Named NAIA national qualifiers on Tuesday, Creighton Baughman, Mason Garcia and Tommy Wentz were also recognized with All-GPAC honors on Wednesday. Each placed in the top three in the conference in their respective weight classes.
It became official on Tuesday (Feb. 20) as the NAIA announced the wrestling national qualifying field. Three Bulldogs will be headed to the national stage: Creighton Baughman, Tommy Wentz and Mason Garcia.
While hosting the 2024 GPAC Championships, the Bulldogs placed fifth as a team while qualifying three individuals for the national tournament: Creighton Baughman, Mason Garcia and Tommy Wentz.
Four Bulldogs reached the semifinals and another six remain alive on the backside of the brackets at the 2024 GPAC Wrestling Championships. The event is being hosted at Concordia.
For the first time since 2016, Concordia will serve as host of the GPAC Wrestling Championships. the 2024 conference tournament will feature a session on both Friday and Saturday while determining team and individual champions.
After completing a spotless 15-0 dual record for 2023-24, Creighton Baughman was honored on Tuesday (Feb. 6) as the GPAC Wrestler of the Week. Baughman has twice taken this award this season.
Back-to-back wins for Grant Wells and Creighton Baughman provided the highlights for the Bulldogs in a 44-8 dual loss at No. 7 Doane. Baughman completed a spotless 15-0 season dual record.
It took less than 40 minutes for Concordia Wrestling to claim a 48-6 home win over Colby Community College. The Bulldogs used the evening to honor seven seniors. As a bonus, freshman Barret Brandt broke the program pins record.
As part of a weekend that will wrap up the 2023-24 dual schedule, the Bulldogs will welcome Colby Community College to Seward for senior night before then visiting No. 7 Doane on Saturday.
The Bulldogs traveled to Sioux City, Iowa for the GPAC Duals #2, facing three separate conference opponents on Saturday (Jan. 27). Concordia started with a victory against Northwestern, 33-11, then dropped two back to back heartbreakers versus Briar Cliff, 22-20, and Jamestown, 29-21.
When peeling back the layers that made up the 2023-24 Concordia University Wrestling season, the program’s progress becomes more evident. The Bulldogs believe they have laid a foundation for future success.
Tattooed just above Creighton Baughman’s right knee is the word “SAVED” in all caps. Says the accomplished Baughman, "'Saved' was always the word that came to mind when I think of the transformation that finding new faith has done for me."
After surprising many outsiders last season, Concordia Wrestling believes it is equipped for greater successes in 2023-24 as Head Coach Chase Clasen enters his second year leading the program. National qualifier Creighton Baughman sets the tone in the room.
Concordia Wrestling made a statement in the way that it exceeded expectations in 2022-23. In Chase Clasen's first season as head coach, the Bulldogs shrugged off their preseason GPAC placement of sixth and equaled a school record for dual wins in a season.
The trials, the tribulations and six years of grinding made Issiah Burks' stunningly dominant GPAC championship run that much sweeter. The Hemet, Calif., native has seized his one last chance to reach the national championships.
Head Coach Chase Clasen has entered the picture after the Bulldogs placed sixth at the GPAC tournament in back-to-back years. The 2022-23 roster features veterans with something to prove and a talented group of newcomers.
For Concordia Wrestling, the past couple of seasons have been about following the lead of standouts Mario Ybarra and Jacob Telles and building towards a return to conference supremacy. The Bulldogs believe they made steps forward this winter.
All-American Mario Ybarra and GPAC champion Jacob Telles return to form the backbone of a Concordia Wrestling program now led by first-year Head Coach Myron Bradbury. Bradbury has the task of bringing along a young team.
It wasn't always easy in 2020-21 considering all that the program dealt with, but the season may have been an important one for growth and reflection. It also ended with Mario Ybarra on the podium.
In terms of athletic and academic achievement, Mario Ybarra stands out among Bulldogs who make up a perennially strong wrestling program. He's ready to take the lead and make another big step forward.