SEWARD, Neb. – In just his second tournament as a Bulldog, junior Hagen Heistand made major waves. As a result, the league office recognized Heistand as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday (Jan. 21). The announcement marks the first career GPAC weekly award for Heistand. From a team perspective, Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling has collected three GPAC weekly honors this season with two having gone to standout Creighton Baughman.
Heistand receives the accolade based on his efforts at the Roger Denker Open on Jan. 19. The Dow City, Iowa, native blazed through the 149-pound bracket with a 5-0 record for his first tournament championship as a Concordia wrestler. The transfer from NCAA Division I Campbell University registered two pins, a pair of victories by technical fall and one win via major decision and did not surrender a single offensive point as part of his run in Warrensburg, Mo. Ranked No. 2 in the GPAC within his weight class, Heistand owns a season record of 10-1.
Up next for Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad will be the Missouri Valley Invitational in Marshall, Mo., Friday and Saturday. Heistand is expected to be one of the 12 Bulldogs headed to the tournament.