St. Cloud State Update

February 8, 2010

The Matches:
Feb. 11 - #9 St. John’s at #9 St. Cloud State - 7 p.m.
Feb. 14 - #3 Upper Iowa at #9 St. Cloud State - 2 p.m.

HUSKIES HEADLINERS:

• The #9 St. Cloud State University wrestling team (12-6, 4-1 NSIC) will continue its 2009-10 season on Feb. 11 with a 7 p.m. match at home against Stearns County rival St. John’s University.  SCSU will complete its homestand on Feb. 14, with a Valentine’s Day dual match against #3 Upper Iowa at 2 p.m.  Both matches will be held in Halenbeck Hall, and tickets can be purchased at the gate.  Fans can watch the matches at SCSU live via the web through the Penn Atlantic streaming service.  Check out the Husky Home Page at www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics for details.
• The match on Feb. 11 will be Prep Night at SCSU.  All youth (up to 12th grade) will be admitted for just $1 to this match.  For groups interested in attending this event, please call Steve Costanzo at 320-308-2996.   The match on Feb. 14, will also mark Senior Day at SCSU.  SCSU seniors who will be recognized on Sunday include Ted Saatzer, Jake Roberts and Adam Minnette.  
• SCSU now owns a 12-6 dual match record (4-1 NSIC) in 2009-10.  SCSU is ranked #9 in the nation at the DII level in the latest polls.  
• In the latest NCAA Division II Super Region #3 rankings, the Huskies gained a 3rd place rating with 43 points.  Upper Iowa was 1st at 64 points and Augustana was 2nd at 61.  SCSU wrestlers ranked in the region were as follows: Trent Herold (6th at 125), Shane McQuade (3rd at 133), Gabe Suarez (4th at 141), Jake Horn (6th at 149), John Sundgren (2nd at 157), Tad Merritt (2nd at 165), Shamus O’Grady (4th at 174), Derek Skala (2nd at 184), Lucas Munkelwitz (2nd at 197) and Jacob Kahnke (2nd at 285).
• Jacob Kahnke owns a 9-match win streak going into the SJU match, and he is now 24-3 this season at 285-pounds.  He currently ranks 6th in the nation at 285-pounds.
• Lucas Munkelwitz owns a 6th place national ranking at 197-pounds this winter.  He is 24-6 this year for the Huskies.
• Derek Skala is 20-7 this year for SCSU, and he has moved up to the #3 spot in the NCAA DII ranking at 184-pounds.  Skala has gained wins in his last five outings.
• The Huskies will battle two nationally ranked teams this week.  SJU is ranked #9 in the latest NCAA Division III national polls, while NSIC rival Upper Iowa is #3 in the national poll and #1 in the regional poll.  Upper Iowa is 12-1 this season and most recently posted a 19-18 win over Augie on Feb. 7.   Last year, SCSU defeated SJU 17-16 in Collegeville, and lost to Upper Iowa 21-18 in Fayette, Iowa.
• SCSU will be led on the mats this season by team captains junior Gabe Suarez, junior Derek Skala, junior John Sundgren and sophomore Tad Merritt.
• The Huskies finished the 2009-10 season with an 8-5 record and a 5-2 record against NSIC schools.  SCSU placed second at the 2009 NCAA regional meet and 8th at the 2009 NCAA Division II championships.
• Remember, all SCSU students are admitted FREE to all home wrestling matches with a valid student ID card.
• SCSU was ranked 9th in the latest DII national rankings.  SCSU is tied for ninth with Nebraska-Kearney.  Nebraska-Omaha maintained its #1 national ranking this week, while NSIC rivals Upper Iowa (3rd), Augustana (6th) and Minnesota State (7th) are also ranked in the top 10 this week. 
  

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS and AREA YOUTH: Attend the 2010 SCSU Wrestling Prep Night on Feb. 11 vs. St. John’s.  All high school, junior high and elementary students will be admitted for just $1 for this exciting cross county dual.