[Men's Wrestling] Boldmaa Named Wrestler of the Year; Seven Named All-GPAC
Doane Wrestling placed seven athletes on the 2020-21 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) All-Conference list. Previously, the most Doane had placed on the all-conference list was three in 2016. The Tigers, the 2021 regular season GPAC Champions, had six wrestlers qualify for nationals.
Leading the way for Doane was Baagii Boldmaa (JR/Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) at 141-lbs, named the GPAC Wrestler of the Year. Undefeated on the season at 20-0, Boldmaa has backed up the national championship he won a year ago with dominance on the mat this season. In 20 matches, he has won by tech fall, pin, or forfeit in 19 of those decisions.
Joining Boldmaa on the First Team All-GPAC list were Daniel Vargas (JR/San Diego, Calif.), Tristan Zamilpa (SO/Madera, Calif.), Bradley Antesberger (FR/North Pole, Alaska), and Brandon Antesberger (SO/North Pole, Alaska). Earning Second Team honors was Michael Scarponi (SO/Temecula, Calif.). Garrett Cornwell (JR/Albion, Neb.) received honorable mention honors as well. Each of Doane's honorees this year has hit the 20-win mark.
Vargas sits at a 9-0 record at 125-lbs and holds a 21-4 overall record this season. He went 7-0 in GPAC duals and added a 3-0 performance at the GPAC Championships to win the 125-lbs division. Vargas drew the 7-seed in his weight class for the NAIA Championships.
Zamilpa is 20-4 overall this season at 149-lbs, posting a mark of 6-1 in GPAC duals. He avenged his loss in the conference duals in the championship match of the GPAC Championships to win the 149-lbs division. Zamilpa drew the 8-seed in the NAIA Championships and with a win in his opening match, would meet up with Morningside's John Deiner for the third time this season in the next round.
Bradley Antesberger is 22-1 on season at 197-lbs with an undefeated record in conference action. In GPAC duals, he posted a mark of 8-0 and then went 4-0 at the GPAC Championships to win his division. Antesberger will be the 7-seed at the national championship meet, receiving a bye in the first round.
Brandon Antesberger is 20-4 on the season at 285-lbs and went 6-1 in GPAC duals. He took second place at the GPAC Championships to earn his bid to nationals. He will enter the national tournament unseeded.
Scarponi is 20-6 on the year and went 6-2 in GPAC duals this year at 174-lbs. He finished second in the GPAC Championships to claim his bid to nationals. Scarponi will take the 12-seed heading into nationals and receives a bye in the opening round of action.
Cornwell went 20-6 on the year at 184-lbs, with a 7-1 record in GPAC action. He finished third in the GPAC Championships and is an alternate for the national championships in his weight class.