Bulldogs look to complete unbeaten GPAC mark in Thursday triangular

By Jacob Knabel on Jan. 28, 2020 in Wrestling

SEWARD, Neb. – The 20th-ranked Concordia University wrestling team has already locked up at least a share of the GPAC regular-season title. It will have the chance to win it outright on Thursday when the Bulldogs welcome both Dakota Wesleyan and York College to Seward for a triangular. The first of three duals is set to get underway at 7 p.m. CT from Walz Arena.

Thursday Triangular | 7 p.m. CT | Walz Arena
--Webcast: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/cun/
Dual 1 – Concordia vs. Dakota Wesleyan
Dual 2 – Dakota Wesleyan vs. York
Dual 3 – Concordia vs. York

Head coach Levi Calhoun’s squad is coming off a 4-0 day at the GPAC Duals that took place at Doane on Jan. 25. Concordia (10-2, 7-0 GPAC) made its championship push by defeating Hastings, 28-17, Jamestown, 28-16, Briar Cliff, 22-13, and Doane, 33-14. In the process, the Bulldogs won 26 individual matches, including five by pin, five by major decision and three by technical fall. While splitting time between 125 and 133, Mario Ybarra went 4-0 and improved his overall season mark to 16-6 (team high for wins). Meanwhile, Michael Stann went 3-0 with a pair of pins at the heavyweight position, where Tanner Farmer also turned in a win by major decision.

It's been an impressive six-year run for the Concordia University wrestling program, which is now 40-4 in GPAC duals since the start of the 2014-15 season. During that run, the Bulldogs have had three different head coaches: Dana Vote, Andrew Nicola and now Calhoun. With a win over Dakota Wesleyan, Concordia would secure a fourth undefeated GPAC dual record in six years. Also over that stretch, the program has had an impressive string of GPAC Wrestlers of the Year: Ceron Francisco (2017), Andrew Schulte (2016), Enrique Barajas (2015) and Emilio Rivera (2014).

GPAC dual records since 2014-15
2019-20 – 7-0 (1st)
2018-19 – 7-1 (T-1st)
2017-18 – 5-3 (5th)
2016-17 – 7-0 (1st)
2015-16 – 7-0 (1st)
2014-15 – 7-0 (1st)

Concordia wrestlers have combined to go 49-21 in individual GPAC duals matches this season. The Bulldogs won seven matches over Northwestern, six over Morningside, all 10 over Midland, six over Hastings, six over Jamestown, seven over Briar Cliff and seven over Doane. The conference championship essentially came down to Concordia and Briar Cliff (6-1 GPAC). Charger standout Isiah Lysius gave his team a brief 6-3 advantage with a pin at 133. The Bulldogs eventually triumphed without there being much drama as Blake Castillo (184), Darrin Miller (197) and Farmer (285) closed the dual with wins.

Dakota Wesleyan (0-5 GPAC) continues to struggle to field a full lineup. The Tigers fell to Northwestern, Morningside and Midland last week at the other GPAC Duals site. On the other hand, York has experienced greater success in recent years. The standout for the Panthers is John Fox, ranked 13th in the NAIA at 141 pounds. York is led by Chad Mattox (daughter Kylee plays softball at Concordia), who is in his first season as a collegiate head coach after a successful run as a high school coach.

Select members of the Bulldogs will also be at the Sioux City Dave Edmonds Open hosted by Morningside on Saturday (9 a.m. start). Concordia will make its final home appearance on Feb. 6 when Bethany College (Kan.) will be in town for a dual.

Probable Lineups

Concordia
125 – Mario Ybarra
133 – Zack Moistner/Alberto Garcia
141 – Zack Moistner/Alberto Garcia
149 – Cam Devers
157 – Gabe Crawford
165 – Issiah Burks
174 – Blake Castillo
184 – Jason Watkins
197 – Bryan McGahan/Darrin Miller
285 – Michael Stann/Demitrius Miller

York
125 – Harley Williamson
133 – Pierce Mederios
141 – John Fox
149 – Kaden Boyce
157 – Jordan Warren
165 – Fernando Servin
174 – Lennorise Echols
184 – Cody Pederson
197 – Marce Vasquez
285 – Cooper Wilkins

Dakota Wesleyan
133- Taten Bahm
157- Cole Halouska
165- Marcus Urban
197- Carter Max