HASTINGS, Neb. – The eighth-ranked Concordia University wrestling team has clinched at least a share of the GPAC dual title for the second-straight season thanks to a sterling performance on Saturday. Red-hot Andrew Schulte and Jr Lule continued to make a mockery of conference opponents in helping fuel the 39-10 win at Hastings. The Bulldogs won eight of 10 bouts over the host Broncos (2-10, 1-6 GPAC).
In the process of pushing its GPAC dual win streak to 13, fourth-year head coach Dana Vote’s squad improved to 12-4 overall and 6-0 in conference action this season. The 12 victories are a program single-season record. During its active conference win streak, Concordia has outscored opponents 450-116 and has triumphed in 99 of 130 individual matches.
“It was a dominating performance,” Vote said. “Our guys looked really good. They’re coming on strong at the right time of the year. We’re really showing that we have a strong lineup from top to bottom.
“We haven’t talked about the GPAC title much yet. We knew coming in that we could clinch at least a share, but we want to win it outright. All our preparation now goes into getting ready for Thursday (versus Morningside).”
Lule (29-7) and Schulte (31-6) both notched victories by technical fall. Eighth-ranked Lule, who now has 10 wins via technical fall this season, has dismantled GPAC opponents. In his latest outing, the 157-pounder from Blythe, Calif., pulverized Austin Moyer, 17-0. Similarly, Schulte, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA at 141 pounds, cruised past Taylor Rich, 17-2, for his 16th-straight victory.
The only Bulldog to go up against a nationally-ranked foe was Kodie Cole at 133 pounds. Trying to round into form down the stretch, Cole (10-9) blanked No. 16 Trey Trujillo, 4-0, as part of a run of three-straight Concordia wins to begin the dual.
The Bulldogs also dominated the latter weights with pins at 184 by senior Matt Atwood (ranked sixth) and at 197 by freshman Alexander Reimers. Wrestling in his first career GPAC dual, Reimers needed only 15 seconds to finish off Jose Rodriquez. That came right on the heels of Atwood’s (19-5) seventh pin of the season.
At 125, No. 10 Dmitri Smith has gotten on a roll with wins in five of his last six matches. Smith (17-15), one of four California natives in Saturday’s lineup, took a major decision (13-2) over Kyle James. Tommy Bailey (25-18) also won by major decision, 20-7, over Alejandro Tarin at 165. The dual concluded with Ceron Francisco (24-13) receiving a win by forfeit at heavyweight.
The Bulldogs can finish off a second-straight unbeaten GPAC season with a win over Morningside (6-3, 5-1 GPAC) on Thursday. The action will get started at 7 p.m. CT from Walz Arena. The Mustangs have a shot to claim a share of the GPAC championship with an upset of Concordia.