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.
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.
Issiah Burks upset his way to a GPAC title at 165 pounds while leading the Bulldogs to a third-place finish at the 2023 conference championships. Four Concordia wrestlers clinched berths to the national tournament.
Five Bulldogs have advanced to the semifinals of the 2023 GPAC Wrestling Championships and will continue their bids for titles on Saturday. After day one of the tournament, Concordia resides in third place with 42 team points.
A total of 27 automatic bids to the national tournament will be on the line this weekend (Feb. 17-18) when the 2023 GPAC Wrestling Championships are held at Doane. The Bulldogs hope to build upon their third-place GPAC duals finish.
Five Bulldogs represented Concordia Wrestling at the Dave Edmonds Invite and came away with a combined seven wins on Saturday (Feb. 4). Teegan Tschampel led the way by placing fourth at 184 pounds.
In celebrating senior night in style, the Bulldogs white-washed Colby Community College, 49-4, and York, 44-6, on Thursday (Feb. 2). The results allowed the 2022-23 team to equal the program record for most dual wins in a single season.
In its final home appearance of the 2022-23 season, Concordia Wrestling will host Colby Community College and York University on Thursday. As part of the triangular, the Bulldogs will honor three seniors.
Thanks to a 3-0 mark at the GPAC Day of Duals on Saturday (Jan. 29), the Bulldogs moved up to third place in the final regular season standings. Concordia defeated Northwestern, Briar Cliff and Jamestown as part of the weekend event.
It's a new era for Concordia Wrestling under Head Coach Josh Watts. The program welcomes back its three national qualifiers while adding nine freshmen and seven transfers to the mix.
Unmistakable for his physical stature and larger-than-life presence, Ceron Francisco captivated the Concordia University, Nebraska campus and left a legacy that went beyond the results on the mat.
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.