2022 SJU Football Week 4

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GAMEDAY PREVIEW

Today’s Matchup: Saint John’s totaled 585 yards of offense, including 351 through the air, in a 49-10 win last Saturday (Oct. 15) at St. Olaf. Junior quarterback Aaron Syverson ended the day 26 of 40 passing for five touchdowns, including three to senior tight end Alex Larson. Syverson connected with senior wide receiver Nick VanErp for a 58yard touchdown on the Johnnies’ first play from scrimmage. VanErp finished with career highs in catches (8) and receiving yards (141), marking the first 100-yard receiving performance of his collegiate career. Gustavus Adolphus broke a 7-7 tie early in the second quarter and scored 37 unanswered points to record a 44-7 road win last weekend at Hamline. Quarterback George Sandven passed for 336 yards and two touchdowns, and 10 of his passes went to running back Dalton Thelen for 98 yards. Matthew Carreon tallied six receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. Defensive back Ezekiel Sundberg intercepted two passes and returned one 89 yards for a touchdown with 1:57 remaining.

Series History: Today’s game is the 88th meeting between Saint John’s and Gustavus Adolphus. The Johnnies are 5232-3 all-time against the Gusties, including a 27-11-1 record here in Collegeville. SJU has won 32 of the last 34 meetings overall. The 23-20, double-overtime win for Gustavus in 2013 was the first for the Gusties at home, in the series, since Oct. 11, 1986 (28-20).

Hot Hand: Syverson has a 178.88 pass-efficiency rating (62 of 98 passing for 925 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions) over his last three games.

One Touchdown From Bell: Senior running back Henry Trost led the Johnnies’ ground game with 79 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries last Saturday at St. Olaf. Trost’s

second-quarter, rushing touchdown was his sixth of the season, 39th of his career and 44th overall as a Johnnie (39 rushing, five receiving). He is now one touchdown behind Rick Bell ‘83 (45) for fourthmost in SJU history and nine rushing touchdowns behind the program record of 48 held by Matt Malmberg ‘95 and Sam Sura ‘16.

Larson Keeps Climbing: Larson caught three passes, all for touchdowns, totaling 41 yards last Saturday. The three touchdown receptions enabled him to pass Jared Streit ‘19 (14) and move into a tie with Tom Ramboldt ‘92 for second place among SJU tight ends with 15 in his career. Nate Kirschner ‘01 owns the program record with 19. The three catches also lifted Larson past Ramboldt (68) and Isaac Flenner ‘05 (69) into seventh among SJU tight ends with 70. Larson is currently tied for the MIAC lead with seven touchdown receptions and is second on the team, behind junior wideout Jimmy Buck (41 receptions for 607 yards), in both catches (35) and receiving yards (456) this fall.

Wheels: Freshman running back Caden Wheeler tied for the second-fastest, 40-yard-dash time - 4.58 seconds - in August and it showed last Saturday when he closed the game’s scoring with a 68-yard touchdown run. The rush was SJU’s longest since Trost, then a freshman, sprinted for an 80-yard touchdown run against…you guessed it, St. Olaf… on Oct. 20, 2018, in Collegeville.

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On March 15, 1920, a formal constitution was adopted and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) was born, with Carleton, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, Macalester, Saint John’s, St. Olaf and St. Thomas as charter members. MIAC conference championships were first awarded in the sports of baseball, tennis and track & field with football and basketball added the following year. Presently, the MIAC consists of 13 collegiate institutions (two women’s-only), 10 of which compete in football.

Saint John’s won its first conference title in 1932 under the direction of head coach Joe Benda. The Johnnies won two more under Benda and another under the direction of long-time athletic director George Durenberger in 1938. Fifteen years later, a 27year old head coach named John Gagliardi won the first of his 27 MIAC titles.

PERCENTAGE OF MIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS WON SINCE 1953

ALL-TIME MIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

St. MacalesterScholasticaAugsburgCar HamlineletonSt. Olaf

Northwoods Division

Skyline Division

University of WisconsinRiver Falls Falcons

Head Coach: Matt Walker

2022 Record: 4-2

2022 WIAC Record: 2-1

Sept. 3 at Elmhurst, Ill. W, 63-0 Sept. 10 at Saint John’s L, 34-37 Sept. 17 Northwestern, Minn. W, 63-27 Oct. 1 UW-Stevens Point W, 56-3 Oct. 8 UW-Oshkosh W, 27-24 Oct. 15 at UW-Platteville L, 14-21 Oct. 22 UW-Eau Claire 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at UW-Whitewater 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at UW-La Crosse 1 p.m. Nov. 12 UW-Stout 1 p.m.

St. Olaf College Oles

Head Coach: James Kilian 2022 Record: 3-3

2022 MIAC Record: 2-2

Sept. 3 at Central, Iowa L, 13-44 Sept. 10 Luther, Iowa W, 55-27 Sept. 24 at Macalester W, 38-32 Oct. 1 Augsburg W, 41-36 Oct. 8 at Carleton L, 7-26 Oct. 15 Saint John’s L, 10-49 Oct. 22 at St. Scholastica 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Bethel 1 p.m. Nov. 5 Gustavus Adolphus 1 p.m. Nov. 12 MIAC Week 1 p.m.

Bethel University Royals

Head Coach: Steve Johnson

2022 Record: 5-1

2022 MIAC Record: 4-0

Sept. 3 Pacific Lutheran, Wash. W, 41-9 Sept. 10 at UW-Platteville L, 7-10 Sept. 24 Saint John’s W, 28-24 Oct. 1 at Gustavus Adolphus W, 30-27 Oct. 8 Hamline W, 49-14 Oct. 15 Concordia W, 45-7 Oct. 22 at Macalester 1 p.m. Oct. 29 St. Olaf 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Augsburg 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at MIAC Week 1 p.m.

Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties

Head Coach: Peter Haugen

2022 Record: 4-2

2022 MIAC Record: 3-1

Sept. 3 at Buena Vista, Iowa W, 62-20 Sept. 17 UW-Stout L, 25-28 Sept. 24 at Concordia W, 23-6 Oct. 1 Bethel L, 27-30 Oct. 8 St. Scholastica W, 77-7 Oct. 15 at Hamline W, 44-7 Oct. 22 at Saint John’s 1 p.m. Oct. 29 Carleton 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at St. Olaf 1 p.m. Nov. 12 MIAC Week 1 p.m.

