MARSHALL, Mo. – As part of an event that serves as a national tournament preview of sorts, the Concordia University Wrestling team put its best up against some of the top competition in all of the NAIA. Twelve Bulldogs represented the program at the Missouri Valley College Invite (Jan. 20-21) and came away with a total of 12 wins. The strongest performances were put forth by the likes of Creighton Baughman and Tommy Wentz, who combined for seven wins in Marshall, Mo. Concordia placed 35th out of 44 squads with 16.5 team points.
Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad had more than a week to prep for the Missouri Valley Invite, a showcase event for NAIA wrestling. This marked the sixth tournament of the season for the Bulldogs, who own a dual record of 8-2 (3-2 GPAC).
“This tournament was going about going out there and seeing the best teams and seeing where we stack up,” Clasen said. “Obviously we're young. We're building and learning. Getting that exposure to that competition is critical to the development of a good program. You can't just go to the opens where your freshmen will win matches against other freshmen. You've got to put them against those top dogs, so they can realize what will work. I think it's a huge benefit.”
Ranked 18th in the NAIA at 141 pounds, Baughman (16-7) rattled off three straight wins to begin his tournament as he advanced to the quarterfinal round. The signature victory came by a 6-0 decision over Ottawa University (Kan.)’s Austin Kolvek in round three. The result meant Baughman avenged an earlier defeat this season. The Papillion, Neb., native missed out on a chance to reach the semifinals when he was pinned by Eastern Oregon University’s Jaxon Morlan in 2:55. On the back side of the bracket, Baughman was narrowly eliminated by a 5-4 decision. He wound up totaling four team points.
Ranked fourth in the GPAC at 157, Wentz (16-9) has proven to be a major addition as a transfer from York University. The Fremont, Neb., native led Concordia with four wins on the weekend (3.5 team points) while coming up just short of a place finish. Wentz showed a knack for triumphing in close matches and took a major decision over Keiser University (Fla.)’s Brady Ellison, 10-2. Both of Wentz’s losses came at the hands of nationally ranked opponents: No. 19 Brandon Kidd Jr. of Ottawa and No. 24 Hayden Brown of Oklahoma City University.
Said Clasen, “This tournament was going about going out there and seeing the best teams and see where we stack up. Obviously we're young. We're building and learning. Getting that exposure to that competition is critical to the development of a good program. You can't just go to the opens where your freshmen will win matches against other freshmen. You've got to put them against those top dogs, so they can realize what will work. I think it's a huge benefit.”
Five Concordia grapplers came away with one win apiece at the Missouri Valley Invite: Jeaven Scdoris (149), Tavoris Smith (157), Issiah Burks (165), Jose Sanchez (174) and Logan Davidson (184). Notably, Smith made his 2022-23 season debut and Kyle Sterup, a starting defensive lineman on the Bulldog Football team, appeared in a collegiate wrestling match for the first time in his career. Sterup lost twice while wrestling at 285. Other Concordia competitors to take the mat this weekend were Bryce Karlin (125), Stephen Duffy (184) and Cy Renney (285).
Next up will be a trio of duals set to take place next Saturday (Jan. 28) at Long Lines Family Rec Center in Sioux City, Iowa. That location will serve as the venue for duals versus Northwestern (3-5, 2-2 GPAC) at 11 a.m., Briar Cliff (2-3, 2-2 GPAC) at 12:30 p.m. and Jamestown (6-9, 3-4 GPAC) at 2 p.m. By day’s end, the Bulldogs will have wrapped up their GPAC dual schedule for 2022-23.