Price stars in Concordia debut as 14 Bulldogs compete at DWU Open

By Jacob Knabel on Nov. 9, 2024 in Wrestling

MITCHELL, S.D. – A transfer from Iowa Western Community College, Cole Price made a strong first impression in his first appearance in the Bulldog singlet. The La Vista, Neb., native won five matches on Saturday (Nov. 9) while highlighting the efforts of the Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling team at the Dakota Wesleyan University Open. Fourteen Bulldog grapplers combined for 22 victories in a challenging field featuring wrestlers from more than 20 institutions.

The tournament marked the third outing of the season for Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad. Earlier in the week, Concordia earned a 36-6 GPAC dual win over Midland.

“We had a solid showing,” Watts said of the DWU Open. “Cole finished top four and Mason was one win away from placing top eight at a very strong open. Mason looked more confident and comfortable moving up to 285. This was Cole’s first competition of the year, and he put a solid showing together. He wrestled smart and finished almost every time he touched a leg.”

Price wrestled the maximum number of matches in a single day and wound up in fourth place in the 165-pound bracket. Price opened his day with a first-period pin of Bismarck State Community College’s Dillon Spaulding and proceeded to win three matches by decision and another by major decision. His final victory of the day came over an NCAA Division II opponent from Northern State University (S.D.).

A national qualifier last season at 197 pounds, Garcia continues to get acclimated to the heavyweight class. His tournament included a trio of wins, including two pins, one over a Jamestown opponent. The Arroyo Grande, Calif., native’s bid for a tournament place finish was denied by a tight 3-1 decision that ended his run. Garcia is ranked 18th in the NAIA at 285. The team’s two additional nationally ranked wrestlers (Creighton Baughman and Tommy Wentz) did not compete in Mitchell.

Of the 14 Bulldogs to take the mats at the DWU Open, 10 emerged with at least one victory. In addition to Garcia and Price, five Concordia competitors won multiple matches: Grant Wells (3-2 at 133), Brent Ward (2-2 at 165), Garret Moser (2-2 at 184), Calvin Gross (2-2 at 197) and Teegan Tschampel (2-2 at 197). Three others triumphed exactly one time: Ramon Arredondo (174), Simon Arredondo (165) and Collin Schwartzkopf (197). Collectively, Concordia posted 11 pins with two apiece from Garcia, Gross and Tschampel.

The next event on the schedule will be a dual at Hastings on Friday, Nov. 22. In last season's matchup in Seward, the Bulldogs pummeled the Broncos, 41-9. Hastings finished last season at 1-7 in GPAC duals before placing eighth at the 2024 GPAC Wrestling Championships.