Concordia College Cobbers

Head Coach: Terry Horan

2022 Record: 3-3

2022 MIAC Record: 1-3

Sept. 1 at Valley City State, N.D. W, 14-12 Sept. 10 at Presentation, S.D. W, 42-13 Sept. 24 Gustavus Adolphus L, 6-23 Oct. 1 at Saint John’s L, 28-35 Oct. 8 Macalester W, 36-7 Oct. 15 at Bethel L, 7-45 Oct. 22 Carleton 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Augsburg 1 p.m. Nov. 5 Hamline 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at MIAC Week 1 p.m.

College of St. Scholastica Saints

Head Coach: Mike Heffernan

2022 Record: 2-4

2022 MIAC Record: 1-3

Sept. 3 at Sewanee, Tenn. L, 0-50 Sept. 17 at Crown W, 63-14 Sept. 24 at Augsburg L, 13-50 Oct. 1 Hamline W, 43-42 Oct. 8 at Gustavus Adolphus L, 7-77 Oct. 15 at Carleton L, 20-56 Oct. 22 St. Olaf 1 p.m. Oct. 29 Saint John’s 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Macalester 1 p.m. Nov. 12 MIAC Week 1 p.m.

University of WisconsinWhitewater Warhawks

Head Coach: Kevin Bullis 2022 Record: 5-1

2022 WIAC Record: 3-0

Sept. 3 at Saint John’s L, 10-24 Sept. 10 Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas W, 28-24 Sept. 17 at Berry, Ga. W, 17-3 Oct. 1 at UW-La Crosse W, 34-31 Oct. 8 at UW-Eau Claire W, 45-24 Oct. 14 UW-Oshkosh W, 17-3 Oct. 22 at UW-Platteville 1 p.m. Oct. 29 UW-River Falls 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at UW-Stout 1 p.m. Nov. 12 UW-Stevens Point 1 p.m.

Augsburg University Auggies

Head Coach: Derrin Lamker

2022 Record: 4-2

2022 MIAC Record: 2-2

Sept. 3 at Northwestern, Minn. W, 23-15 Sept. 17 at Martin Luther W, 45-7 Sept. 24 St. Scholastica W, 50-13 Oct. 1 at St. Olaf L, 36-41 Oct. 8 Saint John’s L, 0-45 Oct. 15 at Macalester W, 42-21 Oct. 22 at Hamline 1 p.m. Oct. 29 Concordia 1 p.m. Nov. 5 Bethel 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at MIAC Week 1 p.m.

Carleton College Knights

Head Coach: Tom Journell 2022 Record: 6-0 2022 MIAC Record: 4-0

Sept. 10 Crown W, 84-20 Sept. 17 Minnesota-Morris W, 41-7 Sept. 24 at Hamline W, 45-12 Oct. 1 Macalester W, 56-27 Oct. 8 St. Olaf W, 26-7 Oct. 15 St. Scholastica W, 56-20 Oct. 22 at Concordia 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Gustavus Adolphus 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Saint John’s 1 p.m. Nov. 12 MIAC Week 1 p.m.

BRING IT HOME BRING IT HOME

GARY’S OPENED IN 1982.

In 1982, the Johnnies went 9-0 and have had a winning record ever since.

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Thank you CSB and SJU Students, Staff & Alumni for over 40 great years!

BEHIND THE SCENES

Football is a family vocation in the Heckendorf clan.

Keith Heckendorf was an All-American quarterback at St. Cloud State University who is now in his fourth season as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas State.

Younger brother Kole, meanwhile, was an All-American wide receiver at North Dakota State who spent time with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers and Indianapolis Colts.

He is now in his 10th season as an assistant coach at SJU, and his fifth as the Johnnies’ offensive coordinator.

“It’s the people here and what Saint John’s represents as a football program,” he said, explaining what makes being in Collegeville so special. “I’ve been around football my whole life. And what (head coach) Gary (Fasching) does, and what the entire coaching staff does, is the right approach to the game.

“It’s a program I’m really proud to be a part of.”

Of the 14 members of the Johnnies coaching staff (full-time, part-time and volunteer), Heckendorf is unique in that he is the only one who didn’t attend SJU.

But he said the place seems like home just the same.

“I’ve been here 10 years now so I’m a Saint John’s guy,” he said with a laugh. “I was only at NDSU for five years. So I’ve been here twice as long.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Heckendorf is assisted by Josh Bungum (running backs), Mike Magnuson (offensive line), Ben Eli (offensive line) and Adam Magarian (student assistant, wide receivers).

“They’re all great guys to work with,” Heckendorf said. “I coached Josh as a wide receiver my first season here and he’s a real student of the game. Working with him is fantastic. Mags and Ben Eli do a great job with our offensive line and Adam is doing a great job for us as well.

“It’s a really good group.”

BRING

BRING

MATT MOHR & DARIAN

Their final seasons at Saint John’s University have unfolded in very different ways.

But senior wide receivers Matt Mohr and Darian Washington are each making their own valuable contributions.

Many of Mohr’s, frustratingly, have come off the field. The veteran earned All-MIAC first-team honors a year ago, and caught 37 passes for 630 yards and two touchdowns in 2019 while helping lead SJU to a berth in the NCAA Division III national semifinals for the first time since 2003 (the Johnnies did not play games in 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic).

He made the decision to come back for a fifth season this fall. But the hamstring issues that have hampered him throughout his collegiate career resurfaced. He had two catches for 19 yards in a 24-10 victory over Wisconsin-Whitewater in the season opener, then was out-of-action until a 45-0 victory at Augsburg on Oct. 8.

He was reinjured in that game, suffering a hamstring tear that has rendered his return to the field this season uncertain.

“It’s been difficult,” said Mohr, a Chisago Lakes High School graduate who is majoring in global business leadership.

“One of my biggest concerns about coming back was getting injured again. That’s why it actually took me awhile to make my decision. So to have that fear actually play out has been hard.

“But I don’t regret coming back at all. I still get to be out here with my friends every day. I love being part of this team.”

