2025-26 Results: 8-1 overall, 7-1 GPAC (2nd); 2nd at GPAC tournament
2026 NAIA National Championships finish: 20th
Head Coach: Isaiah Crosby (1st season)
Key Returners (10+ wins in 2025-26): 125 Gabe Lujan; 149 Cal Price; 174 Evan Sepanlou.
Key Newcomers: 125 Kaleb Williams; 125 Frost Wallace; 157 Daniel Steffensen; 285 Aidan Summa.
National Qualifiers Lost: 133 Paul Ruff; 141 Stevie Barnes; 157 Hagen Heistand; 165 Cole Price; 174 Hunter Weimer; 184 Barret Brandt; 197 Torrance Keehn; 285 Gabe Kant.
2026 GPAC All-Conference: Hagen Heistand (First Team); Cal Price (First Team); Paul Ruff (First Team); Stevie Barnes (Second Team); Barret Brandt (Second Team); Torrance Keehn (Second Team); Cole Price (Second Team); Gabe Kant (Honorable Mention).
Outlook
Back in April, Isaiah Crosby was officially introduced as the 14th head coach in the history of the Concordia University, Nebraska Wrestling program. Crosby had already familiarized himself with the surroundings in Seward as a two-year assistant coach for the Bulldogs. There’s plenty of work to be done with eight of the program’s nine 2026 national qualifiers having departed from the roster.
Crosby speaks energetically and enthusiastically about the tasks that lie ahead. The roster experienced its share of turnover, and there’s just one senior competitor in the room. It’s a small group, but one that Crosby hopes will become mighty as the winter months transpire.
“They're a very fun group to be around,” Crosby said. “They're hardworking and very goal-oriented. I'm really excited to see what this first group can do. I believe this is going to be the group that leaves its mark and establishes a good trademark for the program for years to come. This team is electrifying, and I can't wait for everybody to see them. They're going to be really fun.”
One of Crosby’s first acts as head coach was to tab Cole Price as full-time lead assistant coach. Price immediately transitioned to a coaching role after twice qualifying for nationals in the Bulldog singlet. Cole is the older brother of the team’s lone returning national qualifier, Cal Price, who takes on a more significant leadership role in his junior campaign.
Cal Price and nine additional returning wrestlers stayed committed to the program and have scrapped throughout the offseason, while looking to prove themselves. With the exception of Price, Concordia will roll out a brand new 12-man roster when the GPAC Championships unfold in February. Price finished with 12 wins last year as one of three active Bulldogs to register double-figure victories. The others are fellow juniors Gabe Lujan (13 wins at 125) and Evan Sepanlou (11 wins at 165/174).
One of last season’s biggest thrills occurred when Price won the 149-pound GPAC championship by upsetting the conference’s top seed, Caden Eggleston of Morningside, via pin in the finals. The Papillion La Vista High School product then experienced the national tournament in the Wichita, Kan., area. Price and his teammates remained because they believe they have more to accomplish as Bulldogs.
“We all have that motivation, “Price said. “We want to finish what we started here, and we think we can do something great this year, even if we come in unranked or anything like that. We have that bond, and I think it'll help motivate us throughout the season.”
Said Crosby of Price, “It means a lot (to have him back). He's been there before. He's not really a talker – he's more of a doer. To me, that's important because I was kind of the same way as an athlete. The only way I'm going to get the guys around me to believe in it is to do it. Cal has been absolutely phenomenal and a huge part of this. It also helps to have his brother there beside him, encouraging him every step of the way. I've been very fortunate to have him and keep him around.”
Crosby lists Price, Sepanlou and Arredondo brothers, Ramon and Simon, amongst the team’s best leaders and role models. Natives of Fresno, Calif., Ramon and Simon finished last season with nine and eight wins, respectively, as sophomores. Meanwhile, the one senior holding down the fort is Geneva, Neb., native Aidan Trowbridge, now in his fourth year inside the program.
The junior class is a large one. It continues with Conor Boyle (165), Chase Groff (157) and Braysen Salinas (149). As a freshman last season, Aaron Wilson of Cozad, Neb., earned his way into the lineup at 157 for two conference duals.
Undoubtedly, the roster’s six freshmen will have opportunities to showcase their abilities. Crosby will have options to choose from at the lighter weights with rookies Frost Wallace (Gering, Neb.) at 133 and Kaleb Williams (Winter Springs, Fla.) at 125 jumping on board. Crosby also has high hopes for 157-pounder Daniel Steffensen (Kenai, Alaska) and heavyweight Aidan Summa (Seward, Neb.).
Said Crosby of the freshman class, “Right now, they're doing really well. We have some key components, like Kaleb Williams, who will be our 125-pounder. He's a phenomenal, electrifying way to start a dual meet. Then there's Frost Wallace. He's a long, lanky wrestler, and I think he'll do a lot of good things at 133 pounds. Our heavyweight, Summa, has also been looking very good. He's moving his hands and feet really well, and I'm excited to see how he continues to develop.”
Development is the name of the game with so many Bulldogs with unproven track records at the collegiate level. Crosby is just beginning to put his stamp on the program. The former two-time NJCAA national champion and Oklahoma State University wrestler has won over this group of student-athletes.
Said Cal Price, “I love him as a coach. He's willing to fight for us all the time, and he's really dedicated to making us better. He likes to have fun with us, too. It's not all work. He wants us to enjoy it, but he also keeps us motivated. It's a little give-and-take, and he's here to make us better.”
Crosby’s coaching experience includes a stint as Associate Head Wrestling Coach at Iowa Western Community College. There is more responsibility now that Crosby takes over the CEO position within Concordia Wrestling.
Said Crosby, “It's been a lot of learning, digging deep into certain things and learning new things. There are always new challenges that arise. It's really a transition from the assistant coach role to being the guy who runs everything, makes the practice plans and handles things like that. It's been fun for me and a little challenging at times, but I've been enjoying it. It's been great.”
Later this month, the Bulldogs will find out how much progress they’ve made over the offseason. With such significant change, it’s unlikely that Concordia will garner a lofty preseason ranking, and that’s okay with members of the program. They understand they will have to earn it.
Cal Price isn’t afraid to think big. “As a team, we want to win the GPAC,” Price said. “That's our main goal. We also want every individual to do well at nationals at the end of the year. My personal goal is to be a national champion. That's what I'm striving for each day. We also want people to become better students, prepare for their lives and become the best people they can be.”
Crosby is the type of coach who will emphasize growth on and off the mat. When tough situations arise, Crosby has been known to pray with his athletes. Instead of thinking about championships, Crosby would prefer the Bulldogs focus on the process it takes to become a champion.
Says Crosby, “Honestly, I don't really have expectations for these guys. All I want them to do when we go out there and wrestle is wrestle hard and give everything they've got in every single match. I want them not to be afraid of where they can go. We're a young team, and we don't have that many people, but I believe that's how it starts. We have a good foundation of belief and trust, and I believe we'll be very successful.”
The 2026-27 season will officially get underway at the Friends University Falcon Open on Oct. 31. The slate includes six regular season tournaments and nine duals. The complete schedule can be found HERE.