Wrestling’s Burkhardt Jr. Gives Strong Showing at Holiday Inn Open
by Jacy Johnston
The Concordia wrestling team sent 19 athletes to compete at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Holiday Inn Open on Nov. 19.
The Concordia team racked up 33 wins on the day and scored 65 team points, with senior Ken Burkhardt Jr. leading them in a sixth place finish in the 197 weight class.
Nine athletes competed in the Elite division for the Bulldogs, while the other ten wrestlers competed in the Amateur division.
Among the notable contributors in the Elite division were 165-pound junior Anthony Zepeda with three wins and 8.00 team points, 157-pound senior Daniel Melcher with two wins and 3.50 team points, and 174-pound sophomore Walker Fisher with three wins and 4.00 team points.
The bulk of the team’s points came from the Amateur division, with 157-pound freshman Gabriel Crawford standing out with four wins and 7.00 team points.
Wrestlers from the NAIA and NCAA competed in the tournament. Concordia’s entire team did not compete at the event, and many of their nationally ranked wrestlers were absent.
Concordia will have their next competition on Friday, Dec. 2 against Doane University as the team looks to extend their GPAC Dual win streak to 16.