SJU head coach Gary Fasching would love to have Mohr back on the field, but he said the veteran leadership he provides is still valuable, even if he can’t suit up on Saturdays.

“Any time you get a fifth-year guy back, it helps a lot,” Fasching said. “Matt has played a lot of football for us and he knows what we’re trying to do. He can pass that knowledge on to the younger guys. He’s a natural leader who does everything we ask of him and he’s highly respected by his teammates.”

Washington, meanwhile, has played an expanded role in SJU’s aerial attack, especially in a 35-28 Homecoming victory over Concordia on Oct. 1 at Clemens Stadium. He finished with three catches

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for 91 yards in that matchup, including a 47-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

This marks the communication major’s second season at SJU after spending three seasons at Division II St. Cloud State from 2017-19. He redshirted his first year, saw playing time in 2018 and had a key role in the offense in 2019, recording a pair of touchdowns.

But the Huskies elected to drop their program following that season and the 6-foot-3, 190-pound St. Cloud Tech High School graduate found a new home at SJU. He arrived in 2020, though the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out that season.

Which meant last year marked his first time seeing action in a Johnnies’ uniform.

“I didn’t really know what I was going to do after I heard the program (at St. Cloud State) was being dropped,” he said. “Part of me thought I’d just stay there and finish my degree. But I got a call from the coaches out here inviting me to come visit. I did and I really liked what I saw.

“It was hard because we didn’t play in 2020, and I felt like I was still learning the offense last year. But now I’ve had more time to connect with guys like (quarterback) Aaron (Syverson) and I feel a lot more confident in what I’m doing.”

Fasching has certainly been pleased by what he’s seen.

“Darian is a guy who’s willing to do whatever it takes to help the team,” Fasching said. “Whenever we’ve needed him to make plays, he’s come through for us.”

Much to the delight of his fellow receivers.

“We all love Darian,” Mohr said. “We call him Uncle D. He may not have been here all four years. But he’s an older guy who’s been around and has played a lot of football. He’s a great teammate and it’s cool to see him getting the chance to make plays.”

Mohr may or may not have the chance to make a few more

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plays himself. But he said he plans to make the most of whatever role he finds himself in the remainder of this season.

“I really want to get back on the field,” he said. “I’m not sure if that’s going to be possible or not. If it is, that will be great. But even if it’s not, I’m going to try and help out any way I can.”

FEATURED ON THE COVER MATT MOHR & DA RIAN WASHINGTON

JOHNNIES IN THE NFL

worked his way into a spot in the starting lineup in his third season as a pro, though he was recently placed on injured reserve.

But despite his success, Bartch has always remained humble – a trait he said his SJU experience helped instill.

for the Johnnies returned to his alma mater as head football coach from 1950-52 before stepping down and giving way to a young coaching prospect from Montana named John Gagliardi prior to the 1953 season.

Ben Bartch didn’t start his career at Saint John’s University as a surefire NFL prospect.

In fact, the graduate of Blanchet Catholic School in Salem, Ore., arrived in Collegeville as a 230-pound tight end in the fall of 2016, and only switched to offensive tackle following his sophomore season.

But through a combination of hard work in the weight room and repeated consumption of his now-famous (or infamous) protein shake recipe (ingredients included seven scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, quick grits, peanut butter, bananas and Gatorade), he put on over 50 pounds and went on to start for two seasons – earning AllMIAC and All-America honors.

He earned MIAC Lineman of the Year honors in 2019, while leading the Johnnies to a berth in the NCAA Division III semifinals for the first time in 16 years. An invitation to the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl – the premiere all-star showcase for players from every level of college football – followed.

His performance in the practices leading up to the game turned the heads of many NFL scouts in attendance, even if an injury kept him out of the contest itself.

And in April of 2020, he was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, becoming the first SJU draft choice since 1974. After moving from tackle to guard, he has now

“Saint John’s is about altruistically serving others and living the Rule of St. Benedict everyday as though it was your last,” he said. “Saint John’s is as strong as the people within it, and from employees and coaches to professors and students, there are a lot of extraordinary people there.”

NOTABLE JOHNNIES IN THE NFL

John ‘Blood’ McNally ’24 – One of the true stars of the NFL’s early years, the colorful McNally spent 14 seasons in the pro game, including two alongside the legendary Ernie Nevers with the old Duluth (Minnesota) Eskimos. But it is his years with the Green Bay Packers for which he is best remembered. McNally helped lead Green Bay to NFL titles in 1929, ’30, ’31 and ’36. The ‘Vagabond Halfback’ was also an All-NFL first-team pick in 1931 and aa second-team pick in 1929 and ‘30.

He was one of 17 players selected as charter members of the NFL Hall of Fame in 1963. The former standout in football, basketball, track and baseball

John McDowell ’64 – After helping lead Saint John’s to the program’s first national title with a victory in the 1963 NAIA championship game, McDowell went on to a six-season professional career.

The bruising lineman was drafted by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and spent his first season playing for the legendary Vince Lombardi in 1964. He then spent the 1965 season with the New York Giants and the 1966 season with the St. Louis Cardinals before playing three seasons in the Canadian Football League with the BC Lions.

Rick Bell ’83 – An All-American running back out of Rocori (Minnesota) High School who rushed for 2,630 yards during his career at Saint John’s, Bell went on to play the 1983 season with the Minnesota Vikings, seeing action as a kick returner.

He returned the following year and was one of the last players cut in training camp by new head coach Les Steckel, who had taken over after the retirement of Bud Grant.

