Concordia University Open | Nov. 22 | 9 AM | Mequon, Wis. | R. John Buuck Fieldhouse
WATCH
 
The No. 2-ranked Wartburg men's wrestling team will travel to Mequon, Wis., to participate in the 31st annual Concordia University Open on Nov. 22, beginning at 9 a.m. The invite is one of the largest in Division III.
 
LAST SEASON…
Wartburg enters the season coming off another historic year in 2024, highlighted by two individual national champions — including returning heavyweight Mitchell Williamson, who became just the third HWT national champion in program history. 

The Knights captured their 16th team national title, extending their streak to 30 consecutive years with at least one individual national champion. Wartburg's national championship squad scored 83.5 points behind just six qualifiers. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights participated in the Luther Open, an invite that was highlighted by four top-three finishes for the Knights.

The Elite 157 bracket was the highlight for Wartburg, as two Knights placed within the top three. Charlie Dojan rolled through the bracket with a pair of tech falls, a pin, and a decision before shutting out Loras' Eric Kinkaid 10-0 for the title. Caleb Olson joined Dojan on the podium with a third-place finish.

Kade Blume spearheaded his way to the championship match in the Elite 141 bracket. Blume recorded a pin and back-to-back tech falls before a 2-0 victory to set up the championship match. He finished in second place behind Iowa's Kale Petersen.

Cal Dorata continued Wartburg's success in the Elite 197 bracket, taking home a third-place finish via a fall and decision before claiming his spot on the podium after a medical forfeit.
Carter Martinson (fifth place in Elite 165) and Mike Slade (sixth place in Elite 174) rounded out the Knights' top-six finishes in the Elite brackets.

In the Silver brackets, Riley Brunson (Silver 149) and Angel Zamora (Silver 174) showed their mettle with runner-up finishes. Syler Zdanczewicz (sixth place in Silver 165) rounded out the Knights top-six finishes.
 
SEASON LEADERS
On the season, Bowen Brunson leads the team with four falls, followed by Anthony Ulaszek with three and five other Knights with two apiece. In total, the Knights have recorded 34 falls.

Charlie Dojan and Kade Blume are tied for the team lead with three tech falls, followed by Caleb Olson and Hesston Johnson with two each. The Knights have recorded 23 tech falls.

Seven Knights are tied for the team lead in winning percentage. Mitchell Willamson, Zein Bazzi, Charlie Dojan, Nathan Fuller, Patrick Mullen, Kasey Ross and Brett Birchman are perfect on the season. Dojan has the claim for the top-spot, as he has seven wins, five more than any of the other wrestler previously mentioned. Olson is second on the team in total wins with six. Wartburg has gone 104-68 in total on the season.
 
KEEPIN' TRACK ON KELLER
Head Coach Eric Keller needs just one win to reach the 250-win milestone at Wartburg. Keller currently sits as the second-most winningest coach in Wartburg history behind Jim Miller's 413.  
 
NATIONAL STATUS 
Wartburg has appeared at the NCAA Championships 46 times – four-straight seasons and fourth-best amongst Division III programs.
The Knights have seven individuals who are preseason nationally-ranked by the NWCA: 

• Brett Birchman 125 #5
• Kade Blume 141 #6
• Charlie Dojan 149 #3
• Caleb Olson 157 #13
• Aiden Brosinski 165 #10
• Carson Martinson 174 #10
• Kasey Ross 184 #2
• Cal Dorata 197 #10
• Mitchell Williamson 285 #1

 
PICKED AS PRESEASON FAVORITE
Wartburg was picked to win the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) with eight first-place votes. The Knights have won five-straight conference titles – 42 total.  
 
A-R-C Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll 
1. Wartburg - 64 (8) 
2. Coe - 55 (1) 
3. Loras - 52  
4. Central - 39 
5. Luther - 37 
6. Univ. of Dubuque - 32 
7. Nebraska Wesleyan - 20 
8. Simpson - 17 
9. Buena Vista - 8