HASTINGS, Neb. – The first public appearance for Concordia University Wrestling since mid-December came on Saturday (Jan. 6) at the Hastings Open hosted by Hastings College. Nineteen Bulldogs took to the mat and combined for 28 wins (11 via pin) in taking on a field of competitors from 17 different institutions (seven NAIA programs). Concordia junior Mason Garcia made waves at 197 pounds while advancing to the championship match. He was one of four Bulldogs to record place finishes at the Hastings Open.
Head Coach Chase Clasen’s squad had been idle since going 3-2 at the Avila Eagle Duals on Dec. 16. This particular event marked the fifth tournament of the 2023-24 season for Concordia.
“For the most part, all of our guys battled,” Clasen said. “That was awesome to see, coming into a tournament with a lot of D-2 competition. Right now, our freshmen and sophomores are really starting to figure it out. A few things that stood out – Grant Wells got an opportunity to wrestle a four-time Nebraska state finalist and beat him. Creighton (Baughman) lost to an NAIA qualifier from Dickinson State first round and then battled all the way back and pinned him for third. Guys are getting better every single match. Mason beating No. 22 in the country and punching his ticket into the finals was amazing.”
In addition to Garcia placing as the runner up at 197, Baughman (third at 141), Barret Brandt (fourth at 165) and Garret Moser (fourth at 184) represented the Bulldogs with place finishes. The Arroyo Grande, Calif., native Garcia put together one of his finest days in the navy singlet. He pulverized the competition with three-straight first-period pins, including one in 2:51 over 22nd-ranked Kaleb Lind of Northwestern. Then in the finals, Garcia battled Missouri Valley College’s No. 8 Elijah Hynes in what finished in a 1-0 defeat.
Baughman (23-5) finally fell at the hands of an NAIA opponent (20-2 against NAIA foes this season) when he was taken down, 10-6, by No. 25 Edrich Nortje of Dickinson State in his opening match of the day. Baughman responded with a flurry of victories – three by pin and two by technical fall. Ranked fifth in the NAIA at 141, Baughman closed his day by earning revenge thanks to a pin (4:24) of Nortje.
A freshman from Syracuse, Neb., Brandt collected his 18th and 19th pins of the season while going 3-2 at 165 pounds. He also responded to a loss to begin the day and went on to triumph in three-straight matches by bonus points. As for Moser, he won twice and reached the semifinals of the Hastings Open 184-pound bracket before eventually falling in the third-place bout.
There were 13 Bulldogs to notch at least one win at the Hastings Open. The Lincoln Lutheran alum Wells made his way to the semifinals at 133 in a day highlighted by his 8-2 decision over Augustana University (S.D.)’s Braiden Kort. Wells went 2-2 on Saturday. Other Concordia grapplers with multiple wins at the open were Hunter Weimer (3-2 at 184), Sean Duffy (2-2 at 197), Torrance Keehn (2-2 at 174) and Francisco Mendez (2-2 at 157). One win apiece was delivered by Bryson Bussinger (125), Dontario Norwood (149), Jeaven Scdoris (157) and Teegan Tschampel (197).
Said Clasen, “This team is bought in, and they want to win. They came back in shape. Guys want to be able to compete against Doane. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a fun dual. Our guys took things seriously over the break, and it’s working out.”
Up next on the slate is Friday (Jan. 12)’s clash with fifth-ranked Doane (5-3, 3-0 GPAC). The action is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. CT from the Haddix Center in Crete, Neb. The Bulldogs hope to close the gap as compared to last season’s meeting in Seward. The Tigers have spent this weekend at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where they went 2-3.