2007-08 Season Preview

Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: November 12, 2007

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/12/07)-- The Concordia College wrestling team is looking forward to an exciting year, highlighted by a trip to the National Duals in January. The National Duals feature the top 16 teams in DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and the Junior Colleges. The Cobbers were selected for this prestigious tournament because of their strong showing last season against the top ranked teams in DIII.

Last season the young Cobber team was nationally ranked for the first time in recent history, recording a 9-5 dual meet season including wins over nationally ranked Simpson College, UW-Eau Claire and Jamestown College. The Cobbers gained national interest after a strong showing in the Citrus Tournaments in Florida.

Coach Clay Nagel and his assistants Dennis Kaatz, Greg Schmitz and Andy Quittschreiber are looking at the largest turnout of wrestlers in school history. Over thirty wrestlers are competing in the wrestling room.

Two freshmen are competing for the 125 lb class. Jason Brill (Little Falls, Minn.) and Alex Vosberg (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), two former Minnesota high school state place winners will battle for this roster spot. Brill was a former Junior Greco All-American and Vosberg recorded 124 wins in his high school career.

Sophomore Joe Leacox (Park Rapids, Minn.) returns to his 133 lb spot after recording 27 victories last season. Freshman Todd Reynolds (Plymouth, Minn.) and Issiah Hruby (Roseau, Minn.) will make this weight class very competitive. Reynolds wrestled on the Wayzata state tournament team while Hruby recorded 167 career wins in high school

The 141 lb weight class will be one of the most competitive on the team. PJ Mack (Coon Rapids, Minn) will return for his third year as a Cobber starter. He has recorded 35 wins over the last two seasons. Sophomores Josiah Simburger (Mandan, N.D.) and Justin Horne (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) will be strong contenders for the starting spot in the lineup. Simburger recorded 19 wins last season while Horne picked up 8 victories. The addition of last year's Minnesota State Champion, Ben Anderson (Frazee, Minn.) will insure that the 141 lb class for the Cobbers will be well manned throughout the season. Anderson was also a former State Freestyle Champ.

Zach Schumack (Rosemount, Minn.) returns for his senior year at 149 lbs. He was 11-13 last season. Four freshman will challenge for 149 lbs spot. Justin Berns (Perham, Minn.), Joe Meinert (Park Rapids, Minn.), Alex Burkel (Roseau, Minn.) and Trevor Novacek (Greenbush, Minn.) will make 149 a very tough weight class for the Cobbers. Berns was a State runner-up his senior year. Burkel placed fourth at state his senior year. Meinert posted 137 wins during his career at Park Rapids.

Sophomore Lane Lunde (West Fargo, N.D.) hopes to improve on his 27-12 record last season. Lunde captured the championship at the Citrus Open last year as well as being a regional place winner. Sophomore Justin Lehmann (Wahpeton, N.D.) will also be in the hunt at 157 lbs.

The 165 lb. will be manned by senior Logan Lunde (West Fargo, N.D.), junior Spencer Lund (Lake Lillian, Minn.) , and junior Cody Salo (New York Mills, Minn.). Lunde posted a 23-14 record at 157 last season. Lund was 9-8 last year and Salo was 18-17.

The 174 lb. weight class will be one of the Cobbers strongest with the return of 06 regional runner-up Luke Vetsch (Albertville, Minn.). Vetsch had a medical red-shirt year last season but is ready to compete this year. Other 174 lbers include Salo, sophomore DJ Ringquist (Fergus Falls, Minn.), freshman Phil Moenkedick (Perham, Minn.) and freshman Ross Dankers (Cambridge, Minn.) Ringquist was 14-11 last year as a freshman. Moenkedick was a five-time state entrant, finishing second last year. He also recorded 190 career victories. Dankers posted a 60-25 career record at Cambridge High School.

The Cobbers only return sophomore Tanner Jorud (Barnesville, Minn.) at 184 lbs. Jorud was 9-14 last year. A few of the 174lbs will challenge for time at this weight class as well.

Junior Tony Neumann (Willmar, Minn.) moves up to the 197 lb class this year. Neumann, a two-year starter at 184 and posted 21 wins last year. Freshman Garrett Muro (Henderson, Nev.) was a third-place finisher in Nevada last year.

Senior Adam Westby (Spicer, Mn) will move up to the heavyweight position. Westby was limited last season by injuries but posted a 4-5 record. Freshman Nick Nadeau (Aitkin, Minn.) and Dylan Evenson (Pelican Rapids, Minn.) will challenge for time at heavyweight. Nadeau placed fourth at state last year, while Evenson had a high school career record of 116-34.

Logan Lunde, Tony Neumann, and Cody Salo will captain the 2007-08 Cobber wrestling team.