Bulldog wrestling, men’s and women’s basketball teams approach championship season

Senior forward Tristan Smith (22) shoots a basket.

Photo credit: Maddy Peters

By Kai Olbrich

This article is featured in the February print edition of the Sower newspaper.

Winter sports at Concordia Nebraska are working their way toward championship season and narratives and stories are forming, as wrestling and men’s and women’s basketball have all won big, lost big and created moments to remember.

Wrestling

The Bulldog wrestling team has been making waves both individually and collectively. The sixth National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics men’s wrestling coach’s poll, released on Jan. 30, placed the team at 19th in the country and put eight athletes in the top 25 for their respective weight classes.

Senior Creighton Baughman is sixth at 141, junior Hagen Heistand 12th at 149, junior Torrance Keehn 12th at 197, junior Steven Barnes 19th at 149, senior Cole Price 23rd at 157, senior Tommy Wentz 23rd at 165, senior Hunter Wentz at 184 and freshman Cal Price 25th at 141.

Baughman, one of last season’s stars, is picking up where he left off. Coach Josh Watts believes that while Baughman is on the quiet side, he serves as a role model for the younger athletes.

“He deserves everything he gets. So, you know, I think some of the younger guys, the freshmen and stuff, look at his work ethic and kind of model themselves after him,” Watts said. “And we got, you know, a few other guys that are right up there with Creighton as well.”

The Bulldogs have a 3-2 dual record in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, with their only losses coming against ranked Doane and Morningside.

Despite their winning record, Watts said that the team is better suited for the tournament style of competition. He also does not put too much emphasis on early season results but instead wants to focus on improving every competition.

“Obviously we want to win everything that we compete in,” he said. “But as long as we’re getting a little bit better each competition and we’re ready for the GPAC conference tournament, that’s what our goal is.”

The Bulldogs showcased both their improvement and tournament prowess at the Missouri Valley Invitational on Jan. 25. Out of 53 teams Concordia finished sixth, getting the better of GPAC opponents Dakota Wesleyan, Hastings, Midland, Morningside, Briar Cliff and Waldorf.

The GPAC Day of Duals is the next competition for the Bulldogs as they get to try their hand at the dual format for the final time this season. They face Northwestern College, Briar Cliff and Waldorf on Feb. 8.

After the GPAC Duals is the GPAC Wrestling Championships, where Bulldog athletes will try to punch their tickets to nationals.

Men’s Basketball

The Concordia men’s basketball team was fortunate enough to start the 2024-25 season opener with the same five starters who played at the end of the previous season. Retaining talent was likely a contributing factor in the team’s No. 9 preseason ranking.

It was a bit of a rocky start for the Bulldogs, who lost three of their opening seven, but since then it has been full steam ahead.

Seniors Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith have been the hallmarks of the Bulldogs this season. Schutte became Concordia basketball’s all-time leading scorer and was averaging 16.2 points per game as of Jan. 31.

Smith averaged 20.3 points, and leads the Great Plains Athletic Conference in field goal percentage with 70.3. Still, coach Ben Limback is adamant that his team is more than just a two-man show.

“Tristan and Noah are putting up big numbers individually and are kind of our featured guys, but there’s a balance that we are capable of,” Limback said. “So I think the team as a whole, there’s some good talent, but also the ability to share the basketball and to be an unselfish team.”

The Bulldogs are a powerhouse, especially on the offensive side where they average 87.7 points per game. A big factor is their GPAC-leading offensive rebounding of 10.7 rebounds per game. Limback enjoys how his players have taken the challenge in stride.

“It has been an emphasis since the beginning of the year,” Limback said. “I think the guys have really bought into that. The effort level on the offensive rebounding has been great. It helps when you have guys like Tristan you know that can jump really high and get those offensive rebounds too.”

A notable victory came Jan. 18, when the Bulldogs defeated the then-ranked No. 3 Northwestern 85-70. The team also was victorious in the 72nd annual Concordia Invitational Tournament, defeating Concordia University Chicago 90-71 in the first game before beating the hosts, Concordia Ann Arbor, Michigan, 88-45 in the final to claim their 31st CIT title. Smith was named tournament MVP.

Limback loves the excitement of CIT but said the congruent faith of all of the schools is what elevates it.

“I think the games themselves are always entertaining and the crowd and the energy. But you know, that common faith in Jesus and all the things that go with Concordia as a whole has been what makes it special,” Limback said.

The Bulldogs are tied for second in the GPAC and potentially could finish first if Dordt loses a game in the final stretch.

Women’s Basketball

The Concordia women’s basketball team came into the season ranked No. 5 and looked to be a powerhouse in the NAIA after winning two of their first three games against top 10 opponents.

Senior guard Abby Krieser (23) looks to pass the ball. Photo: Josiah Seabaugh.

Things took a turn for the worse, however, as the Bulldogs got on multiple losing streaks throughout December and January. The worst one occurred from Jan. 2 to 11 as Concordia lost four games in a row, all to GPAC opponents.

It has been somewhat of a confounding season for Coach Drew Olson. Six of the 10 losses have been by one score or in overtime.

“It’s a very interesting season,” Olson said. “Probably one that I’ve never really been a part of before like this to where we’ve had so many losses in so close of games. And, you know, we’re really like five possessions away from being 17 and 5. And if you’re 17 and 5, we’re still ranked in the top 10 in the country.”

Olson said the team is still confident in who they are and how they are playing.

“It’s just a matter of being able to kind of finish the job,” he said.

The Bulldogs were able to finish the job at CIT, where they took home their 33rd title after defeating Concordia University Chicago 108-67 and Concordia University Ann Arbor, Michigan 66-60.

Freshman Makynna Robbins earned the tournament MVP award, despite not starting any games. She came off the bench in both matches to collect 36 points and 13 rebounds in 42 minutes of action. Olson likes Robbins’ unique abilities both on offense and defense.

“She’s a really unique player because she is just so athletic and rebounds so well. She can defend multiple positions,” Olson said. “Truthfully, I’d say I wish I was a smarter coach and figured it out earlier. Just how to utilize her better offensively.”

While their record could push some players to prematurely throw in the towel, Olson said he has seen the opposite, with players doubling down on their goals.

“I think it’s been the interesting thing with this team, it’s been a really collective group of not losing heart, not losing that hope and drive of what our goals are,” Olson said. “Our goals are still intact, of winning CIT, getting in the national tournament.”

Despite any prior hiccups or speed bumps, Olson is confident that as his team looks forward to the postseason, his team is ready for any challenge they might face.

“We can win these games, and if we do what we’re supposed to do, we’re still going to get to where we want to be and I think this group is really confident in that,” he said.