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Concordia College Season Preview

November 18, 2008

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 their strong showing last season against the top ranked teams in DIII.

This season the Cobber team is ranked #21 in the nation, recording a 5-3 dual meet season last year and including a win over nationally ranked Cornell College (Iowa).

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.

Five freshmen are competing for the 125 lb class. Daron Hohbein (Mandan, ND), Charlie Lee (Minot, ND), Hieu Pham (Bloomington, MN), Ben Presler (Royalton, MN) and Anthony Ricketts (Anchorage, AK).

Junior Joe Leacox (Park Rapids, MN) returns to his 133 lb spot after recording 21 victories last season. Freshman Mike Holman (Bloomington, MN) will also be competing at this weight class.

The 141 lb weight class will be a competitive class for the team. Sophomore Ben Anderson (Frazee, MN) will return for his 2nd year as a Cobber wrestler. He has recorded 24 wins last season and is currently ranked #10 in the nation. Senior PJ Mack (Coon Rapids, MN), junior Justin Horne (Detroit Lakes, MN), sophomore Todd Reynolds (Wayzata, MN) and freshman Lex Lunde (West Fargo, ND) will be strong contenders for the starting spot in the lineup. Mack recorded 8 wins last season while Horne picked up 17 victories.

Sophomore Justin Berns will be returning at 149 lbs. He was 33-14 last season. Senior Zach Schumack, junior Justin Lehmann and sophomores Joe Meinert (Park Rapids, MN) will challenge for 149 lbs spot making it a very tough weight class for the Cobbers.

Junior Lane Lunde (West Fargo, ND) hopes to improve on his 30-16 record last season in the 157 weight class. Freshman Dan Maghrak (Buffalo, MN) and Tyler Spiczka (Sauk Rapids, MN) will also be competing at this weight class.

At 165 Junior Luke Vetsch (St. Michael, MN) and Senior Cody Salo (New York Mills, MN) will both be strong competitors for the Cobbers. Last season Vetsch had a record of 14-9 and Salo a record of 15-14.

The 174 lb. weight class will also have many contenders who will help the Cobbers. Senior Spencer Lund (Lake Lillian, MN/ ACGC), two juniors DJ Ringquist (Fergus Falls, MN) and Phil Meinert (Park Rapids, MN), sophomore Ross Dankers (Cambridge, MN), and two Freshman Joe Puncochar (Annandale Maple Lake, MN) and Tyler Ahlf (Mahnaga/Sebeka, MN) will all help the Cobbers excel this wrestling season.

Sophomore Philip Moenkedick (Perham, MN) will be returning for the Cobbers and wrestling at 184. He went 36-6 last season, and is ranked #8 in the nation. Junior Tanner Jorud (Barnesville, MN), two freshmen Steve Masterson (Bemidji, MN) and Nathan Cummings (Aitkin, MN) will also be competing at this weight class for the Cobbers.

Senior Tony Neumann (Willmar, MN) will be wrestling 197 lb weight class again this year. Neumann, a three year starter, posted 32 wins last season and is currently ranked #3 in the nation. Freshman Andrew Peterson (Albert Lea, MN) will also be contending for the 197 spot.

The Cobbers only have one HWT competitor, Nick Nadeau (Aitkin, MN). Nadeau hopes to improve on his 10-16 record that he recorded for the Cobbers last season.

Seniors Tony Neumann and Cody Salo along with junior Lane Lunde will be captains for the 2008-09 Cobber wrestling season.