SEWARD, Neb. – Co-champions of the 2018-19 GPAC dual season, the Concordia University wrestling program is looking ahead to 2019-20. On Thursday (June 6), the schedule for this coming winter was announced to the public. The new campaign will officially get underway on Nov. 3 at the Dan Harris Open hosted by Baker University (Kan.). The Bulldogs also welcome fans to join them for their blue-white intrasquad inside Walz Arena on Oct. 25.
Levi Calhoun completed his first season as head coach in 2018-19. Concordia went 7-1 in conference duals while toppling most of its conference opponents in dominant fashion. The Bulldogs went on to finish 26th at the national championships behind 133-pound All-American Alberto Garcia. Fellow national qualifiers Deandre Chery (174-pound GPAC champion) and heavyweight Michael Stann were consistent high performers throughout the season. Expectations are always lofty for a program that has captured GPAC titles in four of the past five seasons.
The 2019-20 slate features five home duals dispersed throughout the season. The first one is set for Nov. 15 when Northwestern will be in town. Concordia will also host two nonconference foes in Ottawa University (Jan. 9) and Bethany College (Feb. 6), both members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. A major highlight just before Christmas will be a journey to Las Vegas for the Desert Duals. While in Sin City, the Bulldogs will dual four times on Dec. 22 against opponents yet to be announced.
The GPAC Duals go a long way towards deciding the conference regular-season champion. Concordia will be at Doane for the 2020 GPAC Duals. The Bulldogs will be joined in Crete on Jan. 25 by host Doane, Briar Cliff, Hastings and Jamestown. Last season Concordia went 4-0 while hosting one of the two GPAC Duals sites.
The GPAC Championships will be hosted by Morningside in Sioux City, Iowa, Feb. 21-22. The NAIA Wrestling National Championships have been moved to the Wichita area. The national event will be staged at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan., March 6-7.