SEWARD, Neb. – The meat of the 2025-26 season is yet to come for Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling. By the time the Bulldogs host a dual triangular on Jan. 8, they will have had more than a month between competitions. Head Coach Josh Watts’ squad has tested itself to this point in four tournaments and four duals. Concordia stands at 3-1 in duals and is situated just outside the NAIA top 25 team rating, as of mid-December.
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 (23rd at 141), Price (21st 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, Weimer (fifth year at Concordia) eclipsed 50 career wins during the first semester.
Watts and company hope to ramp things up in the second semester as the 2024-25 team did. Many potential impact wrestlers competed only sparingly during the first semester. Last year’s squad made waves in January when it placed sixth out of 53 NAIA teams at the Missouri Valley Invite. This January’s slate will also feature the Missouri Valley Invite (Jan. 23-24).
Ranked Bulldogs (rankings as of week of Dec. 8)
141 – Steven Barnes: 2nd GPAC | 23rd NAIA
141 – Cal Price: 6th GPAC
157 – Aaron Wilson: 6th GPAC
165 – Cole Price: 2nd GPAC | 21st 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
Team wins leaders
Cole Price: 13-3
Gabe Kant: 13-6
Hunter Weimer: 6-4
Gabe Lujan: 6-8
The Bulldogs will knock off the rust on Thursday, Jan. 8 when they welcome Friends University (Kan.) and Midland to Friedrich Arena for a triangular. The schedule for that evening is included below. The GPAC dual schedule will wrap up on Feb. 7 with GPAC Day of Duals No. 2, which will be hosted by Doane. The 2026 GPAC Wrestling Championships will unfold at Northwestern on Feb. 20-21.
Jan. 8 triangular | Friedrich Arena
5:00 p.m. – Concordia vs. Friends
6:30 p.m. – Friends vs. Midland
8:00 p.m. – Concordia vs. Midland