The Bulldogs traveled to Sioux City, Iowa for the GPAC Duals #2, facing three separate conference opponents on Saturday (Jan. 27). Concordia started with a victory against Northwestern, 33-11, then dropped two back to back heartbreakers versus Briar Cliff, 22-20, and Jamestown, 29-21.
With the Doane dual postponed due to snowy weather, the Bulldogs have yet to wrestle in a dual since the new year. GPAC Day of Duals, on Saturday, will change the lack of team competition, with three consecutive duals in the span of around four and a half hours.
Concordia will test itself against the GPAC's highest rated team in a dual set for Friday in Crete. The Bulldogs will enter the meeting with No. 5 Doane carrying a 6-4 overall record (2-2 GPAC).
Mason Garcia enjoyed perhaps his finest day as a Bulldog as one of four Concordia competitors to place at the Hastings Open on Saturday (Jan. 6). Nineteen Bulldogs combined to notch 28 wins on the day.
He remains perfect in duals (10-0) and has now been recognized as the GPAC Wrestler of the Week. Creighton Baughman earned that recognition thanks to a 5-0 run at the Avila Eagle Duals in Kansas City.
While facing stiff competition, Concordia Wrestling emerged from the Eagle Duals with a trio of victories, including one over No. 18 Baker. Creighton Baughman and Grant Wells combined for nine wins near the top of the lineup.
After wrapping up final exams this week, the Concordia Wrestling team will make its way to Kansas City for the Avila Eagle Duals. As part of the event, the Bulldogs will dual five opponents, including two in the top 20 of the NAIA poll.
The highlights from Concordia's day at the Conner/Oppenheim Open included 15 combined wins and fourth-place finishes from Creighton Baughman and Hunter Weimer. The field included wrestlers from 31 institutions.
In one of the more dominant duals in program history, Concordia won all but one match with bonus points while dismantling Bethany College, 55-0, on Friday (Dec. 1). The Bulldogs recorded five pins in what was their third home dual this season.
The third home dual of the 2023-24 campaign is on tap for Friday night when Bethany College will visit Friedrich Arena. The Bulldogs will attempt to get back into the win column after dropping two last week in Sioux City, Iowa.
Head Coach Josh Watts enters his second season with an overall more talented and deeper roster as compared to a year ago. The Bulldogs expect to build upon a strong 2024-25 season with six returning national qualifiers.
The first year of Josh Watts’ tenure proved to be an unquestionable success. Many markers reached by the Bulldogs had not been achieved since 2020. The season ended with two Concordia wrestlers reaching the podium.
The hiring of Josh Watts in July set in motion a whirlwind pre-fall semester stretch that saw Concordia Wrestling tidy up and fortify a 2024-25 roster that put the pieces together during an impressive second semester.
It's a new era for Concordia Wrestling under Head Coach Josh Watts. The program welcomes back its three national qualifiers while adding nine freshmen and seven transfers to the mix.
Unmistakable for his physical stature and larger-than-life presence, Ceron Francisco captivated the Concordia University, Nebraska campus and left a legacy that went beyond the results on the mat.
When peeling back the layers that made up the 2023-24 Concordia University Wrestling season, the program’s progress becomes more evident. The Bulldogs believe they have laid a foundation for future success.
Tattooed just above Creighton Baughman’s right knee is the word “SAVED” in all caps. Says the accomplished Baughman, "'Saved' was always the word that came to mind when I think of the transformation that finding new faith has done for me."
After surprising many outsiders last season, Concordia Wrestling believes it is equipped for greater successes in 2023-24 as Head Coach Chase Clasen enters his second year leading the program. National qualifier Creighton Baughman sets the tone in the room.
Concordia Wrestling made a statement in the way that it exceeded expectations in 2022-23. In Chase Clasen's first season as head coach, the Bulldogs shrugged off their preseason GPAC placement of sixth and equaled a school record for dual wins in a season.
The trials, the tribulations and six years of grinding made Issiah Burks' stunningly dominant GPAC championship run that much sweeter. The Hemet, Calif., native has seized his one last chance to reach the national championships.
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