simon Arredondo (4-2), Sepanlou (4-2), Ramon Arredondo (3-2), Barnes (3-2), Blake Boehmer (3-2) and Mason Garcia (3-2).

In duals this season, the Bulldogs have earned wins over Midland, 36-6, Hastings, 33-22, and Dakota Wesleyan, 32-10. The loss came at the hands of Morningside, 32-10. Individually, the following Concordia wrestlers have notched at least three dual wins this season: Brandt (4-0), Baughman (3-0), Barnes (3-1) and Weimer (3-1). Baughman also went 15-0 last season in dual meets.

Doane is the defending GPAC champion and will enter the dual ranked in the NAIA top 10. Based on the most recent NAIA national ratings, the Tigers boast 11 nationally ranked individuals. Five Doane competitors are ranked No. 1 in the GPAC in their respective weight classes: Matthew Terrence (133), Nathan Lendt (149), Ben Miller (157), Tyson Beauperthuy (184) and Bradley Antesberger (197). Head Coach Dana Vote’s squad has dominated its first three GPAC duals of the season, winning by scores of 50-3 over Midland, 47-0 over Northwestern and 40-9 over Briar Cliff.

Ranked Wrestlers

NOTE: Rankings are based on the ones released during the week of Nov. 18. New sets of GPAC and NAIA national rankings are scheduled to be released this week.

Concordia (3-1, 3-1 GPAC)
133: Bryce Karlin – GPAC Rank: 4th
141: Creighton Baughman – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 10th
149: Steven Barnes – GPAC Rank: 3rd
157: Francisco Mendez – GPAC Rank: 5th
165: Tommy Wentz – GPAC Rank: 2nd | NAIA Rank: 18th
165: Cole Price – GPAC Rank: 4th
174: Barret Brandt – GPAC Rank: 3rd
184: Hunter Weimer – GPAC Rank: 3rd
197: Torrance Keehn – GPAC Rank: 6th
285: Mason Garcia – GPAC Rank: 5th

Doane (3-0, 3-0 GPAC)
125: Hunter Bennett – GPAC Rank: 2nd | NAIA Rank: 20th
133: Matthew Terrence – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 11th
141: Devin Avedissian – GPAC Rank: 3rd | NAIA Rank: 15th
149: Nathan Lendt – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 1st
157: Ben Miller – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 15th
165: Edward Ramirez – GPAC Rank: 3rd
174: Benjamin Dobler – GPAC Rank: 2nd | NAIA Rank: 23rd
184: Tyson Beauperthuy – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 4th
184: Kolton Kammeyer – GPAC Rank: 2nd | NAIA Rank: 15th
197: Bradley Antesberger – GPAC Rank: 1st | NAIA Rank: 3rd
197: Kasten Grape – GPAC Rank: 3rd | NAIA Rank: 7th
285: Eli Criblez – GPAC Rank: 4th | NAIA Rank: 24th

Up Next

Following Friday’s dual, the Bulldogs will be off from competition until heading to the Cusatis Open hosted by Hastings on Jan. 11. In terms of duals, Concordia will be at GPAC Day of Duals No. 2 at Dakota Wesleyan on Feb. 8.