Despite finishing last season in third place in the GPAC, the Concordia Wrestling program landed at No. 6 in the official 2023-24 GPAC preseason poll. A total of eight Bulldogs were ranked individually at the conference level.
The GPAC Championships will return to Seward this winter as Concordia Wrestling looks to build upon a solid first season under head coach Chase Clasen. The 2023-24 campaign will get started with a visit from Midland.
For their work in the classroom, Creighton Baughman and Jose Sanchez have been recognized as 2023 NAIA Scholar All-Americans by the NWCA. Both Bulldogs contributed heavily to a 2022-23 team that tied the program record for GPAC dual wins.
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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.
Faced with difficult draws, the Bulldogs gave it their best shot at the 2023 NAIA Wrestling National Championships. All four Concordia wrestlers were eliminated. As Coach Clasen stated, the results were disappointing, but the effort was not.
Due to their maintaining a cumulative grade-point average above 3.5, Henry Gaertner, Anthony Perez and Jose Sanchez have been recognized as 2022-23 NAIA Wrestling Scholar Athletes.
Four Bulldogs will represent Concordia Wrestling at the 2023 NAIA Wrestling National Championships. Creighton Baughman, Issiah Burks, Logan Davidson and Tavoris Smith will vie for spots on the podium in Park City, Kansas.
Featured StoryThe 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.
The Concordia Wrestling program's four national qualifiers have also been named 2023 All-GPAC award winners. All-conference accolades went to Creighton Baughman, Issiah Burks, Logan Davidson and Tavoris Smith.
Via automatic bids earned at the GPAC Championships, four Concordia wrestlers were officially announced as 2023 NAIA national qualifiers. The Bulldogs will send Creighton Baughman, Issiah Burks, Logan Davidson and Tavoris Smith to Wichita.
Featured StoryUnder the direction of new head coach Levi Calhoun, the Concordia wrestling program is looking for big things this winter. The Bulldogs are led by the likes of three nationally-ranked competitors, including Deandre Chery.
Featured StoryFrom different parts of the country, four young men converged on Seward, Neb., in 2013, eventually leaving a lasting impression. Now three of them are graduate assistant coaches within the GPAC.
Featured StorySometimes, life comes at you fast. Over the last couple of months, Levi Calhoun has become both a head coach and a father for the first time. He discussed why he's ready for his new roles.
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The 2017-18 wrestling season brought the feel good story of Jerry Stepps III and the tournament All-American run by Giovanni Castillo. The Bulldogs placed 22nd at the national championships behind three qualifiers.
Featured StoryRarely, if ever, has success been set on a tee for Jerry Stepps III to smash out of the ballpark. Rather, it’s been quite the opposite in some cases. It never stopped Jerry from dreaming big or making it big as a senior.
Featured StoryCeron Francisco will go down as an all-time great Bulldog for the way he has handled himself on and off the mat. A national runner up back in March, Ceron is headed to Charlottesville to join the Cavalier Wrestling Club.
Featured StoryKirk Kaliszewski and two other national qualifiers return for a wrestling program looking to continue a run of GPAC dominance and national prominence. The Bulldogs will have a different look with 18 newcomers.
Featured StoryIn the first season of head coach Andrew Nicola's tenure, the Concordia wrestling program maintained its perch atop the conference and the senior class went out in style.
Featured StoryCeron Francisco has gone from a fascination – largely because of his stature and physical appearance separated him – to an obvious fan favorite and to one of the most respected student-athletes at Concordia.
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This isn’t exactly the way Ken Burkhardt Jr. planned it. First recruited to Concordia as a linebacker on the football team, Burkhardt Jr. has become an accomplished wrestler and owner of the most wins in program history.
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