MOORHEAD, Minn.-- With each new result that the Concordia wrestling
posts, the signs of improvement continue to get better on better. The
latest mile marker on the road to success came on Wednesday when the
Cobbers gutted out a 23-16 victory over NAIA nationally-ranked
Jamestown College.
The win over the Jimmies is the first since the 2000-01 season and
moves Concordia's season dual record to 9-5, marking the most dual meet
wins since the 1989-90 campaign.
The match with No.17-ranked Jamestown was earmarked to come down to a
few pivotal matches and the battle proceeded as forecasted.
Concordia started out by getting a forfeit victory at the opening
weight class at 125. The Jimmies then rattled off three straight
victories to take a 9-6 lead heading into 157.
That is where the first sign of good things to come happened for CC.
The Cobbers' regular wrestler at 157, Logan Lunde, was sidelined with a
minor injury. Sophomore Jeremy Welter did the majority of his work
before the meet as he dropped seven pounds during the day to make
weight. His hard work and determination paid off when he scored a 7-2
decision over Nate Peine.
The Cobber bench felt the change in momentum and the next two matches
put CC on the brink of victory. Concordia stalwart Lane Lunde scored a
technical fall in the third period of his match at 165 to give the
Cobbers a 14-9 lead - a lead they would not relinquish. For Lunde it
was his 23rd win of the season which is the second highest win total on
the team.
Cody Salo then followed by posting the only pin fall of the meet when
he was able to turn Ryder Weischedel at the 4:52 mark. His win at 174
gave CC a 20-9 lead. It was Salo's seventh pin of the year.
After the Jimmies came away with a 7-3 decision at 184 which put the
team score at 20-12 in favor of Concordia, everyone in the building
knew that the final team win would come down to the bout at 197 since
one of the top wrestlers in NAIA was set to wrestle for the Jimmies in
the heavyweight match.
Cobber sophomore Theo Gagner made sure his team would not fall in the
final stretches of the meet as he came away with a spirited 8-1
decision. His three-point decision gave CC an insurmountable lead
heading into the final match of the night.
Jamestown claimed the final match at heavyweight on a technical fall
and Concordia was able to celebrate the seven-point win as they head
into the NCAA Regional Meet.
Concordia will have a nine-day break before traveling to Elmhurst
College (Ill.) on Feb. 17 to compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
February 8, 2007 at Moorhead, MN
Concordia 23, Jamestown College 16
125: Matt Nyvold (CC) wins by forfeit
133: Scott Thompson (JC) dec. Joe Leacox (CC); 8-6 (OT)
141: Zach Halcumb (JC) dec. P.J. Mack (CC); 10-4
149: Grant Mehring (JC) dec. Brandon Bartyzal (CC); 6-3
157: Jeremy Welter (CC) dec. Nate Peine (JC); 7-2
165: Lane Lunde (CC) tech. fall Carlyle Scott (JC); 17-2 (6:50)
174: Cody Salo (CC) fall Ryder Weischedel (JC); 4:52
184: Justin Schuele (JC) dec. Anthony Neumann (CC); 7-3
197: Theo Gagner (CC) dec. Chris Thoresen (JC); 8-1
285: Sam Sand (JC) tech. fall Preston Lyles (CC); 17-1 (6:06)