SEWARD, Neb. – Two sides just getting started with seasons full of promise met on Thursday (Nov. 13) inside Friedrich Arena for the first GPAC dual of the 2025-26 campaign. After Hastings struck first at the lighter weights, the 16th-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling team roared back with six wins, all coming with bonus points, and triumphed, 32-18. The dual featured four pins, including three by those wearing the Bulldog singlet. It was all over in barely more than an hour.
Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad began the ’25-26 season with two tournaments prior to the Thursday dual. In his first season leading the program, Concordia went 6-2 in GPAC duals (tied for second place).
“It felt like we were wrestling to score points,” Watts said. “I thought guys were initiating contact and closing space, which is something that’s been an emphasis for us. Overall, I was happy with how aggressive we were … I think he (Torrance Keehn) was pretty excited about it (being his first match this season). When he gets excited, I get excited. He’s fun to watch. He did a great job and came out super aggressive.”
Hastings held a 15-12 lead in the team score halfway through the dual. That’s when the Bulldogs got on a roll. NAIA 17th-ranked Cole Price (165) and Evan Sepanlou (174) just missed tech falls while posting major decisions. Price scored a takedown and five near-fall points in the first period alone before Sepanlou emerged with three takedowns and four near-fall points as part of his dominant performance. Then came the pins. No. 22 Hunter Weimer (174) and No. 14 Torrance Keehn, two returning national qualifiers, inspired some of the night’s loudest cheers by nailing their foes to the mat.
The fifth-year Bulldog Weimer (Porterville, Calif.) mounted a 13-1 lead before wiping out his counterpart in 3:58. Keehn didn’t even wait until the end of the first period to pin Conall Liburdi on the heels of three quick takedowns. Keehn clinched the team victory in what was his first appearance of the 2025-26 season.
Said Keehn, “I just wanted to go out there and set the tone for everybody and push the pace. It’s the first match back for me since March. I was just rearing to go. It’s just nice to be back on the mat … It’s always about getting to the next step. That’s what I’m striving to get.”
After falling behind 9-0 after 125 and 133, Concordia picked up its first team points at 141 when Cal Price pinned Dalton Michael at the 2:24 mark. Price recorded two takedowns prior to the fall. Steven Barnes was also credited with a win by forfeit at 149. Barnes is another of the six returning national qualifiers on the roster.
An ascending program in recent years, Hastings won four matches thanks to the work of Aidan Rodriguez (pin at 125), NAIA No. 16 Justin Rodriguez (5-1 decision at 133), Jordan Tobias (pin at 157) and Koen Mattern (11-6 decision at 285). The heavyweight battle marked the evening’s one ranked versus ranked matchup. A reigning GPAC champion, Mattern (ranked No. 8 in the NAIA) managed to hold off No. 19 Gabe Kant. A tournament placer twice already this season, Kant came through with a late takedown to get within one (7-6) before Mattern closed the door.
The development phase continues for this Bulldog team. Said Watts, “We’re just going to keep emphasizing what we have been this week and build off that. There are a couple things tonight that we identified that we need to add on to what we’re working on. As long as they keep listening and applying it in matches, I think we’ll make good progress in the first semester.”
Next up on the slate will be a Friday (Nov. 21) night dual at eighth-ranked Doane. The action is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. CT from the Haddix Center in Crete. It will mark the season’s first dual for the Tigers, who went a perfect 8-0 last season in conference duals.