The Concordia College wrestling
team is looking forward to an exciting year, highlighted by a trip to
the National Duals in January. The National Duals feature the top
16 teams in DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and the Junior Colleges. The
Cobbers were selected for this prestigious tournament because of there
strong showing last season against the top ranked teams in DIII.
Last season the young Cobber team was nationally ranked for the first
time in recent history, recording a 9-5 dual meet season including wins
over nationally ranked Simpson College, UW-Eau Claire and Jamestown
College. The Cobbers gained national interest after a strong
showing in the Citrus Tournaments in Florida.
Coach Clay Nagel and his assistants Dennis Kaatz, Greg Schmitz and Andy
Quittschreiber are looking at the largest turnout of wrestlers in
school history. Over thirty wrestlers are competing in the
wrestling room.
Two freshmen are competing for the 125 lb class. Jason Brill
(Little Falls, Mn) and Alex Vosberg (Brooklyn Park, Mn), two former Mn
high school state place winners will battle for this roster spot.
Brill was a former Junior Greco All-American and Vosberg recorded 124
wins in his high school career.
Soph. Joe Leacox (Park Rapids, Mn) returns to his 133 lb spot after
recording 27 victories last season. Freshman Todd Reynolds
(Wayzata HS) and Issiah Hruby of Roseau will make this weight class
very competitive. Reynolds wrestled on the Wayzata state tournament
team while Hruby recorded 167 career wins in high school
The 141 lb weight class will be one of the most competitive on the
team. PJ Mack (Coon Rapids) will return for his 3rd year as a
Cobber starter. He has recorded 35 wins over the last two
seasons. Sophomores Josiah Simburger (Mandan, ND) and Justin
Horne (Detroit Lakes, Mn) will be strong contenders for the starting
spot in the lineup. Simburger recorded 19 wins last season while
Horne picked up 8 victories. The addition of last years Mn. State
champion, Ben Anderson (Frazee, Mn) will insure that the 141 lb class
for the Cobbers will be well manned through out the season.
Anderson was also a former State Freestyle Champ.
Zach Schumack (Rosemount HS) returns for his senior year at 149
lbs. He was 11-13 last season. Four Freshman will challenge
for 149 lbs spot. Justin Berns (Perham, Mn), Joe Meinert (Park
Rapids, Mn), Alex Burkel (Roseau, Mn) and Trevor Novacek (Greenbush,
Mn) will make 149 a very tough weight class for the Cobbers.
Berns was a State runner-up his senior year. Burkel placed 4th at
state his senior year. Meinert posted 137 wins during his career
at Park Rapids.
Soph. Lane Lunde (West Fargo, ND) hopes to improve on his 27-12 record
last season. Lunde captured the championship at the Citrus Open last
year as well as being a regional place winner. Soph Justin
Lehmann (Wahpeton, ND) will also be in the hunt at 157 lbs.
The 165 lb. will be manned by senior Logan Lunde (West Fargo, ND) ,
junior Spencer Lund (Lake Lillian, Mn) , and junior Cody Salo
(New York Mills, Mn). Lunde posted a 23-14 record at 157 last
season. Lund was 9-8 last year and Salo was 18-17.
The 174 lb. weight class will be one of the Cobbers strongest with the
return of 06 regional runner-up Luke Vetsch (STMA HS). Vetsch had
a medical red-shirt year last season but is ready to compete this year.
Other 174 lbers include Salo, sophomore DJ Ringquist (Fergus Falls, Mn)
, Freshman Phil Moenkedick (Perham, Mn) and Freshman Ross Dankers
(Cambridge, Mn) Ringquist was 14-11 last year as a
freshman. Moenkedick was a 5 time state entrant, finishing 2nd
last year. He also recorded 190 career victories. Dankers
posted a 60-25 career record at Cambridge High School.
The Cobbers only return soph Tanner Jorud (Barnesville, Mn) at 184
lbs. Jorud was 9-14 last year. A few of the 174lbs
will challenge for time at this weight class as well.
Junior Tony Neumann (Willmar, Mn) moves up to the 197 lb class this
year. Neumann, a two year starter at 184, posted 21 wins
last year. Freshman Garrett Muro (Henderson, Nev) was a 3rd place
finisher in Nevada last year.
Senior Adam Westby (Spicer, Mn) will move up to the heavyweight
position. Westby was limited last season by injuries but posted a
4-5 record. Freshman Nick Nadeau (Aitkin, Mn) and Dylan Evenson
(Pelican Rapids, Mn) will challenge for time at heavyweight.
Nadeau placed fourth at state last year while Evenson had a high school
career record of 116-34.
Logan Lunde, Tony Neumann, and Cody Salo will captain the 2007-08 Cobber wrestling team.