Nationally Ranked Cobbers Start 2012-13 Season
MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/07/12)— Concordia opens its 2012-13 competitive schedule on Saturday when they compete at the Bison Open starting at 9 a.m. The Cobbers begin the season ranked 14th in the first National Wrestling Coaches Association DIII poll.
In addition to the team's national rankings, Concordia also has a pair of individuals ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes. All-American Nathan Schmitz starts the year ranked third in the nation at 197 and senior Tom Bouressa is sixth at 285. Schmitz finished fifth at last year's NCAA National Meet to earn his All-American award. Bouressa qualified for the national meet last year after finishing in fourth place in 2011.
Concordia is coming off another top 15 showing at the NCAA Division National Meet in 2012. The Cobbers placed 13th with 27.5 team points. It marked the third straight year they have finished in the top 15 at nationals. Along with team, success, CC has also enjoyed individual accomplishments. Concordia has produced nine All-Americans in the past five years.
The Cobbers also have five wrestlers in the d3wrestle.com individual rankings. Besides Schmitz and Bouressa, Kyle LeDuc is ranked 15th at 149 and Kevin Fynboh and Chris Harrison are in the top 25 at 157 and 184.
Concordia will open their home schedule on Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17. The Cobbers will square off against Ridgewater CC in a dual meet on Friday, Nov, 16 at 7 p.m. and then host the annual Finn Grinaker Open on Saturday, Nov. 17 starting at 9 a.m.
2012-13 Cobber Wrestling Preview (courtesy of d3wrestle.com)
Head Coaches: Clay Nagel and Matt Nagel
Years at School as Head Coach: Clay Nagel (9 yrs), Matt Nagel (4 yrs)
Career Record at school: 61-33
Assistant Coaches: Nick Magee, Justin Berns, Dave Baker and Mike Holman
2011-2012 Dual Meet Record: 7-11
2011-2012 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Daron Hohbein (133), Tom Bouressa (285), Ben Presler (5th, 125) and Nate Schmitz (5th, 197)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Nate Schmitz, Tom Bouressa
Top returning starters with accomplishments:
HWT- Tom Bouressa, 2-Time National Qualifier and 2011 All-American
HWT- Cody Kasprick, 2011-12 season record 19 – 13
197- Nate Schmitz, 2-Time National Qualifier and 2012 All-American
184 – Christian Harrison went 2-3 and finished 6th in the Great Lakes Region
174 – Sebastian Gardner went 1-2; did not place in the Great Lakes Region
165 – Josten Coleman went 2-2 at the Great Lakes Region
157 – Kevin Fynboh went 2-3 and finished 6th in the Great Lakes Region
149 – Kyle LeDuc went 3-2 and finished 4th in the Great Lakes Region
133- Jake Kostik, conference record 8-2
Top incoming wrestlers:
133- Yonas Gebreab, Eagan, MN, (transfer from Ridgewater)
197-Delson Saintal, Fargo, ND (transfer from Valley City State), placed 2nd ND state tournament
157- Ben Cousins, Bloomington, MN, State Qualifier and Junior Nationals participant in Greco/Freestyle
125- Gabe Foltz, Detroit Lakes, MN, State Qualifier and Cadet All-American
165- Dylan Hanson, Hawick, MN, placed 4th MN State
157/165- Race Heitkamp, Kindred, ND, placed 4th 2X's ND state,
141- Chase Austvold, Spicer, MN, placed 3rd MN State
141/149- Zach Barber, Kalispell, MT, 4X MT state place winner
165/174- Peter Harrison, Pine River, MN, MN State Qualifier
165/157-Jordan Bendson, Motley, MN, 2011 6th Great Lakes
Season outlook:
Concordia looks to improve on last year's 13th place finish at the national tournament with a first-class group of 8 returning starters. All-American and Team Captain Nate Schmitz and All-American Tom Bouressa should provide the leadership for a very productive season. Captains Josten Coleman, Kevin Fynboh and Kyle LeDuc have been working hard in the off season and have high expectations for themselves as well as the Cobber team. Overall the Cobbers have been working hard in the off season and are looking forward to another aggressive season with a schedule that will compete against programs in NCAA DI, DII and DIII: North Dakota State, University of Minnesota, Saint Cloud State, Augustana, Wartburg, Augsburg, UW-La Crosse, Coe, Cornell, Elmhurst, St John's, Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Luther.