Rivera makes it two-straight GPAC weekly honorees for Bulldog wrestling
SEWARD, Neb. – Following a big week for Concordia University wrestling, junior Emilio Rivera has received GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Wrestler of the Week honors, as announced by the conference on Tuesday. It’s the second-straight week that the award has gone to a Bulldog as Rivera joins freshman Austin Fehlhafer as back-to-back winners.
Rivera ran his winning streak to five by earning two victories last week. Ranked 10th in the NAIA at 133 pounds, Rivera upset No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan’s sixth-ranked Richard Rios, 5-2, on Jan. 30 to give Concordia a 19-18 GPAC dual win. Earlier that day, Rivera also dominated Midland’s Joshua Heinzer on the way to a 10-1 major decision to aid a 25-13 team victory.
The Escondido, Calif., native improved to 17-6 overall and 7-1 in dual meets. He is now 8-0 against GPAC opponents and owns five pins on the season. Rivera is in his first season with the Bulldogs after transferring from Palomar College in California.
Rivera and the Bulldogs (8-7, 4-1 GPAC) return to action on Tuesday when they take on Northwestern (4-5, 3-3 GPAC) at 7 p.m. in Orange City, Iowa.
Junior Emilio Rivera