John’s University vs. Gustavus Adolphus

Jacksonville Jaguar and Former Johnnie Ben Bartch

JOHNNIE OFFENSE

BY

Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School

Joey Gendreau Fr. TE 6-3 220 Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka

Matt Mohr Sr. WR 6-0 200 Chisago City, Minn./Chisago Lakes

Takhi Vaughn Fr. RB 5-9 175 Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie

Dylan Wheeler Fr. WR 6-3 200 St. Paul, Minn./Mounds View

Zander Dittbenner Fr. QB 6-0 190 Mankato, Minn./West

Hamza Malim So. WR 5-11 180 Edina, Minn./Edina

Henry Trost Sr. RB 5-10 205 Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes

Aaron Syverson Jr. QB 6-0 190 Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka

Nick VanErp Sr. WR 5-11 170 Battle Lake, Minn./Ottertail Central

Alex Larson Sr. TE 6-7 240 Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge

Troy Feddema Jr. RB 5-10 200 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

Charlie Ryks Fr. QB 6-0 190 Maple Grove, Minn./Breck

Jimmy Buck Jr. WR 6-4 210 Orono, Minn./Orono

Conor Murphy So. K 5-10 180 Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman

Kristoff Kowalkowski So. QB 6-2 210 St. Cloud, Minn./Totino-Grace

Lucas Jansky Fr. QB 5-11 185 Kimball, Minn./Kimball Area

Carson Cyr Fr. K/P 5-11 190 Andover, Minn./Andover

Darian Washington Sr. WR 6-3 190 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

Tommy Barrett Fr. WR 5-9 165 Ramsey, Minn./Anoka

Cale Wolf So. QB 6-3 230 Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes

Jake Deutschman Fr. QB 6-1 200 Ramsey, Minn./Anoka

Lukas Soto Jr. WR 6-1 190 Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee

Nick Peterson Jr. QB 6-3 210 Brooklyn Park, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s

Sanders Asplin Jr. WR 5-10 190 Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato

Wyatt Sawatzke Fr. WR 6-3 205 Monticello, Minn./Monticello

Josh Kirchoff Fr. WR 6-0 180 Carver, Minn./Chanhassen

Graham Beltrand So. WR 6-4 210 Long Lake, Minn./Orono

Jack Foster Fr. TE 6-6 240 Mankato, Minn./West

Christian Solberg Fr. WR 5-9 180 Detroit Lakes, Minn./Detroit Lakes

Tony Underwood Jr. RB 5-9 180 Eagan, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

A.J. Loch So. WR 6-1 190 Kildeer, Ill./Stevenson

Caden Wheeler Fr. RB 5-10 195 Andover, Minn./Andover

Quinn Christoffersen So. RB 5-10

Aaron Sears So. WR 6-0

Jakari Hunnecook Jr. WR 5-7

Kane Mahoney Fr. RB 6-0

Henry Truebenbach So. RB 6-1

Brady VanErp So. WR 6-1

Grant Ostlund Fr. WR

St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul

Darien, Conn./Darien

Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry

Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo

Cambridge, Minn./Milaca

Battle Lake, Minn./Ottertail Central

CONSTRUCTION

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School

Nick McKenzie So. OL 6-1 280 New London, Minn./New London-Spicer

Lucas Black So. OL 6-0 235 Mendota Heights, Minn./Hill-Murray

Spencer Gustin So. OL 6-2 270 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

Grant Peroutka So. OL 6-1 265 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount

Tom Soler So. OL 6-2 290 Circle Pines, Minn./Hill-Murray

Eddie Reece Fr. OL 6-5 270 Hudson, Wis./Hill-Murray

Jack Hagen Fr. OL 6-2 270 Roseville, Minn./St. Anthony Village

58 T.J. Duerr Sr. OL 6-2 315 Buffalo, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville

59 Ethan Sutton Jr. OL 6-2 270 New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong

60 Ian DeGross Fr. OL 6-3 245 Elko, Minn./New Prague

Luc Myhre Fr. OL 6-4 260 Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan

Charlie Brophy Fr. OL 6-1 280 Maple Plain, Minn./Orono

Joe Vascellaro So. OL 6-3 290 Minneapolis, Minn./St. Thomas Academy

Joe Jaeger Sr. OL 6-2 285 Lakeville, Minn./North

Sean Lew So. OL 6-2 290 Bermuda Dunes, Calif./Shadow Hills

Luke Wright Fr. OL 6-0 265 Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury

Hank Smith Jr. OL 6-2 235 Geneva, Ill./Geneva

68 Cameron Murphy Sr. OL 6-5 310 Willmar, Minn./Willmar

69 Jaeden Frost Sr. OL 6-2 255 Omro, Wis./Omro

70 Alex Markgraf Fr. OL 6-0 280 St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville

72 Charlie Folkens So. OL 6-2 285 Rogers, Minn./Rogers

74 Logan Winters Sr. OL 6-1 270 Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge

75 Blake Ashton So. OL 6-5 315 Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge

76 Steven Huberty Sr. OL 6-1 270 Albertville, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville

77 Carter Trom So. OL 6-2 295 Blaine, Minn./Blaine

78 Jack Stevens Fr. OL 6-4 270 Eagan, Minn./Eastview

79 Tommy Hessburg So. OL 6-5 280 Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South

80 Vinny Gagliardi Jr. WR 5-9 160 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

81 Todd Jager Jr. WR 6-0 185 St. Bonifacius, Minn./Waconia

82 Matt Miller So. WR 6-2 205 Lakeville, Minn./North

83 John Hawkins Fr. WR 6-0 175 St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral

84 Peyton Gremmels Fr. WR 6-2 170 Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep

85 Trey Steinbach Fr. TE 6-4 245 Marshall, Minn./Marshall

86 Caleb Leintz So. WR 6-2 190 St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral

87 Josh Ehlen Sr. WR 6-1 190 Minneapolis, Minn./Providence Academy

88 Charlie Plum Fr. TE 6-4 210 Inver Grove Hts., Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

89 Ezra Noska Jr. WR 5-10 175 Avon, Minn./Albany

90 Isaac Klemme So. WR 6-1 170 Sheboygan Falls, Wis./Sheboygan Falls

91 Owen Amrhein Fr. WR 5-11 160 Waconia, Minn./Waconia

92 Josh Delange Fr. WR 6-4 195 Medina, Minn./Orono

93 Jack Dzubnar Fr. WR 6-2 175 St. Paul, Minn./St. Thomas Academy

94 Blake Ehlert So. WR 6-0 170 St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral

95 Spencer Ell Jr. K/P 5-11 185 Morristown, Minn./Bethlehem Academy

96 David Roberts Fr. K/P 6-3 160 West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic

DuFresne-To So.

Woodbury, Minn./Stillwater

96 Eddie Sirek Fr. WR 5-8 165 New Prague, Minn./New Prague Jr. TE 6-2 220 Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park

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Gareis Fr.

