SEWARD, Neb. – A monthlong idle stretch will conclude on Thursday when Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling welcomes Friends University (Kan.) and GPAC rival Midland to Friedrich Arena for a triangular. The action will get underway at 5 p.m. CT in what will be the final home appearance of the 2025-26 season for Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad. Prior to the final dual of the evening, the Bulldogs will recognize eight seniors. In addition, Concordia has invited Seward Wrestling Club for the triangular.
Triangular: Concordia, Friends and Midland
Thursday, Jan. 8 | Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Webcast: GPAC Network
Live Results: TrackWrestling
• 5:00 p.m. – Concordia vs. Friends
• 6:30 p.m. – Friends vs. Midland
• 8:00 p.m. – Concordia vs. Midland
--Senior recognition takes place prior to final dual
--Times for second and third duals are approximate
In first semester duals, the Bulldogs earned wins over Hastings, 32-18, Briar Cliff, 27-13, and Waldorf, 32-16. The one loss came at the hands of then eighth-ranked Doane, 33-17. A theme that developed in those duals was Concordia rallying back with strong performances in the latter half of the lineup. The following Bulldogs boast undefeated dual records (with at least two matches) this season: Cole Price (4-0), Torrance Keehn (3-0) and Steven Barnes (2-0). Gabe Kant sports a 3-1 dual mark.
The two individuals who have stacked wins in the first semester are Cole Price at 165 pounds and Kant at heavyweight. The two standout wrestlers own 13 wins apiece and have earned their way into the NAIA national ratings. Four Concordia competitors are ranked on the national level: Barnes (24th at 141), Price (24th at 165), Keehn (19th at 197) and Kant (15th at 285). So far this season, Keehn has been held out of tournament action. His overall record stands at 3-0. A returning national qualifier, Hunter Weimer (fifth year at Concordia) eclipsed 50 career wins during the first semester.
The eight seniors who will be recognized on Thursday night are:
· Bryce Karlin (Beatrice, Neb.)
· Torrance Keehn (Beatrice, Neb.)
· Francisco Mendez (Norfolk, Neb.)
· Cole Price (La Vista, Neb.)
· Cy Renney (Adams City, Colo.)
· Jeremiah Vasquez (Edwards, Colo.)
· Brent Ward (Tucson, Ariz.)
· Hunter Weimer (Porterville, Calif.)
In the national rankings released on New Year’s Day, Friends jumped three spots to No. 17, marking the highest ranking in program history (now in its fifth year of existence). Head Coach Tyler Mies’ squad boasts six nationally ranked individuals. Four Falcons are currently ranked atop the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference within their respective weight classes: Brayden Pacheco (125), Wyatt Gardner (141), Benedict Holthaus (174) and Logan Davidson (197). Now a junior, Davidson was a national qualifier at Concordia in 2023. According to Track Wrestling, Friends is 1-3 in duals this season. It owns a win over Newman University (Kan.) and has fallen at the hands of Wayland Baptist University (Texas), Missouri Valley College and Morningside. At the 2025 NAIA National Championships, Friends placed 27th behind heavyweight All-American Braden Morgan (fourth place).
The evening on Thursday will wrap up with the conference matchup between Concordia and Midland. The Warriors went 0-8 last season in GPAC duals. They ended their conference losing streak back at GPAC Day of Duals No. 1 on Nov. 25 with a 35-18 win over Dakota Wesleyan. Midland has dropped its two other GPAC duals this season – 25-16 to Morningside and 36-18 to Hastings. Head Coach Doyle Trout’s roster includes four wrestlers ranked at the conference level. The headliners are 184-pounder Nate McDonald (ranked 16th in the NAIA) and heavyweight Zeph Sivels (ranked fifth in the NAIA). Sivels is a returning national qualifier (placed third in the GPAC). Last season’s clash between the Bulldogs and Warriors resulted in a 36-6 Concordia win in Fremont.
Ranked Wrestlers
(Based on rankings released the week of Dec. 29)
Concordia (3-1)
141 – Steven Barnes: 2nd GPAC | 24th NAIA
141 – Cal Price: 6th GPAC
157 – Aaron Wilson: 6th GPAC
165 – Cole Price: 2nd GPAC | 24th NAIA
165 – Cannon Carey: 6th GPAC
174 – Hunter Weimer: 4th GPAC
197 – Torrance Keehn: 2nd GPAC | 19th NAIA
285 – Gabe Kant: 4th GPAC | 15th NAIA
Friends (1-3)
125 – Braydon Pacheco: 1st KCAC | 12th NAIA
133 – Braden Ledford: 3rd KCAC | 21st NAIA
141 – Wyatt Gardner: 1st KCAC | 17th NAIA
141 – Carter Krier: 2nd KCAC
149 – Tate Rusher: 2nd KCAC
149 – Brady Duling: 3rd KCAC
157 – Cayleb Atkins: 2nd KCAC | 14th NAIA
157 – Liam Coultis: 3rd KCAC
165 – Logan Sell: 2nd KCAC
174 – Benedict Holthaus: 1st KCAC
184 – Jason Bowers: 3rd KCAC | 22nd NAIA
197 – Logan Davidson: 1st KCAC | 18th NAIA
Midland (1-2)
125 – Dylan Atherton: 5th GPAC
184 – Nate McDonald: 2nd GPAC | 16th NAIA
197 – Treyton Tweton: 5th GPAC
285 – Zeph Sivels: 1st GPAC | 5th NAIA
Once the triangular concludes on Thursday, the Bulldogs will shift their attention to the Hastings Open on Saturday. That event is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. CT from the Hastings Senior High Gymnasium in Hastings. The event will mark the fifth tournament of the season for Concordia.