WILKES ROUTS NAIA CHAMPION, RUSSELL
AND SMITH SHARE TITLE
Junior transfer, Nick Wilkes and sophomore co-champions, Neil Russell
and Russell Smith wrestled their way to victory at the Cobber Open in
Moorhead on November 18, winning their weight classes at 197 and 174
respectively. Wilkes had two pins including one over NAIA National
Champion, Justin Schlect of Dickinson State at 5:50 in the championship
match. Russell and Smith shared claim of the 174 weight class title.
Smith had a 55 second pin over Weston Frahm of Morningside in the first
round at 174 pounds. Also placing in the top five from SCSU was
sophomore Sonny Silva (5th, 133), first year Tim Whitley (5th, 141),
junior Matt Steffenson (5th, 165), and junior Jairo Sandoval (5th, 184).
HEAD COACH STEVE COSTANZO
Steve Costanzo begins his first season as the Husky head wrestling
coach during the 2006-07 season. He becomes the 13th coach in the
history of the St. Cloud State University wrestling program, which
dates back to 1949-50. Costanzo is in his eighth season overall
as a head coach. He has spent the last seven years at Dana
College in Blair, NE
where he amassed an overall record of 61-30-2 while coaching 74
NAIA National Qualifiers, 31 NAIA All-Americans and two National
Champions. Costanzo led Dana College to the NAIA National
Championship in 2006 (with a tourney record 193 points) and a NWCA
National Duals Championship in 2006.
SCSU RESULTS FROM COBBER OPEN
125 Nick Wasche
0-2, did not place
133 Sonny Silva
5-2, 5th place over D. Bomstad (MSU Moorhead) 6-4
141 Brent Johnson
3-2, did not place
141 Tim Whitley
3-1, 5th place over J. Denney (Unattached)
141 Matt Jackson
1-2, did not place
149 Bryce Mackey
2-2, did not place
165 Matt Steffenson
3-2, 5th place over N. Zunwalt (UNA) by Major Dec. 14-6
165 Tom Anderson
0-2, did not place
174 Russell Smith
3-0, Co-Champion, Pinned Weston Frahm (Morningside)
174 Neil Russell
2-0, Co-Champion, won two matches by decision
184 Jairo Sandoval
4-2, 5th place over T. Nueman (Concordia) by dec. 4-3
184 Adam Hill
1-2, did not place
197 Nick Wilkes
4-0, Champion: pinned Justin Schlect (Dickinson) at 5:50
285 Brandon Thiebault
1-2, did not place
Overall Records
(wt.) W-L (Pins)
Nick Wasche (125) 4-4 (1)
Sonny Silva (125) 7-4
Tim Whitley (133) 8-3
Brent Johnson (141) 4-4
Matt Jackson (141) 2-4
Bryce Mackey (149) 6-4 (4)
Tom Anderson (165) 0-2
Matt Steffenson (165) 3-2 - (174) 4-2 (1)
Russell Smith (174) 7-2 (3
Neil Russell (174) 4-2
Jairo Sandoval (185) 8-4 (1)
Adam Hill (185) 1-4
Nick Wilkes (197) 4-0 (2)
Brandon Thiebault (285) 1-2