INDIANOLA, Iowa – A strong start to the 2023-24 season continued on Saturday (Nov. 5) as 19 Bulldogs represented the Concordia University Wrestling program at the Luther Hill Invite in Indianola, Iowa. Creighton Baughman (141) and Hunter Weimer (184) both came away with tournament championships in highlighting an action-packed day. Eleven Bulldogs emerged with top-five place finishes within their respective weight classes.
Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad opened the campaign three days earlier with a 45-6 dual win over Midland. The Luther Hill Invite marked the season’s first tournament. This event featured wrestlers from 16 institutions, including many from the NAIA and NCAA Division III levels.
“Our guys followed their training, looked for bonus points each match, and if they lost, they fought to get the next best place while staying aggressive the whole time,” Clasen said. “It was a great start to the season and has the team excited for what is to come.”
Ranked No. 10 nationally at 141, Baughman has pushed his season record to 4-0. On his way to a championship at the Luther Hill Invite, Baughman dominated with wins by technical fall and major decision before meeting up with ninth-ranked Jackson Wenberg of Graceland University (Iowa). Baughman edged Wenberg, 7-6. At 184 pounds, Weimer went up against teammate Garret Moser in the title bout. Weimer completed his 3-0 day with an 8-3 decision over Moser. Weimer reached the championship with a pin over Graceland’s Kohlter Mariscal.
Each of Concordia’s place finishers are listed below. Bulldog competitors combined for a total of 41 wins and took home seven place finishes in the “Open Division” and another four place finishes in the “Freshman/Sophomore Division.” Additional place winners in the Open Division included Jeaven Scdoris (157), Tommy Wentz (165), Stephen Duffy (174) and Teegan Tschampel (197). Place finishes were claimed in the Freshman/Sophomore Division by Grant Wells (133), Barret Brandt (165), Torrance Keehn (174) and Cervando Tapia II (133).
In terms of sheer number of wins, Brandt led the Bulldogs with five victories on the day. Four of those triumphs came via pin. Brant completed his day with a fall of Nebraska Wesleyan’s Seth Littrell. Both Scdoris and Tschampel collected four wins and three victories apiece were turned in by Baughman, Weimer, Wells and Wentz.
Luther Hill place finishers:
Open Division
· Creighton Baughman (141) – 1st
· Hunter Weimer (184) – 1st
· Garret Moser (184) – 2nd
· Jeaven Scdoris (157) – 3rd
· Tommy Wentz (165) – 3rd
· Stephen Duffy (174) – 5th
· Teegan Tschampel (197) – 5th
Freshman/Sophomore Division
· Grant Wells (133) – 2nd
· Barret Brandt (165) – 3rd
· Torrance Keehn (174) – 3rd
· Cervando Tapia II (133) – 5th
The season will resume next Saturday (Nov. 11) when the Bulldogs will take part in the Grand View University Open in Des Moines, Iowa. The next dual on the schedule is slated for Nov. 17 with Hastings set to visit Friedrich Arena.