Graham Gerlach So.

River,

Rice Lake, Wis./Rice

Minn./Breckenridge

Hugo, Minn./Totino-Grace

Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden

5-10

Jones Jr. DB 6-1

St. Paul, Minn./Roseville Area

Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti

Wahlin Fr. DB 5-10 175 Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral

Metoriah Faoliu Sr. DL 6-1 270 Wildomar, Calif./Vista Murrieta

Joe Akoh Jr. DL 6-4 240 Hugo, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

Mateo Cisneros Jr. DB 5-11 190 Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View

Noah Arneson Fr. DB 6-0 185 Independence, Minn./Orono

Nate Trewick Jr. DB 5-11 185 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

Jesus Garcia Jr. DB 5-11 165 Pacoima, Calif./Chavez

Brandon Ruikka Jr. DB 6-0 190 Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial

Blake Simonson Fr. DB 5-10 165 Waconia, Minn./Waconia

Jaymeson Ungar Jr. DB 5-11 185 Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee

Ethan Stark Sr. DB 6-1 195 Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen

Ty Roelofs Sr. LB 6-1 210 Lake Lillian, Minn./Willmar

Adam Schavey Fr. LB 5-11 200 Winnebago, Minn./Blue Earth Area

Cam Jackson Jr. LB 5-10 205 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

Carter McEachern Fr. DB 6-5 205 Zimmerman, Minn./Zimmerman

Nolan Rueter So. DB 6-2 200 Avon, Minn./Albany

Jake Palmer Jr. LB 5-10 210 St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village

Lukas Theisen Sr. DB 5-10 180 St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo

Alex Harren Fr. LB 6-2 190 Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice

Jaden Kolker So. LB 5-11 210 Renville, Minn./Renville County West

Cayden Saxon Sr. DB 6-3 200 Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins

Connor Chalmers Sr. DB 6-0 175 Chaska, Minn./Holy Family Catholic

Zachariah Hunter Fr. LB 5-11 205 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area

Jack Savasten So. DB 6-2 195 Farmington, Minn./Farmington

Patrick O’Keefe Jr. DB 5-11 180 Lakeville, Minn./St. Thomas Academy

Ryan Sanvik So. DB 5-11 175 North Branch, Minn./Chisago Lakes

Jamari Edwards Sr. DB 5-10 185 Chicago, Ill./Lake Forest Academy

Chad Victorian Jr. Jr. DB 5-10 175 Lake Charles, La./LaGrange

Cole Brown Fr. LB 5-11 205 Maple Grove, Minn./Wayzata

Khalil Nance Jr. DB 6-0 185

Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School

Hayden Sanders So. LB 6-0 210 Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park

Abdul Sesay Fr. DB 5-10 170 St. Paul, Minn./Harding

Carter Seymour Sr. LB 6-2 210 New Prague, Minn./New Prague

Brock Humbert Jr. LB 5-11 200 Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori

Ben Dahl So. LB 5-9 200 Otsego, Minn./Rogers

Liam O’Malley So. DB 6-0 165 Sarasota, Fla./Booker

Joe Rossebo Sr. LB 5-11 215 Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury

Ethan Bollman Jr. DB 6-3 185 Annandale, Minn./Dassel-Cokato

Vinny Wanda Fr. DL 6-3 235 Lakeville, Minn./North

Erik Bjork Sr. LB 5-11 215 Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi

Jack Bjork Jr. LB 6-0 215 Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi

Aaron Aune Fr. LB 6-2 215 Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins

Ryan Bercich Fr. LB 6-1 210 Lakeville, Minn./Holy Angels

Kaden Lukkes Fr. LB 5-10 180 New Prague, Minn./New Prague

Dawson Van Meter So. DL 6-0 230 Frederic, Wis./Luck

54 Amari Curtis Sr. DL 6-4 250 Downers Grove, Ill./Culver Academies

55 Nick Harris Sr. DL 6-3 240 Big Lake, Minn./Big Lake

55 Drew Schmidt Fr. LB 5-9 195 St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral

57 Garret Strating Jr. LB 6-0 210 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial

58 Chad Mrachek Sr. LB 6-0 200 Orono, Minn./Orono

59 Aiden McMahon Fr. LB 6-1 195 Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove

60 Oscar Hrabe So. LB 5-11 200 St. Paul, Minn./St. Thomas Academy

61 Tommy Schaupp So. DL 6-0 195 St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville

62 Mario Montalvo Sr. LB 5-10 200 Cathedral City, Calif./Rancho Mirage

63 Jayden Leach Fr. LB 6-1 200 Bayport, Minn./Stillwater Area

64 Jack Hillmann Fr. LB 5-11 175 Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato

65 T.J. Graves Fr. DL 5-10 270 Millington, Tenn./Central

66 Keenan Turqueza Jr. LB 6-2 255 Ewa Beach, Hawaii/Radford

67 Mitch Vener Fr. DL 6-2 230 South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul

70 Caleb Thom Fr. DL 6-2 230 Minneapolis, Minn./Totino-Grace

71 Ben Karr Fr. DL 6-2 220 Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray

72 Dylan Owens Fr. DL 6-2 245 Andover, Minn./Andover

73 Jack Krza Fr. DL 6-4 220 Littleton, Colo./Mullen

75 Cole Engen Fr. DL 6-1 225 Esko, Minn./Esko

79 Anthony Chaudhary Fr. DL 6-3 230 Fridley, Minn./Totino-Grace

80 Gavin Zolvinski Fr. LB 6-1 210 La Porte, Ind./La Porte

81 Corey Steen Jr. Fr. DL 5-11 270 Dorchester, Wis./Colby

82 Etah Akoh So. DL 6-4 230 Hugo, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

Alex Lundebrek So. DL 6-4 230 Otsego, Minn./Rogers

Jacob Omtvedt Jr. DL 6-3 220 Daphne, Ala./Daphne

Mark Roane Jr. DL 6-0 235 Chanhassen, Minn./Holy Family Catholic

Jordan Borgeson So. DL 6-3 245 Rochester, Minn./Lourdes

Hawker Hechtl Fr. DL 6-0 200 Davis, Calif./Jesuit

Landon Gallagher So. DL 6-2 230 Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta

