CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — No.7-ranked Concordia took out their frustration at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Dual Tournament in their final match on Sunday by cruising past UW-Stevens Point 29-6 to capture seventh place. The Cobbers finished the prestigious meet with a 3-2 overall record.
The Cobbers started the tournament on Saturday by beating No.13-ranked University of Dubuque 27-11. Concordia finished off the Spartans by winning the final four individual matches. CC then ran into eventual National Duals champion Wartburg and lost 31-9. Phil Moenkedick and Ross Dankers were the only individual winners for the Cobbers against the No.2-ranked Knights. Concordia finished off Saturday by beating #12 Cornell (Iowa) 28-10. Ben Presler and Daron Hohbein set the tone for Concordia as they won the first two matches and staked the Cobbers to an 8-0 lead. Justin Berns, Dankers, Moenkedick, Nathan Schmitz and Tom Bouressa also posted wins against the Rams.
Concordia faced conference rival St. John’s in the first match on Sunday with the winner earning the right to wrestle for fifth place. The Cobbers jumped to a 9-0 lead on wins by Presler and Hohbein but then a pair of pin falls by the No. 3-ranked Johnnies gave SJU a lead they would never relinquish. Berns, Moenkedick and Bouressa earned the other three wins for CC.
The Cobbers then ended the day by recording their 23-point win over the Pointers. Concordia roared out of the starting block by winning the first five matches and grabbing an 18-0 lead. Dankers would then record a pin fall followed by a decision victory from Moenkedick while Bouressa finished off the match with a 7-1 decision.
It is the second straight year that Concordia has finished with a 3-2 record at the National Duals. Last season they went 3-2 and earned sixth place.
The Cobbers will continue their dual-match season when they host their first home matches of the year. Concordia will square off against Jamestown College and Ridgewater CC on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. The matches will be held in Olson Forum.