Doane's Boldmaa earns GPAC, NAIA wrestler of the week honors

CRETE, NE — After a very successful week at one of the biggest NAIA wrestling tournaments of the year outside of the national championships a Doane wrestler has earned conference and nationwide honors. 

The Tigers' Baterdene "Baagii" Boldmaa brought home Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Wrestler of the Week awards, it was announced Wednesday. 

Boldmaa defeated three nationally ranked wrestlers last week at the NWCA Multi-Division National Duals. 

The senior from Mongolia who wrestles at 141 pounds, beat NAIA No. 4 Caden Manion from Oklahoma City via 10-7 decision. He then defeated NAIA No. 6 Kyle Kantola of Indiana Tech 10-3. Boldmaa's final match was against No. 3 Park Dobrocky of Southeastern (Fla.). Boldmaa won 9-7. 

No. 4 Doane finished the invite tournament — which pits the highest finishing teams from the previous season's national championship tournament and some of the highest ranking teams from the current season against one another — in third place. The Tigers opened the 16-team dual tournament with a win over No. 19 Oklahoma 39-6 then defeated No. 5 Indiana Tech 19-13 in the quarterfinals. 

Doane fell to No. 1 Grand View 36-0 before taking down No. 3 Southeastern 24-11 in the bronze medal dual. 

Boldmaa and Doane are back in action Friday for a GPAC dual at Concordia.