Michael Wozniak Sr. DL 6-3 255 New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong

Chandler Obering Fr. DL 6-4 245 Orange, Calif./Villa Park

Riley DeRosier Fr. DL 6-1 255 Baxter, Minn./Brainerd

Jon Davis So. DL 5-11 245 Daphne, Ala./Daphne

Travis Johnson So. DL 6-3 250 Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta

Riley Kangas So. LB 6-1 230 Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy

Zach Frank So. DL 6-2 250 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial

Tommy Gilmore So. DL 6-1 230 Otsego, Minn./Rogers

Godswill Pepple Sr. LB 6-0 230 Hastings, Minn./Hastings

Wells, Minn./Maple

George Sandven So. QB 6-5 207 Edina, Minn./Edina

Isaak Knutson Sr. LB 6-0 207 Dodge Center, Minn./Triton

Ethan Hufendick Sr. QB 6-2 197 Edina, Minn./Edina

Jesse Moser Sr. TE 6-3 201 Eagle, Colo./Eagle Valley

Andrew Bradley Sr. DL 5-11 210 Miami, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace

Zachary Forbrook Sr. WR 6-0 199 Mankato, Minn./Mankato East

Quintin Morris Sr. DB 5-7 152 Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson

Major Martin Jr. WR 5-10 175 Crane, Texas/Crane

Carson DeKam Jr. LB 6-3 233 Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna

Jake Breitbach Jr. WR 6-2 185 Golden Valley, Minn./Armstrong

Gabe Loberg Jr. DB 5-10 172 Granby, Colo./Middle Park

Matthew Carreon Sr. WR 6-1 154 Houston, Texas/Mount Carmel Academy

Andrew Engebreston Jr. ST 5-11 187 Rockford, Minn./Rockford

16/51 Zach Jakes Sr. DL 6-1 248 North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West

17 Eric Lyons Jr. Fr. DB 5-4 139 Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation

17 Andrew Gotziaman So. QB 6-0 205 Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn

18 Barry Richards So. RB 5-8 164 White Castle, La./White Castle

19 Charlie Barnick So. TE 6-0 203 Rosemont, Minn./Rosemont

20 Bobby Chancellor Sr. DB 6-0 187 Ramsey, Minn./Blake

Jack Boyle Fr. RB 5-11 204 Chaska, Minn./Chaska

William Hawkins So. DB 6-2 201 New Orleans, La./Jesuit

Andrey Denson Jr. DB 5-9 150 El Paso, Texas/Pebble Hills

Graham Nistler Sr. DB 6-0 186 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

Dalton Thelen Sr. WR 5-7 155 Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori

No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School

31 Jimmy Heinzen Sr. DL 5-10 242 Elk River, Minn./Elk River

Ezekiel Sundberg Sr. DB 6-0 183 Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood

River Wood Jr. RB 5-8 149 St. Petersburg, Fla./Dixie-Hollins

Peyton Churchward Sr. LB 5-10 211 Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Tesoro

Bode Hogan Fr. LB 6-1 205 Bloomfield, Colo./Bloomfield

Tanner Rennie Fr. RB 5-7 197 Cape Coral, Fla./Oasis

Taylor Stroh Jr. DB 5-6 165 Jordan, Minn./Jordan

Jack Klug So. LB 6-3 202 Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake

Gibson Blackstad Fr. DL 6-1 225 Mankato, Minn./Mankato West

Luke Rooker So. OL 6-2 272 Stillwater, Minn./Totino-Grace

56 Tyler Maas Sr. LB 5-10 240 Mapleton, Minn./Maple River

57 Braden Black Jr. LB 6-1 226 Rochester, Minn./John Marshall

60 Sam Stafsholt Sr. OL 6-1 292 Andover, Minn./Andover

Zachary Classen Sr. OL 6-1 282 White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake

67 Aaron Reichard So. OL 6-0 244 Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids

68 Brett Sonderman Jr. OL 6-1 248 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial

69 Jack Swanson So. DL 6-5 271 Pine Island, Minn./Pine Island

71 Will Pelto Jr. OL 6-3 292 Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake

72 James Hren Fr. OL 6-0 246 Cottage Grove, Minn./East Ridge

74 Mitchell Borchardt Sr. OL 6-4 320 Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson

75 Connor Scholten Fr. OL 6-0 267 Springfield, Minn./Springfield

76 Ritter Cook Fr. OL 6-3 255 Farmington, Minn./Farmington

78 Braedon Carr Fr. OL 6-0 254 Chisago Lakes, Minn./Chisago Lakes

79 Eli Spurgeon Fr. OL 5-11 252 Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna

80 Caden Kleinschmidt Fr. WR 6-4 181 Morgan, Minn./Cedar Mountain

89 Seth Zeitchick Sr. DB 5-10 159 St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park

90 Trajan Kaeppe Jr. DL 6-5 243 Cottage Grove, Minn./St. Thomas Acad.

91 Dylan Larson Fr. DL 6-1 260 White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake

93 Cody Bonk Jr. DL 5-10 224 Buffalo, Minn./Mayer Lutheran

94 Andrew Abegglen Sr. K 6-3 214 Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka

95 Javier Gratacos Jr. DL 5-11 292 Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona

96 Dmitry McDougle Fr. K 5-11 159 Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen

BIG CROWDS IN CLEMENS STADIUM

Big crowds have long been the norm at Clemens Stadium (aka the Natural Bowl).

That goes all the way back to 1949 when a crowd of over 7,000 turned out to see a season-closing matchup against St. Thomas that decided that season’s MIAC title (the results of that game shall remain unreported here).

In all, SJU has finished among the national leaders in per-game attendance in NCAA Division III in each of the last 20 seasons and led the division 20 times total since 1988. That included a streak of 10 straight seasons from 2001 to 2010 and 15 of 16 seasons from 2001 to 2016.

When you mix that kind of fan support into the natural beauty that led Sports Illustrated to declare Clemens Stadium one of college football’s top 10 “Dream Destinations” in 1999, you have the recipe for a game day atmosphere that can hold its own among the best in the nation.

The numbers kept growing over the decades, but it wasn’t until a 1993 matchup against the Tommies when SJU first drew a crowd of 10,000-plus (10,108) for a home game.

