FREMONT, Neb. – It did not last long, but the Concordia University Wrestling team got what it came for. In returning to action for the first time since Nov. 14, the Bulldogs won eight of 10 matches in a 38-7 GPAC dual victory at Midland on Thursday (Dec. 3) night. Four matches went uncontested in a meeting that took place inside the Wikert Event Center.
Third-year Head Coach Levi Calhoun’s squad (2-1 overall) also owns a victory over Dakota Wesleyan. Concordia was ranked third in the first GPAC rankings of 2020-21.
The Warriors (0-3, 0-2 GPAC) got on the board first with wins coming via Tyson Beauperthuy (major decision) at 174 and Connor Rinn (decision) at 184 (dual began at 174). The forfeits then kicked in as the Bulldogs accepted freebies at 197, 285, 125 and 133. Over the final four bouts, Concordia picked up wins from the likes of junior Mario Ybarra (decision) at 141, freshman Jeaven Scdoris (decision) at 149, junior Issiah Burks (major decision) at 157 and senior Gabe Crawford (major decision) at 165.
The veterans Burks (11-1 MD) and Crawford (14-3 MD) went on the attack in the most dominant efforts of the night by competitors in the navy and white. Meanwhile, Ybarra (ranked third nationally at 133) found himself in a battle with the GPAC’s second-rated 141-pounder in Conner Dalton. Ybarra, who wrestled up a weight, held off Dalton thanks to a late takedown in a 3-1 decision. A former Milford High School state champion, Scdoris moved his season record to 7-5.
Midland entered the dual ranked seventh in the GPAC after it went 1-7 last season in conference duals. At 174 pounds, Beauperthuy is ranked second in the GPAC and 20th nationally. In their two previous duals, the Warriors fell by scores of 30-22 to York College and 39-15 to Hastings.
Dating back to last season, the defending conference champion Bulldogs have won 10-straight GPAC duals. The program owns an impressive conference dual record of 43-4 since the start of the 2014-15 season.
Next up on the schedule is the Doane University Open on Saturday. The action is slated to get underway at 9 a.m. CT from Fuhrer Fieldhouse in Crete, Neb. According to Track Wrestling, Concordia will be one of 11 institutions represented at the tournament. This will mark the third open of the season for the Bulldogs, who also competed at the York and Dakota Wesleyan Opens.