Doane Athletics
Rick Schmuecker
CRETE – Doane head wrestling coach Dana Vote has added one of his former wrestlers to his 2019-20 coaching staff. Ceron Francisco will join the Tigers after assisting as a RTC Resident/Scholastic Coach for the Cavalier Wrestling Club at the University of Virginia.
A three-time all-conference performer at Concordia (Neb.), Francisco was the GPAC Wrestler of the Year in the 2016-17 season. He finished as the NAIA runner-up during his senior campaign at 285. A two-time All-American, he placed sixth at nationals in 2014-15. He was tabbed the GPAC Wrestler of the Week three times during his career.
Francisco will continue to train while at Doane with his eyes set on qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in free style wrestling for Team USA. He narrowly missed out on qualifying for the trials to participate at the World Championships in 2019. In the last USA national ratings released by themat.com, Francisco was 10th at 285.