Mogg ranked sixth at 125; Bulldogs receive votes in national poll

NAIA poll release

SEWARD, Neb. – Head wrestling coach Dana Vote’s Bulldogs will be armed with significantly greater firepower as they look ahead to the 2013-14 campaign, the second under Vote. Concordia will get a boost from senior Austin Mogg, a former All-American at NCAA Division III Buena Vista University, who checked in at No. 6 in the national rankings in his 125-pound weight class.

The NAIA released preseason team and individual ratings on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs were listed under the “others receiving votes” section of the team rankings, while Mogg is the only Concordia individual ranked nationally.

Mogg already has 92 career collegiate victories from his time at Buena Vista. He is also a former high school state champion out of El Reno High School in Oklahoma.

“I’m really excited to have Austin in the lineup,” Vote said. “Being a 125-pounder, he’ll start us off at every meet and every tournament. It’s huge. I expect a lot out of Austin. I know he’s got high expectations for himself and I think he can do some real good things for us this year.”

On a regional level, Mogg was placed second at 125 in the North Qualifying Group, behind only Midland’s Kmiec Aspen. At 133, Concordia’s Emilio Rivera garnered a No. 5 ranking in the North. Rivera is a transfer from Palomar College in California.

Vote expects Mogg and Rivera to be two of several Bulldogs who compete for All-American honors when the national championships are held March 7-8 in Topek, Kan.

Concordia begins its season Nov. 9 at the Bethany College Swede Open in Lindsborg, Kan.