Since the 2003 season, however, the Johnnies have done so 20 times. That included Clemens Stadium-record crowd of 17,327 for a matchup against St. Thomas in 2015 preceded by a live broadcast of ESPN’s “Sports Center on the Road” program.

While nine of those 10,000-plus games came against the Tommies, the other 10 cover a broad spectrum of conference opponents including:

• Augsburg (12,221 in 2011)

• Bethel (13,107 to see John Gagliardi become the winningest coach in college football history in 2003; 10,567 in 2010)

• Gustavus (10,458 in 2004; 11,907 in 2008)

• Carleton (11,790 in 2006)

• Concordia (10,077 in 2013)

• Hamline (10,457 in 2005)

• St. Olaf (12,339 in 2007; 10,347 in 2016)

In fact, the only two MIAC opponents not on the list are Macalester (which just rejoined the league in football in 2021) and St. Scholastica (which just joined the conference in 2021).

Saint John’s University vs. Gustavus Adolphus

PROUD

AND

FOR JOHNNIE

COMMITTED

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BRUESS

ALL IN FOR FAMILY

Welcome to Clemens Stadium on the campus of Saint John’s University! We’re expecting a big, beautiful crowd today – not just because the Johnnie football team will be taking on Gustavus Adolphus, but because this is Family Weekend here at Saint John’s and the College of Saint Benedict!

But hats off this Family Weekend to those of you who are here are here today because you love one of our first-generation students.

Over a quarter of today’s Bennies and Johnnies identify as firstgen college students. They’re branching out and creating new frontiers. And while most of them receive love, encouragement and tons of pride from their families, they typically don’t get the insider’s perspective on how to navigate the college experience.

At Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s, we work hard at creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. And we’re proud of the student-support programs and processes we have in place to ease transitions and serve the students who need them. But at the end of the day, our first-generation students are making their own way through unfamiliar territory. They’re brave, strong and resilient. And by bringing a fresh voice and perspective to our college community, they broaden the experience for us all.

To all our first-generation student families, thank you for entrusting us with your student’s education. Like you, we could not be more proud of their journey.

Family Weekend is that magical time of year filled with hugs and tears and little siblings pleading to make one more waffle in Gorecki or the Reef. It’s a time of contradictions as a parent can burst with pride over their student’s academic journey while simultaneously harboring suspicions that their child may not be as committed to flossing regularly as they claim.

It’s weeks’ worth of pent-up family love crammed into a few precious hours.

For many of our students’ families, it’s a time of nostalgia. Over a quarter of our students have a legacy connection to Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s. Grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, siblings … those family ties run deep here. And we love to welcome those of you home to reconnect with your alma mater as you enlighten your current student with favorite traditions, hard-learned tips and savvy life-hacks. Welcome home!

GO JOHNNIES!

HOME BRING IT HOME

SENTRY BANK PRESENTS LAST WEEK IN PICTURES

BRING

HOME BRING IT HOME

Senior tight end Alex Larson caught this 17-yard pass for a touchdown, the first of his three on the day, in the second quarter last Saturday (Oct. 15) at St. Olaf (image courtesy of Libby Auger)

Senior wide receiver Nick VanErp caught this pass for a 58-yard touchdown on the Johnnies’ first play from scrimmage. He recorded career highs in catches (8) and receiving yards (141) for his first 100-yard receiving game (image courtesy of Libby Auger)

Senior running back Henry Trost rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries (image courtesy of Capri Potter)

Junior quarterback Aaron Syverson ended the afternoon 26 of 40 passing for 351 yards and five touchdowns (image courtesy of Libby Auger)

BY FRANK RAJKOWSKI

Aaron Syverson had been at Saint John’s University less than two weeks, but already the transfer quarterback was recruiting.

Syverson – the former Minnetonka High School star who spent two seasons at Division I Colorado State before transferring to SJU in time for the spring semester in 2021 – was in pursuit of wide receiver Jimmy Buck, the former Orono High School standout who had spent the past two seasons at Division I Minnesota.

“I knew him a bit from high school, so we went and had lunch,” recalls Syverson, who played against Buck in the 2019 Minnesota Football Coaches Association prep all-star game. “He asked me about coming here. I think both of us were looking for the same thing.”

“We’d had similar experiences at the Division I level, and we wanted to find a place where football was important, but it wasn’t necesarrily the top priority 24-7.”

Syverson’s powers of persuasion worked and Buck soon followed him to Collegeville.

Both players jumped right into the fold last fall. Syverson earned the starting job and threw for 1,768 yards and 17 touchdowns while leading his team to a 7-0 start before suffering a seasonending broken leg at Gustavus. Buck, meanwhile, had 33 catches for 551 yards and seven touchdowns.

That success has continued this season with the return of a healthy Syverson under center. Going into last Saturday’s road matchup at St. Olaf, Syverson ranked second in the MIAC in passing yards with 1,485 and had thrown for 13 touchdowns. Buck ranked third in receiving yards and had three touchdown catches.

Meanwhile, the two have become close friends off the field where they have been roommates the past two years.

And both are feeling pretty good about the decision to come to Collegeville.

“Everybody knows this program is a little different,” Syverson said. “There’s no whistles or anything like that. All those traditions that (former head coach) John Gagliardi started are still in place. You call the coaches by their first names and you develop relationships with them as people. That doesn’t happen everywhere else, but being able to get to know them that way just makes you respect them even more.

“He was definitely a big part of why I came here,” Buck said. “I knew he’d already decided to come. So when I decided to enter the transfer portal at the U of M, I sent him a text right away. I talked to him a couple of times actually, and he was really helpful when it came to telling me about the program.”

“It’s a really welcoming place and you do feel like part of a community.”

“It’s a really welcoming place and you do feel like part of a community.”

Aaron Syverson

Jimmy Buck

ALUMNI REFERRAL SCHOLARSHIP

Ask those who’ve been part of it and they’ll tell you the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University community feels like family.

A group in which you can truly feel at home while forging your own identity.

And what could be better than helping a student become part of that family by referring them to CSB and SJU?

Seeing that student receive a $1,000 annual scholarship, of course.

