CRETE, Neb. – Eighteen competitors represented Concordia University Wrestling at the Doane Conner/Oppenheim Open on Saturday (Dec. 4) in Crete, Neb., where the Bulldogs emerged with a total of 30 victories. The event took place inside Fuhrer Field House and featured individuals from 34 different institutions. Place finishes were earned by Isaac Agabin (133), Jovon Howe (184) and Jacob Telles (285).
This marked the second outing of the week for Head Coach Myron Bradbury’s squad, which went 1-1 in conference dual action this past Wednesday. Concordia has also taken part in five tournaments.
“We’re finding a little more success and seeing our training start to pay off,” Bradbury said. “We still have a lot of ground to cover, but we’re wrestling better competition each week. We’re inching along.
“Jovon handled his first tournament well and it was good the way he was able to get out and wrestle. There are big plans for him moving forward. Coach (Tyree) Cox and I have been saying how Isaac has another level. He wrestled like he had a chip on his shoulder today.”
Prior to Saturday, Agabin’s best showing thus far had been a two-pin performance at the Dakota Wesleyan Open. He produced five wins (one pin) at the Doane Open and was credited with fifth place at 133 pounds. Agabin’s pin came over Doane’s Luke Davis. As for Howe, he returned from injury and won three matches in a row at point, before pulling out of the tournament. Howe triumphed over two competitors from Doane.
The best is yet to come from the heavyweight Telles, who got rolling after dropping his first match of the day. The native of Albuquerque, N.M., responded with three-consecutive pins, including two over foes from Friends University (Kan.). Telles finished with four wins on the day.
Three other Bulldogs collected two or more wins apiece: Carter Willis (4-2 at 133), Tavoris Smith (3-2 at 157), Adam Roberts (2-2 at 125) and Jose Sanchez (2-2 at 165). Fourteen of the 18 Concordia grapplers at the Doane Invite registered at least one win. One win each was earned by Issiah Burks (165), Josh Broyles (141), Jeaven Scdoris (149), Brandon Gonzalez (149), Tracy Allen (149), TJ Huber (174) and Jesse Guadarrama (285).
Concordia’s highest rated wrestler, Mario Ybarra (10th in the NAIA at 133), did not compete at the Doane Open. The Bulldogs entered the weekend ranked fifth in the official GPAC ratings thanks to six competitors who are ranked at the conference level in their respective weight classes.
Said Bradbury, “We’re focused on being competitors and competing hard. We have guys who are very coachable and very trainable. I think we’re just starting to get it.”
GPAC dual action will pick back up on Thursday when the Bulldogs (1-2 GPAC) host Midland inside Friedrich Arena. Wrestling is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. CT. Concordia will attempt to duplicate last season’s result when it pummeled the Warriors, 38-7, in Fremont.