SEWARD, Neb. – Roughly a month into the 2022-23 season, the Concordia University Wrestling team is set to make its home debut. The Bulldogs will welcome Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member Bethany College to Friedrich Arena for a 7 p.m. CT dual on Friday. The two programs last met in February 2020 with the result being a 50-0 Concordia victory in Seward. This will also be the first home appearance for Head Coach Chase Clasen, who has led the Bulldogs to wins in three of their first four duals.
Concordia (3-1) vs. Bethany (0-4)
Friday, Dec. 2 | 7 p.m. | Friedrich Arena (Seward, Neb.)
Webcast: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/cun/
This will be the first nonconference dual of the campaign for Concordia, which owns GPAC wins over Midland, 28-17, Hastings, 36-10, and Dakota Wesleyan, 22-17. The one defeat was endured while up against No. 12 Morningside, 35-6. Both the DWU and Morningside duals took place last week as part of a conference event held in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs split the 10 matches with the Tigers and then won two matches against the Mustangs. As a major highlight for Concordia, Issiah Burks upset DWU’s 22nd-ranked Kaleb Bigelow at 165 pounds. Bonus points came via Stephen Duffy (major decision at 184) and Tommy Wentz (pin at 157).
In official conference ratings that were released on Nov. 17, six Bulldogs garnered GPAC rankings within their respective weight classes (shown below). Two-time JUCO All-American Creighton Baughman continues to hold down a national ranking (No. 20 at 141 pounds). Baughman (3-3) is one of eight Concordia wrestlers to collect at least three wins so far this season. The others are Grant Wells (5-3), Garret Moser (4-2), Tommy Wentz (4-4), Jack Hedke (4-5), Thomas Ivey (4-5), Burks (3-3) and Duffy (3-3). A York College transfer, Wentz paces the team with three pins.
Bethany also boasts six wrestlers who are ranked at the conference level. That group includes Kaden Goff (141) and Jesse Gardner (165), both of whom are ranked No. 4 in the KCAC within their respective weight classes. The Swedes have competed in four duals and two tournaments through the month of November. Their 0-4 record has come with losses to William Penn University (Iowa), 35-15, Avila University (Mo.), 36-16, Friends University (Kan.), 33-16, and Oklahoma Wesleyan University, 44-12. Head Coach Mitch Houghton is in his second year leading the program.
Select Concordia wrestlers will also take part in Saturday’s Doane Open in Crete, where action is scheduled to get started at 9 a.m. CT. Following the weekend tournament, the Bulldogs will be of from competition until they host the Concordia Bulldog Duals on Dec. 17.
Concordia ranked GPAC wrestlers
125 – No. 4 Grant Wells
141 – No. 2 Creighton Baughman (No. 20 in the NAIA)
165 – No. 4 Issiah Burks
174 – No. 5 Jose Sanchez
174 – No. 6 Hunter Weimer
184 – No. 4 Stephen Duffy
Bethany ranked KCAC wrestlers
141 – No. 4 Kaden Goff
165 – No. 4 Jesse Gardner
174 – No. 5 Triston Vande Velde
184 – No. 6 Hunter Blix
197 – No. 5 Chase Pywell
285 – No. 5 Rocky Whitehead