Bulldogs Claim First Wrestling Championship in School History
by Garrett Suchanek
Three Bulldog wrestlers finished out the 2016 season on Saturday in Topeka, Kansas, at the NAIA National Championships, and junior Andrew Schulte went home with Concordia’s first wrestling championship in school history.
Schulte competed in the 141 weight class championship. Schulte squared off against Tyler Hinton of Ottawa University, who he beat earlier in year. Schulte started out with near pin falls in the first period and in the second period picked up a win by pin fall in 4:19.
Junior Kodie Cole went 2-1 on the day to earn a fifth-place finish in the 133 weight class. Cole started the day with a 2-0 win by decision, but fell in his second match Godwin Cutler of Grandview University. Cole defeated Vincente Hernandez of Simpson (California) with an 11-4 decision.
Junior Ken Burkhardt Jr. claimed a seventh-place medal in the 197 weight class. Burkhardt dropped his first match of the day, but rebounded with a pin fall win in 4:38 over Chandler Knight of Doane College.
All three Concordia wrestlers earned All American honors by medaling.
Concordia will look to build off this year’s momentum next year. Concordia will lose four Bulldogs to graduation.
