SEWARD, Neb. – Coming off back-to-back GPAC titles, the Concordia University wrestling program will open up 2016-17 with lofty regional and national rankings. This week the Bulldogs were placed atop the preseason NAIA North Group/GPAC preseason rating while also landing at No. 8 in the NAIA national coaches’ poll. Concordia placed eighth at the 2016 NAIA Wrestling National Championships.
From an individual perspective, 11 Bulldogs attained preseason North Group ratings. Four of them garnered No. 1 regional rankings: Kodie Cole (133), Tommy Bailey (165), Ken Burkhardt Jr. (197) and Ceron Francisco (285). On a national level, Cole made the biggest waves by rising to No. 1 at 133 pounds. Cole is one of eight nationally-ranked Bulldogs (see list at bottom).
Concordia has now been ranked in 16-straight national coaches’ polls, including every rating throughout the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The program’s highest-ever national ranking was sixth, where it was placed on Feb. 11, 2015. The Bulldogs appeared inside the top 10 in all eight polls during the 2015-16 campaign.
The Bulldogs will follow the lead of a new head coach in 2016-17. Andrew Nicola was announced on Oct. 7 as the third head coach for Concordia wrestling since the program’s rebirth in 2009. Nicola previously served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II California Baptist University. He replaces Dana Vote, who left after four seasons with the Bulldogs.
The season officially gets started on Saturday, Nov. 5 when Concordia will compete at the Grand View University Open, set to take place in Pleasant Hill, Iowa.
North Group Ratings
125 – Dmitri Smith: No. 2
125 – Giovanni Castillo: No. 4
133 – Kodie Cole: No. 1
149 – Foster Bunce: No. 2
157 – Jon Lado: No. 6
165 – Tommy Bailey: No. 1
165 – Kirk Kaliszewski: No. 3
197 – Ken Burkhardt Jr: No. 1
197 – Alexander Reimers: No. 5
285 – Ceron Francisco: No. 1
285 – DJ McIntyre: No. 4
NAIA National Ratings
125 – Dmitri Smith: No. 12
125 – Giovanni Castillo: No. 13
133 – Kodie Cole: No. 1
149 – Foster Bunce: No. 11
165 – Tommy Bailey: No. 9
165 – Kirk Kaliszewski: No. 16
197 – Ken Burkhardt Jr: No. 3
285 – Ceron Francisco: No. 4