2022-23 GPAC Wrestling All-Conference Teams
First Team: Issiah Burks
Second Team: Creighton Baughman
Honorable Mention: Logan Davidson; Tavoris Smith
SEWARD, Neb. – Each of the four Bulldogs headed to the 2023 NAIA Wrestling National Championships have landed on the 2022-23 all-conference teams, as announced by the GPAC on Thursday (Feb. 23). GPAC champion Issiah Burks garnered First Team All-GPAC accolades, Creighton Baughman picked up season team laurels and Logan Davidson and Tavoris Smith were named honorable mention. All four Concordia Wrestling standouts have been named all-conference selections for the first time in their careers.
Collectively, the Bulldog honorees helped Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad place third in the GPAC during the regular season and at the conference tournament. The 2022-23 season will wrap up next week at the national tournament.
Burks cracked the GPAC’s first team after upsetting his way to a 165-pound GPAC title. As part of his 4-0 tournament run, Burks defeated opponents ranked 12th and 19th nationally and won twice via pin. The native of Hemet, Calif., will carry an overall season record of 17-11 into the national championships. On the program’s all-time wins list, Burks currently ranks in a tie for fourth (76 wins) with former teammate Mario Ybarra. A four-time GPAC tournament place finisher, Burks went 10-5 this season in dual meets.
The addition of Baughman (Papillion, Neb.) was a significant one for Concordia. The two-time JUCO All-American at Iowa Western Community College has earned national rankings at 141 pounds throughout the entire season while compiling an overall record of 23-8. Baughman took second place at the GPAC tournament, going 3-1 over the two-day event. Baughman’s season has also included a 13-2 dual record and seven pins.
A freshman from Goddard, Kan., Davidson spent the fall playing on the Bulldog Football team before transitioning to the wrestling mat. He made an immediate splash in going 4-0 at the Bulldog Duals in December. Davidson entered the GPAC tournament ranked 25th in the NAIA at 184 pounds and backed up the rating by placing third in the conference. Davidson owns an overall record of 12-5 (8-2 in duals).
Smith, who hails from St. Petersburg, Kan., also got a late start to his season – and then made the most of it. Smith locked up a spot at the national tournament by claiming true second place in the GPAC’s 157-pound bracket. Smith dropped his first match at the GPAC tournament before rattling off three wins in a row. His season record stands at 6-3. Smith has amassed 34 wins as a Bulldog (after transferring from Iowa Lakes Community College).
More details on the 2023 NAIA Wrestling National Championships can be found HERE. The event will be held March 3-4 in Park City, Kan.