Kipp Cordes' growth helps fuel DWU wrestling heading into postseason action
· Yahoo Sports
Feb. 6—MITCHELL — Growth in college wrestling rarely comes in a straight line, and for Kipp Cordes, the journey has been defined by patience, determination and perspective.
Cordes, a 5-foot-8 junior from Wall, represents the Dakota Wesleyan University men's wrestling program at 133 pounds and has steadily elevated his performance since first stepping on campus as a freshman.
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Now in his junior season, Cordes holds a 12-9 record and sits No. 20 in the most recent NAIA top-25 individual rankings at his weight class, emerging as one of DWU's most reliable competitors in the lineup.
"I feel like in college, you kind of just got to make things simple and really focus on what you need to work on," Cordes said. "And I love college wrestling. I believe God has brought me here. There is no other place I would want to be, so I am just trying to get better every day for my team."
Cordes is one of four Tigers currently ranked in the NAIA top 25, joining Jagger Tyler (174 pounds, No. 14), Teagan Foreman (174, No. 15) and Jackson Remmers (165, No. 20). Their individual success has translated to team success, as well. In the most recent Great Plains Athletic Conference standings released Jan. 27, DWU was ranked No. 2 with 157 vote points, trailing only Doane (207).
The Tigers' roster also reflects a strong in-state presence. Thirteen of DWU's 20 wrestlers are from South Dakota, including Cordes, who chose to stay close to home after a standout high school career.
"I swear South Dakota wrestlers are as tough as they come and they're gritty," Cordes said. "We all love the sport, and the majority of our team is from around the area so that makes the team camaraderie that much better. But everyone on the team tells jokes, and we all just try to keep this tough sport fun."
Cordes' wrestling foundation was built at Wall High School, where he was a four-year starter for the Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall squad known as the Badlands Brawlers. He qualified for the Class B state tournament three times, finishing seventh as a freshman at 106 pounds with a 26-8 record. As a sophomore, he placed third at 106 pounds and went 31-4.
His junior season saw him move to 120 pounds, where he finished fourth at state with a 40-4 overall record. A knee injury limited his senior year, but he still finished 12-3 and capped his high school career with an overall record of 109-19.
"I love scrapping with my boys and going live in practice because I think that has made me into a better wrestler, especially in high school," Cordes said. "My high school wrestling room made me tough and gritty. And I know that still conveys into my college wrestling now, as well."
Cordes arrived at DWU in the 2023-24 season and competed at 125 pounds as a freshman, posting a solid 14-11 record. His sophomore season, however, tested him in new ways. After undergoing knee surgery for the second time in his wrestling career later in the season, Cordes still opened the year at the DWU Open with an impressive performance that included two technical falls, a major decision and a pin. He also earned dual wins against Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State that year.
Still, lingering knee issues disrupted consistency throughout his sophomore season, forcing Cordes to reevaluate how he approached training and recovery heading into his junior year with some time off due to the knee surgery.
"There's beauty in losing sometimes. It can bring you back home and humble you in a good way to make you work that much harder," Cordes said. "It has made me into a better wrestler, and although it sucked at the time, I am grateful to go through those experiences to get to where I am today."
Cordes has emphasized flexibility and preparation as part of his daily routine. Stretching, in particular, has become essential in managing his body after multiple knee surgeries and keeping him ready for competition throughout the grind of the season.
But more than anything, Cordes credits maturity and faith for his growth this year.
"I would say my belief in God most of all," Cordes said. "I get really nervous sometimes, and I am kind of a warrior by nature but the Lord brings me back home. He is my foundation, so that's how I stay peaceful for every match.
"That mindset has made me more mature," he added. "It's made me live in the here, now and the present. You can't worry about the future. You can't look back at the past too much. I just try to do my very best and work my butt off, and then enjoy it while it's happening."
Dakota Wesleyan is gearing up for the GPAC Championships and NAIA national qualifier on Feb. 20-21 at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.