St. Cloud State University wrestlers ready for challenge of new season
Courtesy of SCSU Wrestling
October 24, 2006
“A new outlook, new blood, and a new philosophy are all going to
bring more enthusiasm this season,” said first year head coach Steve Costanzo (pictured) about the upcoming 2006-07 season for the St. Cloud State University wrestling team.
After
coaching the 2006 NAIA Championship team at Dana College, Costanzo
comes to SCSU with high hopes and an enthusiasm for building a program.
He states, “Our team is very young, and may be inexperienced at
the college level, but we are very talented, competitive and this will
work in our favor for the future,” Costanzo said.
Each weight is heavily competitive this year as thirty-three athletes
are out for the team. Battling for the 125-pound slot will be sophomore
Nick Wasche and true-freshman Gabriel Suarez. Wasche wrestled at this
weight last season, posting an 8-20 record. Suarez, a native of Las
Vegas, Nevada, is a three time state finalist and one time state
champion, and will come in ranked no.16 nationally by Wrestling USA
Magazine.
Weighing in at 133 will be Sonny Silva and Brent Johnson. Sophomore
Silva, a transfer from Dana College, familiar with Costanzo’s
philosophy and coaching techniques, won 26 matches as a true-freshman,
was the GPAC conference champion, national qualifier and was ranked
fourth in the region. Johnson, a junior from Altoona, Wisc., charted
five victories last season and placed fifth at the NCAA DII North
Region Championships.
“Our middle weights are going to be the most competitive. The
athletes will have to show their determination and skill to earn a
starting position,” Coach Costanzo said.
The most competitive of the middleweights this season will be 141
pounds where John Denney, Grant Johnson, Bryce Mackey and Tim Whitley
will be among the top competitors at this slot. First year athletes
Denney and Grant Johnson, and sophomore Mackey are both going to have
to stand out against Whitley, a true freshman, who was a four-time
Washington state placer and two-time state finalist.
Veteran team captain Tom Messerli
(pictured) will be challenged at the 149-pound slot by freshman John
Sundgren. Messerli had a 3-10 record last season at 149 pounds, and
took sixth at the North Central Region Championships.
Freshman Derek Skala will be the first challenger for the 157-pound
weight, coming off a state championship season at Owatanna High School.
Junior college-transfer and All-American wrestler, Matt Steffenson will
also compete at the 165 and 174 weights.
Two returnees will battle Steffenson and two first year Huskies for the
165 pound starting position. Sophomore Tom Anderson was 3-11 last
season while senior Loren Johnson sat out last season.
After taking fourth in the nation, Steffenson will compete against 2005
Minnesota state champion and Dana College transfer Russell Smith for
the 174 weight. Hometown wrestler, Neil Russell will also battle for
this spot, coming off a 3-8 record at 184 pounds last season.
Nicholas Wilkes a transfer from Dana College will compete for the 184
slot. Wilkes is a two-time Junior College All-American in 2004 &
2005, placing sixth overall both years. He charted seventeen wins
unattached last season as he red-shirted at Dana. Jairo Sandovall, a
junior from Miami, Florida, will challenge him for the slot after
wrestling at 197 last year.
The two upper weights, 197 and heavyweight, will be competitive as
Nicholas Wilkes, Eric Rogness, and Adam Hill will all compete for the
197 weight, and junior Brad Nowak and newcomer Brandon Thiebault will
compete for heavyweight.
“Our goal this season is to take small steps, to build each week
upon our performances,” said Coach Costanzo, “If we take it
one step at a time, we will improve immensely from last season.”
Last season was highlighted by two wrestlers placing in the top six at
the NCAA DII North Region Championship, Brent Johnson (5th) at 133
pounds and Tom Messerli (6th) at 149 pounds.
“We have a very tough region but with our great attitudes and
talent we should be competitive,” Coach Costanzo said about the
region.
The Huskies haven’t set numerical goals for the new season, but
they work off the motto “Bound for Glory,” which reminds
them that if they work hard, use their talents and continue to improve
that they will remain competitive all season.