SEWARD, Neb. – In the first head-to-head team action since the Concordia Bulldog Duals on Dec. 19, the Concordia University Wrestling squad will dual a trio of opponents in Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday. The Bulldogs will take on host Northwestern in addition to nonconference foes Dickinson State University (N.D.) and Waldorf University (Iowa). Each of these matchups will take place inside the Bultman Center on the Northwestern campus.
Saturday (Jan. 16) Schedule
–Bultman Center | Orange City, Iowa
–Live Results: Track Wrestling (search for Concordia)
–Live Video: https://nwcraiders.com/sports/2021/1/9/northwestern-wrestling-quad-dual-jan-16.aspx
· vs. Northwestern (1-2, 0-2 GPAC), 11 a.m.
· vs. Dickinson State (1-1), 12:30 p.m.
· vs. Waldorf (0-2), 2 p.m.
Head Coach Levi Calhoun’s Bulldogs enter the weekend sporting an overall dual record of 3-5 (2-1 GPAC). In action last week, Concordia took to the mats for the first time in 2021 while competing at the Hastings Cusatis Open. A group of 12 Bulldogs combined for 22 wins and 10 pins at the tournament. Place finishes were turned in by junior Issiah Burks (third at 157) and by senior Gabe Crawford (second at 165). Burks went 5-1 with three pins while Crawford went 3-1 on his way to the 165 pound championship match. Heavyweight Jacob Telles also enjoyed a solid day with three pins.
Five Concordia wrestlers have accumulated 10 or more wins this season: Telles (21-7), Burks (17-6), Mason Garcia (13-8), Mario Ybarra (12-1) and Jeaven Scdoris (10-11). Ybarra had this past weekend off but will compete again this Saturday. The native of Scottsbluff, Neb., owns a 12-match win streak since dropping his first battle of the season. Ybarra went 4-0 at the Concordia Bulldog Duals in his most recent action. Burks owns the team lead with 10 pins.
New conference and NAIA national rankings were unveiled last week. Ranked fourth in the GPAC as team, Concordia boasts eight individuals who are listed among the top six in the conference at their respective weights. Mario Ybarra continues to hold down the No. 1 ranking at 133 while Burks (157) and Telles (285) appear at No. 2. On the national level, Ybarra (No. 7 at 133) and Telles (No. 18 at 285) are both ranked in the top 20 of their weight classes. The Bulldogs are listed as “receiving votes” in the NAIA team rankings.
In Saturday’s action, Concordia could potentially go up against nationally ranked wrestlers in No. 8 Luke Jenness (184) of Northwestern and No. 20 Clay Gerhardt (133) and No. 8 Payson Dirk (197), both of Dickinson State. The matchup with the Red Raiders will count towards the GPAC regular-season standings. Northwestern stands at 1-2 with a win over William Penn University (Iowa).
The Bulldogs will have the weekend of Jan. 22-23 off due to the cancellation of the Missouri Valley Invite. That means the GPAC Duals (four duals vs. GPAC opponents) on Jan. 30 will be up next once Saturday’s action is in the books.
Saturday’s Probable Lineups
Concordia (3-5)
125 – Carter Willis
133 – Mario Ybarra
141 – Jeaven Scdoris
149 – Brandon Gonzalez
157 – Issiah Burks / Jose Sanchez
165 – Gabe Crawford / Tavoris Smith
174 – TJ Huber
184 – Oscar Ramirez-Garcia / Cyrus Marshall
197 – Mason Garcia
285 – Jacob Telles
Northwestern (1-2)
125 – Marcus Tucker
133 – Manny Jaramillo / Trey Schuck
141 – John Seth
149 – Breckin Sperling / Chase Peterson / Eddy Punzalan
157 – Blake Pomajzl
165 – Sam Copley
174 – Tyler Ziemen, Austin Hendrickson / Matt Dahl
184 – Luke Jenness
197 – Bennett Sikkink
285 – Chris Van Der Brink / Darlyn Marquez
Dickinson State (1-1)
125 – Open
133 – Clay Gerhardt / Caleb Nielsen
141 – Tayt Wolding
149 – Matt Carlson
157 – Grayson Hicks
165 – Tate Nordby
174 – Caden Haugen / Isaac Anderson
184 – Kon Speelmon
197 – Payson Dirk
285 – Zach Myers / Ethan Goss-Dickie
Waldorf (0-2)
125 – Arie Reyes
133 – Freddy Moreno
141 – Ely Youngdell
149 – Itai Hod / Anthony Salvo
157 – Mikey Ornelas
165 – Open
174 – Open
184 – Cristian Martinez
197 – Cole Litteken / James Howey
285 – Izaiah Ieramia / Donte Wood