Concordia College Preview

Concordia College went from 13th in the Great Lakes Region to 3rd last year, getting three wrestlers through to the NCAA tournament.  There, Tony Neumann became the first Cobber to place since 1999.  All three qualifiers are back from last season, and Concordia has its largest roster in team history for 2008-2009.  Ben Anderson put together a nice run at the regional to force his way into the NCAA tournament as a freshman.  He was just 15-13 coming into the region before a 5-1 day left him in 2nd place.  Another tough freshman, Phil Moenkedick, won the region at 174 and fashioned a 33-6 record last year.  Both freshman, however, took their lumps at the NCAA tournament and are hopeful for better performances in Cedar Rapids in 2009.  Tony Neumann will be a senior this year as he looks to take a few steps up the podium from his 8th place finish.  Three other regional placewinners are back, and they will be augmented by a trio of state placewinning freshmen including 5x placer and 2x champ Daron Hohbein.

Team: Concordia College (Moorhead, MN)
Head Coach: Clay Nagel (Dickinson State ’79)
Years at School as head coach: 5
Career Record at school: 24-16
Assistant Coaches: Denny Kaatz, Greg Schmitz, Andy Quittschrieber

2007-2008 Dual Meet Record: 5-3
2007-2008 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Ben Anderson (141/NQ), Phil Moenkedick (174/NQ), Tony Neumann (8th/197)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Anderson, Moenkedick, Neumann

Top returning starters: 133 Joe Leacox 4th Great Lakes, 141 Ben Anderson NCAA Qualifier, 149 Justin Berns 3rd Great Lakes, 174 Phil Moenkedick 1st Great Lakes NCAA Qualifier, 184 Cody Salo 5th Great Lakes, 197 Tony Neumann NCAA Qualifier

Top incoming wrestlers: Daron Hohbein 2x ND state champ 5x placer 186 wins, Jeremy Anderson MN state champ, Lex Lunde 3x ND placewinner