Bulldogs knock off the rust at Hastings Open, combine for 11 wins

By Jacob Knabel on Jan. 7, 2023 in Wrestling

HASTINGS, Neb. – Three weeks after hosting the Concordia Bulldog Duals, the Concordia University Wrestling team returned to action on Saturday (Jan. 7) at the Hastings Open held inside Lynn Farrell Arena in Hastings, Neb. Eleven Bulldogs took to the mats and combined for 11 victories. Most notably, Jeaven Scdoris paced Concordia with three wins while Tommy Wentz made a run to the semifinals before being pulled out of competition.

This marked the fifth tournament of the 2022-23 season for Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad. The Bulldogs own an 8-1 overall dual record (3-1 GPAC).

“It was about getting some of those guys some experience and getting back after it after Christmas break,” Clasen said. “As for the positives, the guys obviously stayed active over the break because there were no issues with cardio or anything like that. I didn’t think it would be an issue with our team, but it was good to see our guys show that on the mat.”

Clasen held back the team’s two nationally ranked competitors in No. 17 Creighton Baughman (141) and No. 25 Logan Davidson (197). That put the spotlight on Bulldogs like Wentz, a York College transfer. The Fremont, Neb., native took decisions over Grand View University (Iowa)’s Alex Casarez and the unattached Cameron Graham. As a precaution, Wentz withdrew from the semifinal round and ended his day at 2-0. Three of his teammates grabbed at least two wins apiece: Scdoris (3-2 at 149), Grant Wells (2-2 at 133) and Jose Sanchez (2-2 at 174).

The Milford High School product Scdoris did his work on the back side of the 149-pound bracket. After a loss by decision, Scdoris took a major decision before adding victories by technical fall and by decision. He was eliminated in round five of the consolation bracket. At the top of the lineup, Wells (Lincoln Lutheran alum) reached the quarterfinals as part of a day that featured decisions over an NCAA Division II opponent and an NAIA foe. Meanwhile, the battle-tested Sanchez of Wylie, Texas, earned a pin over a teammate and defeated Dickinson State University (N.D.)’s Jack Simons by decision.

Said Clasen, “Some of those guys like Tommy, Jeaven and Grant are doing a really good job of staying disciplined and knowing where they need to be in order to score. We want to keep building upon that and adding more tools to our arsenal. All three of those guys are young, so they’re still learning. I’ve been impressed with how disciplined they are and the way they wrestle.”

At the heavier weights, Stephen Duffy (184) and Cy Renney (285) notched a win apiece (via pin) at the Hastings Open. Other Bulldogs to enter the fray were Josh Broyles (149), Charles Hutson (157), Garret Moser (174), Torrance Keehn (174) and Teegan Tschampel (184).

Fourteen institutions were represented at the Hastings Open. The other GPAC school present, in addition to Concordia and host Hastings, was Northwestern.

Next up, the Bulldogs will host Doane (13-1, 3-0 GPAC) inside Friedrich Arena on Friday, Jan. 13. The action is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. CT. The Tigers are the defending GPAC champions and will be coming off a third-place finish at the NWCA National Duals held this weekend in Louisville, Ky.