A trio of Bulldogs represented Concordia Wrestling with top eight finishes while opening the 2025-26 season at the Falcon Open. Five Concordia athletes won multiple matches on the day.
Featured StoryHead Coach Josh Watts enters his second season with an overall more talented and deeper roster as compared to a year ago. The Bulldogs expect to build upon a strong 2024-25 season with six returning national qualifiers.
In preseason ratings announced this week, Concordia Wrestling begins 2025-26 at No. 3 in the GPAC and at No. 19 in the NAIA. Six Bulldogs are ranked at the national level.
For the second-straight year, Creighton Baughman has earned Academic All-America honors, as selected by College Sports Communicators. Baughman landed on the first team for 2024-25.
National qualifiers in 2025, Creighton Baughman and Cole Price were lauded on June 17 as they earned Academic All-District awards. The honors came courtesy of College Sports Communicators.
The slate for the 2025-26 Concordia Wrestling season features seven regular season opens/tournaments and nine duals. The action will get started on Nov. 1 at the Falcon Open.
Four Bulldogs from Concordia Wrestling garnered 2024-25 NWCA Scholar All-American accolades. The honor roll includes three-time award winner Creighton Baughman.
Featured StoryThe first year of Josh Watts’ tenure proved to be an unquestionable success. Many markers reached by the Bulldogs had not been achieved since 2020. The season ended with two Concordia wrestlers reaching the podium.
Hagen Heistand claimed runner up at 149 pounds in the NAIA National Championships on Saturday night (March 8). Heistand won four consecutive matches at Park City Arena before falling in the national final by major decision.
Hagen Heistand and Creighton Baughman reach All-American status on day two of the NAIA national championships. First year Head Coach Josh Watts and company have amassed 29 points and are tied for 16th in the team standings.
Featured StoryThis 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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As Kodie Cole himself puts it, "I might have a little different story than others." There's a lot of story left to be told for Cole, who has taken a winding path to being ranked No. 1 in the nation at 133 pounds.
Featured StoryConcordia University wrestling has a new leader in Andrew Nicola, but expectations remain sky high. Behind a talented senior class, the Bulldogs are again the favorite in the GPAC and in the region.
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Andrew Nicola, most recently an assistant coach at California Baptist University, has been hired as head wrestling coach at Concordia University. He takes the place of former head coach Dana Vote.
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The 2015-16 season was another step forward for the Concordia wrestling program, which finished eighth at the national championships and again dominated the GPAC.
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Said Schulte of his national title, "It made sense to me why I sacrificed and trained so many hours of hard work for a moment of being No. 1. That was special to me." Read on for more of Schulte's thoughts.
Featured StoryJunior Andrew Schulte made history on Saturday, becoming the first Bulldog ever to win a national title. As a team Concordia placed eighth at the national championships.
Featured StoryWithout even visiting campus, Jr Lule arrived at Concordia, a place where California junior college transfers like himself have thrived. Lule now enters the national championships on a roll.
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“Don’t dwell on the results. Stay focused on the process.” That’s the company line continually regurgitated by members of the Concordia wrestling program. It’s that sort of attitude that has provided a foundation for the Bulldogs’ reversal of fortunes.
Upcoming Events
Wrestling
Dakota Wesleyan OpenMitchell, South DakotaWrestling
vs.
Hastings College
Concordia UniversityFriedrich ArenaSeward, Neb.Wrestling
vs.
Concordia University
Doane UniversityCrete, Nebraska
