For Concordia Wrestling, the past couple of seasons have been about following the lead of standouts Mario Ybarra and Jacob Telles and building towards a return to conference supremacy. The Bulldogs believe they made steps forward this winter.
All-American Mario Ybarra and GPAC champion Jacob Telles return to form the backbone of a Concordia Wrestling program now led by first-year Head Coach Myron Bradbury. Bradbury has the task of bringing along a young team.
It wasn't always easy in 2020-21 considering all that the program dealt with, but the season may have been an important one for growth and reflection. It also ended with Mario Ybarra on the podium.
In terms of athletic and academic achievement, Mario Ybarra stands out among Bulldogs who make up a perennially strong wrestling program. He's ready to take the lead and make another big step forward.
The great heights reached by the Concordia Wrestling program mean that expectations are always high. Gabe Crawford and Mario Ybarra are the leaders of a youthful roster.
An accomplished collegiate wrestler, Concordia University graduate Ceron Francisco continues to chase his dreams on the mat while also coaching within the GPAC.
During a championship 2019-20 season, Coach Levi Calhoun's squad swept GPAC regular-season and tournament titles, sent eight qualifiers to nationals and placed 15th in the NAIA.
In his short time as a Concordia athlete, Farmer produced something that will never be forgotten, even if he did come up just a bit short of the ultimate goal. What he achieved was about more than winning wrestling matches.
It was a big season for the likes of Deandre Chery, Alberto Garcia and Michael Stann, who helped lead the Bulldogs to a GPAC dual title in 2018-19. Garcia then found his way onto the All-America podium.
At long last, Walker Fisher has accomplished a career long goal in his last opportunity to make it happen. The senior from Ashland, Neb., will take his shot at the NAIA Wrestling National Championships this Friday and Saturday.