Cobbers Open Season By Hosting Finn Grinaker Open
Concordia competed in its first multi-team invitation in two years and came away with numerous Top 5 finishes at the annual Finn Grinaker Cobber Open.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/06/21)---Concordia competed in its first multi-team invitation in two years and came away with numerous Top 5 finishes at the annual Finn Grinaker Cobber Open.
The Cobbers were led by junior NWCA All-American Gabe Zierden who finished second in the 197-lb weight class in the gold division.
The tournament was split into two divisions with the more experienced wrestlers competing in the gold bracket and the less experienced athletes wrestling in the maroon division.
Zierden went 2-1 on the day. He opened the invite by posting a 4-2 decision over Lathan Duda from North Dakota St. He then pinned MSU Moorhead senior Steven Abbott at the 3:48 mark. Zierden fell in the championship match to Matthew Kaylor of the University of Mary who was a Division II Super Regional semifinalist last year.
The other multiple-win performances in the gold division were turned in by freshman Ty Bisek at 133, Kellen Schauer at 149, Nathan Kisgen at 174 and Ayden Friese at 184.
Bisek went 3-1 and finished third at 133. He started his college career with a pin over Alyeus Craig from St. Cloud State. He finished the day by posting wins over teammate Jake Nohre and then a 6-5 decision over Daniel Valeria from St. Cloud State.
Schauer placed fourth at 149. He went 2-2 and had wins over Ezekial Williamson from St. Cloud State and Devin Steidler from the University of Mary.
Kisgen won two of his first three matches 174. He posted a 9-7 win in the opener and then pinned Aodhan Roche of Mary.
Friese started his junior season by going 2-2 and placing fourth at 184. He earned a hard fought 3-2 decision over Grant Litke in his first match. His other win came in the consolation semifinal when he recorded a 4-2 win over Niko Lopez from St. Cloud State.
Sam Kulseth had the top finish in the maroon bracket for the Cobbers. He finished second at 141 by posting a 2-1 record. He came up with a pin in his first match and then rallied to beat Gunnar Mogen of MSU Moorhead 15-8.
Freshman David Platt posted the most wins of any Concordia athlete on the day. He won four matches at 149 in the maroon division. He placed fourth in a very crowded bracket. All four of Platt's wins were of the bonus-point variety. He had three pins and a 13-4 major decision.
Alex McPhee had three victories at 157 and finished in fifth place. He had a decision and a pin on his way to the semifinals and then came up with a 7-2 decision in the 5th-place match.
UP NEXT: Concordia will have their first dual meet of the year when they travel to Aberdeen, S.D. to take on Northern State on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.