Zierden Joins Rarified Cobber Club With Trip To Title Match

Feature reprinted courtesy of the Forum and reporter Eric Peterson

MOORHEAD — Concordia senior Gabe Zierden joined elite company over the weekend with his runner-up finish at 197 pounds at the NCAA Division III wrestling tournament in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Zierden became only the fifth athlete in program history to reach a title match at an NCAA national championship. He now joins the likes of Moenkedick, McLeod, Jensen and Bennett.

"It means a lot to be part of that tradition that we have here at Concordia. To have my name among the top wrestlers in the program, that means a lot," said Zierden, a fifth-year senior from Albany, Minnesota.

Phil Moenkedick won Division III national titles in 2011 and 2010 at 184 pounds, while Malcolm McLeod (1983) and Mark Jensen (1978) also advanced to NCAA title matches. Barry Bennett won a NCAA crown at 285 pounds in 1978. Bennett also won NAIA national titles in 1977 and 1976.

Zierden finished the season with a 38-4 record, falling to Wartburg's Massoma Endene — who repeated as a national champion and with a 51-1 record over the past two seasons — by a 12-4 major decision Saturday, March 16, in the national title match. His 38 wins tied the program single-season record.

"To end it in the national finals was something special," Zierden said. "It didn't quite end out how I wanted it, but I'm not going to look back with any regrets. It was a pretty amazing experience."

Zierden's magical season started to gain traction at the Upper Midwest Regional a couple weeks prior to the national meet. Zierden knocked off Augsburg's Parker Venz in the regional semifinals to earn a spot at nationals.

Zierden had lost all four previous meetings against Venz, all pins, before Zierden earned a dramatic 8-7 victory at the regional.

"I guess I won the one that truly mattered in the end," Zierden said.

"It was an amazing moment," added Cobbers head coach Quincy Osborn. "I don't know if I've ever been happier as a coach."

Zierden then pinned Wisconsin-La Crosse's Ben Kawcynski for the regional championhip.

"It was really what propelled me forward," Zierden said of his regional performance.

Zierden won three decisions at the national meet before falling to Endene in the national title match.

"A lot of icing on top of the cake with it all, how much we put into it, not just me but my coaches and my family," Zierden said. "It meant a lot to go on a run like that."

During his freshman season, Zierden earned a spot at the national tournament, but that event was canceled due to COVID-19. For his sophomore season the NCAA also didn't have a national due to the coronavirus pandemic. The past two seasons, Zierden didn't make the national tournament.

Osborn said it was satisfying to see Zierden finish his career with a flurry.

"It was really surreal." Osborn said. "The stretch that he went on starting with the regional and winning in the semifinals there against a wrestler he'd never beaten and going on this run it was really amazing."