Cobbers Start Slow, Finish With A Flurry

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (01/06/24)---It wasn't the outcome they wanted, but the Cobbers returned from the NWCA National Duals with a pair of wins and several quality individual performances.

Concordia dropped its first two duals of the tournament, losing a 27-22 heartbreaker to Dubuque in the opening and then getting edged by RIT 19-18 in the first round of the consolation side of the bracket. CC responded by posting wins over Olivet (Mich.) and Aurora (Ill.).

The 2-2 record in Iowa keeps the Cobbers above the .500 mark in dual meets in the season. CC is 4-3 for the year.   

The Dubuque dual was especially tough for the Cobbers. They fought their way to a 22-9 lead after Alex Rapelje's 7-5 decision win at 174. With three bouts left and CC headed into a tough back end of the lineup, it looked like they would advance to the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for CC, they dropped six points at 184 when Connor Chloupek had to retire with an injury in the second period. No.5-ranked Gabe Zierden got caught in the final 10 seconds of his match at 197, and suddenly CC trailed 22-21. The Cobbers couldn't turn the tide in the heavyweight match-up and lost 27-22.

No.2-ranked Bisek, Gabe Bellefeuille, Kellen Schauer and Elijah Hunt had the other wins for CC as both teams won five individual matches. Bellefeuille and Hunt had the lone pins for CC, while Schauer came away with a major decision win at 149.

Concordia had to chase their match with RIT and almost came away with a huge rally win. The Cobbers trailed 19-9 after RIT rattled off six straight wins from 149 to 184. Zierden took out his frustrations from the Dubuque match on Nicholas Smith and posted a pin at the 2:34 mark at 197.

The Cobbers trailed 19-15 heading into the final bout at heavyweight and needed a major decision win from Mason Swanson to tie the match at 19-19. Swanson nearly obliged as he came up one point short in a 7-0 decision win.

Head coach Quincy Osborn shuffled the lineup for the team's final match on Friday. Concordia responded by winning seven individual matches against Olivet in a 34-10 win.

Kie Anderson, who was wrestling for the first time all season, set the tone with a 16-0 tech fall victory at 125. Bisek came through with the second bonus point win against the Comets. After a pair of wins by Olivet, Alex McPhee, Hunt, Rapelje, Nathaniel Kisgen and Zierden put the match to bed with five straight wins.

All five wins were of the bonus point variety, as all seven of CC's victories came with extra team points. McPhee and Kisgen had pins in the 24-point win.

Concordia finished the National Duals by recording a 40-12 over Aurora (Ill.).

The Cobbers trailed 6-0 after the opening bout at 125. Bisek tied the team score at the 2:22 mark in his bout at 133. Bellefeuille, Aidan Ruddy, McPhee and Hunt picked up on the momentum started by Bisek and gave CC a 25-6 lead with five straight wins.

Kisgen, Zierden and Ayden Friese closed out the weekend with three straight wins. Kisgen posted his second straight pin at 184, Zierden made it three straight bonus-point wins with a pin at 197, and then Friese collected his first win of the tournament with a 4-2 decision at 285.

Bisek was the only Cobber to go unbeaten in all four matches. He hasn't lost in 16 matches and is 17-1 on the season.

Kisgen was 2-0 for the weekend to up his record to 12-6 for the year.

Hunt and Zierden both went 3-1 for the meet. Hunt upped his record to 10-5 and is 7-2 in his last nine bouts.

Zierden lost for the first time all year, and his 3-match win streak to finish the meet moves his season record to 14-1.

UP NEXT:  Concordia will have another long road trip next weekend when they travel to Illinois to compete in the Al Hanke Invite hosted by Elmhurst College.

Individual Match Results:
125 -  Kie Anderson (CC) pin Lee Rubin (RIT): 4:18 (Concordia leads 6-0)
133 - #2 Ty Bisek (CC) dec. Logan Patterson (RIT); 7-3 (Concordia leads 9-0)
141 - Josh Post (RIT) dec. Gabe Bellefeuille (CC); 4-1 (Concordia leads 9-3)
149 - Mike Glynn (RIT) dec. Kellen Schauer (CC); 11-5 (Concordia leads 9-6)
157 - Marek Bush (RIT) dec. Alex McPhee (CC); 11-4 (Tied 9-9)
165 - Liam Strouse (RIT) maj. dec. Elijah Hunt (CC); 11-2 (RIT leads 13-9) 
174 - Ben Dougherty (RIT) dec. Alex Rapelje (CC); SV-1 9-6 (RIT leads 16-9)   
184 - Elon Martin (RIT) dec. Connor Chloupek (CC); 14-7 (RIT leads 19-9)
197 - #5 Gabe Zierden (CC) pin Nicholas Smith (RIT); 2:34 (RIT leads 19-15)
285 - Mason Swanson (CC) dec. Ryan Fischer (RIT); 7-0 (RIT wins 19-18)