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St. Olaf announces team captains

September 17, 2008

Sophomore transfer Justin Skillings and returning Junior Dan Rysavy have been named captains for St. Olaf College Wrestling for the 2008-2009 season.

Skillings, a Detroit Lakes native and Frazee High School graduate, as well as a sophomore transfer from the University of North Dakota was a three-time Minnesota State tournament qualifier including a third place finish in 2007. Justin finished his senior season with an impressive 39-6 record. In his high school career, he compiled 165 high school career wins. While at Frazee, Justin was the recipient of the most valuable wrestler and most pins award. His other accomplishments include a first place finish in the Greco State Championships in 2004 and finishing in the top ten at the Las Vegas Junior National Championships in both freestyle and Greco in 2006. He was also on the 2005 Minnesota National Greco Team. "Justin is a leader and a scholar athlete who excels both in the classroom and on the mat," said St. Olaf Coach Sean Ahrar. "He will bring much success and leadership to our team and I am very proud to have the pleasure of coaching him in his successful years at St. Olaf."

Returning Junior Dan Rysavy will be in his second year as a the Oles' Captain. The 2006 Pacelli High School (Austin, MN) graduate compiled an impressive 149 high school career wins. He finished fifth as a freshman at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championships and currently holds the third best Oles' record in the past three years after graduated wrestlers Steven Wood and Thomas Kopietz. "Dan represents all a wrestling coach looks for in a captain," said Ahrar. "He is intense both in practice and competition and leads the team by example of hard work on the mat and producing winning records in competition."

"I am very excited about the new era in St. Olaf wrestling lead by Justin and Dan," said Ahrar. A third captain will be voted by the team at a later date in the season.

The Oles boast a line up of twenty wrestlers with twelve freshmen and eight returners. St. Olaf College has been climbing the improvement laddar every year and recruiting continues to be very successful. This past summer, thirty-three Minnesota high school seniors with 2008 Guillotine Academic All-State honors visited the campus.

The Oles open their season with their home opener against Concordia College, Moorhead on Thursday, November 20th at 7 p.m. at the Skoglund Gymnasium.