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Home Sports Three Bulldog Wrestlers Advance to Day Two of Nationals

by Garrett Suchanek

 

The No. 6 Concordia Bulldogs wrestling team sent a total of 10 wrestlers to the National Championships on Friday, the first day of the NAIA National championships in Topeka, Kansas, but only three Concordia wrestlers advanced to continue onto day two: juniors Andrew Schulte, Kodie Cole and Ken Burkhardt Jr.

Schulte highlighted the day for the Bulldogs by going 3-0 and is two wins away from being the 141 weight class champion. Schulte will have to go through Tyler Fraley of Williams Baptist (Arkansas) in the semifinals on Sunday to advance to the championship match.

The other two Bulldogs that are still in the running are Cole (133 weight class) and Burkhardt (197 weight class).

Cole won his first match of the day after receiving a bye in the first round, but fell in the quarterfinals by major decision. Cole then won his first match in the consolation bracket to advance to Sunday’s rounds of wrestling.

Burkhardt went 4-1 on the day after fighting his way through the consolation bracket to earn another day of wrestling.

Both Cole and Burkhardt are guaranteed medals.

Three other Bulldogs came close to earning another day of wrestling, but fell one match short. Seniors Jr Lule and Matt Atwood and junior Ceron Francisco all lost their final matches of the day; if had they won, they would have medaled.

Concordia will wrestle in its final matches of the 2016 season on Sunday.

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