Bulldog wrestling earns GPAC runner-up honors
Photo credit: Kayla Korb
By Ransom Watts
No. 16 Concordia wrestling didn’t show any mercy across weight classes and brought home a runner-up finish at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships this weekend in Orange City, Iowa.
The Bulldogs made their mark with several key victories that put them ahead in the running from all teams save Doane University by the end of the day. Nine Concordia wrestlers ended the day with top three finishes in their weight class. Eight out of those did so to punch their ticket to the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics Wrestling National Championship.
Senior Hagen Heistand and sophomore Cal Price were the GPAC champs of their respective weight class. Heistand breezed his way through the early rounds of the 157 lbs weight class with falls and major decisions. With such solid and consistent victories, he moved into the championship round, which he won 7-6 over Doane’s Benjamin Miller.
Price similarly showed championship poise and intensity in his road to the 149 lbs GPAC title. He fought diligently through the early rounds and the championship round, which he won after a hard fight against Morningside’s Caden Eggleston. Price forced a pin in 4:30 to seal the championship and points for the Bulldogs.
Concordia’s runners-up in their weight divisions included senior Paul Ruff, senior Steve Barnes, junior Barret Brandt, and senior Torrence Keehn. Ruff and Barnes, who competed in the 133 lbs and 141 lbs weight classes respectively, were consistent in the early rounds, and despite coming up a little short in the championship round, contributed many of Concordia’s points with their deep runs.
The same can be said for Brandt and Keehn, whose dominance showed Concordia’s depth and helped widen the gap between other teams and ensure the Bulldog’s second-place finish.
Overall, Concordia wrestling did what they needed to produce a commendable and solid showing of wrestling skill and roster depth. The NAIA National Wrestling Championships are coming up in just a few weeks on March 5, where the Bulldogs will look to continue their positive run of form.
