SEWARD, Neb. – Head coach Dana Vote and the Bulldog wrestling program has announced the 2013 recruiting class complete with 18 incoming student-athletes. Eight of the 18 prospects hail from the state of Nebraska with the headliner being Seward High School product Austin Fehlhafer.
“I am very pleased with the class that we have brought in,” Vote said. “We have landed some good transfers which I feel is important for us to be competitive right away. We have also brought in a very talented group of high school seniors. I have high expectations for what we can do next year with the class that is coming in.”
The class gets a big boost from the state of California, as well as from the junior college ranks. Five of Vote’s additions come from The Golden State and a total of five bring college wrestling experience to Concordia. Several boast impressive accolades as grapplers such as Enrique Barajas (Hayward, Calif.) and Emilio Rivera (Escondido, Calif.) were both All-Americans at their previous schools. Munith, Mich., native Foster Bunce racked up an eye-popping 210-27 mark at Dansville High School.
Keep an eye on Ceron Francisco, a heavyweight from Fayetteville, N.C., who looks to have a high ceiling considering his rapid progress despite not wrestling his entire prep career. Francisco went 23-4 as a senior at Douglas Byrd High School.
Fehlhafer enjoyed an outstanding high school career in Concordia’s backyard. The Seward native qualified for state all four years, placing three times. He twice earned second place at the state championships and compiled 137 career wins.
In addition, senior Austin Mogg, a former All-American at NCAA Division III Buena Vista University, will be eligible this season after transferring to Concordia in the fall of 2012.
Vote expects the class to grow by perhaps as many as two more recruits by the time classes begin in the fall.
Here’s a detailed look at the 2013 class to date:
Tommy Bailey – Hailey, Idaho ● Wood River HS
Enrique Barajas – Hayward, Calif. ● Arroyo HS / Sacramento City CC
Billy Behle – Altoona, Iowa ● Iowa Central CC
Foster Bunce – Munith, Mich. ● Dansville HS
Ken Burkhardt – Milford, Neb. ● Milford HS
Kodie Cole – Palmdale, Calif. ● Highland HS
Austin Fehlhafer – Seward, Neb. ● Seward HS
Ceron Francisco – Fayetteville, N.C. ● Douglas Byrd HS
Tyler Ganskow – Madison, Neb. ● Madison HS
Dylan Helberg – McCook, Neb. ● Southwest HS / Colby CC
Clayton Hintz – Hebron, Neb. ● Thayer Central HS
Adison Kenning – Hebron, Neb. ● Thayer Central HS
Isaac Martin – Wahoo, Neb. ● Bishop Neumann HS
Robert Mata – Escondido, Calif. ● Escondido HS / Palomar College
Chris Pladsen – Urbana, Iowa ● Center Point-Urbana HS
Emilio Rivera – Escondido, Calif. ● San Marcos HS / Palomar College
Bryce Roecker – Burr, Neb. ● Syracuse HS
Dmitri Smith – Beaumont, Calif. ● Beaumont HS
Austin Fehlhafer (middle) is one of 18 new wrestlers that head coach Dana Vote will welcome into the program this fall. Fehlhafer placed three times at the Nebraska high school state championships during his prep career at Seward High.