So if you know an outstanding high school student you think would make an outstanding Bennie or Johnnie, visit the Alumni Referral Scholarship page (csbsju.edu/alums-and-friends/alumreferral-scholarship) in the Alumni and Friends section of the CSB and SJU website and get started today.

Thanks to the Alum Referral Scholarship Program, that can become a reality.

As a graduate of CSB or SJU, any student you refer qualifies automatically for a $1,000 scholarship (renewable for four years, totaling $4,000). There’s no limit to the number of students you can refer, and they don’t have to be high school seniors, either.

“The alum referral scholarship is the ultimate win-win-win,” said Matt Beirne, director of admission at CSB and SJU. “It’s a WIN for alums to engage with prospective students to promote the school they love. It’s a WIN for prospective students to get additional financial support to attend a school we know they will love.

“And it’s a WIN for CSB and SJU to have these amazing new students join the Bennie and Johnnie Family!”

The deadline for Fall 2023 high school senior referrals is Jan. 15, but younger students can be referred all year long.

“The alum referral scholarship is the ultimate win-win-win,”

Saint John’s University vs. Gustavus Adolphus

BOB BASTEN EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD

ZUMWINKLE’S CONTRIBUTIONS HONORED WITH BASTEN AWARD

A desire to identify and fund “transformative changes benefitting mankind.”

That’s the mission of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, established in 2004 by the founder and former chairman of Best Buy Inc.

“All of the things that Bob himself stood for – honor, dignity, selflessness and the ability to see greatness in others – can be found in Mike Zumwinkle,”

It’s a desire that perfectly matches the ideals of Mike Zumwinkle ’86, a former football standout at Saint John’s who in 2013 left his position at Cargill to take over as a senior program officer at the Schulze Foundation.

“I’ve been able to come in contact with so many different people from all walks of life who have such truly inspiring stories,” said Zumwinkle of his work. “People who have sacrificed so much to help others. It really continues to inspire my faith in humanity.”

It is for his efforts at the foundation and elsewhere that Zumwinkle has been named this year’s recipient of the Bob Basten Excallence in Leadership Award, which is bestowed annually upon a former Johnnie football player who has exhibited outstanding leadership traits, has been involved in his community and with his alma mater, has carried a sense of fair play beyond the football field and has demonstrated an overall commitment to excellence.

The award is named in honor of Basten ’82, who went to training camp with the Minnesota Vikings before embarking on a

CONGRATULATIONS

Mike Zumwinkle `86 Recipient of the 2022 Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award

successful career as a business executive. He died in 2012 after a decade-long battle with ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“Mike embodies traits that would make (Basten) proud – a sense of fairness and commitment to excellence,” wrote Stuart Harvey ’83, a former teammate of Zumwinkle’s who nominated him for the award. “He also shares Bob’s trait of humility, always acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of others.”

“All of the things that Bob himself stood for – honor, dignity, selflessness and the ability to see greatness in others – can be found in Mike Zumwinkle,” SJU head coach Gary Fasching ’81 added.

Zumwinkle, a two-time All-MIAC running back whose 2,327 rushing yards rank seventh in program history, said he is humbled to have been selected as the award winner.

“I’ve been honored to be part of the football community at Saint John’s,” he said.

Saint John’s University vs. Gustavus Adolphus

KWIK TRIP PRESENTS CAMPUS UPDATE

THE FIRING OF THE JOHANNA KILN

The 16th firing of the Johanna Kiln at The Saint John’s Pottery on October 7th honored three artists who have been pivotal in the international wood-firing community. It commemorated the efforts of Koie Ryoji, Chuck Hindes and Paul Krueger, all of whom have been closely associated with the studio and have passed since the last lighting in 2019.

Ryoji, a renowned Japanese ceramicist, was known internationally for his experimental approach to clay and was a frequent studio guest at Saint John’s University. Hindes built the ceramics program at the University of Iowa, is celebrated across the U.S. for helping integrate wood firing into academia and has left a creative legacy in his students – many of whom will participate in the kiln firing at SJU. And Krueger, a former Johnnies assistant wrestling coach, became close friends with master potter Richard Bresnahan. They collaborated on numerous pieces, with Krueger providing intricately designed and knotted reed handles for Bresnahan’s teapots and ceremonial cake platters, many of which are in public and private collections.

“These artists were dynamic, highly creative individuals who had a profound influence on the world of wood-firing and a deep and lasting impact on our community,” said Bresnahan, director at The Saint John’s Pottery and artist-in-residence at SJU. “Their work lives on in the vibrant community that gathers to ceremonially light and fire this kiln.”

KILN IS LARGEST IN NORTH AMERICA

The kiln, named in honor of Sister Johanna Becker, OSB, was designed by Bresnahan and built by apprentices and volunteers and fired for the first time in 1995. The largest wood-burning kiln in North America, it can fire up to 12,000 works of pottery and sculpture and takes as many as nine weeks to load. Once the doors are closed, the lighting ceremony begins when hundreds of individuals from the Saint John’s community – monks, laypersons and guests – gather for a

Dinner. Fast.

short prayer. The kiln area is ritually purified in Japanese tradition with rice, salt and sake, and then lit with a handmade torch.

This year, for 10 consecutive days, 60 volunteers gathered at SJU to make the firing possible. Many stoked wood in shifts that stretched around the clock. The public was invited to attend the firing, which continued through Oct. 16. On completion, the kiln was sealed with recycled clay to slowly cool for two weeks. Finally, when it is opened, the ceramics are carefully unloaded, cleaned, and prepared for everyday use.

Fried Chicken & MashedPotat Coes heesy Chicken Casserole

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Saint John’s University vs. Gustavus Adolphus

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PROBABLE STARTERS

When Saint John’s Has The Ball

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS DEFENSE

SAINT JOHN’S OFFENSE

WR 11 Jimmy Buck Jr., 6-4, 210

WR 7 Nick VanErp Sr., 5-11, 170

TE 8 Alex Larson Sr., 6-7, 240

LT 68 Cameron Murphy Sr., 6-5, 310

LG 58 T.J. Duerr Sr., 6-2, 315

C 72 Charlie Folkens So., 6-2, 285

RG 64 Joe Jaeger Sr., 6-2, 285

RT 55 Tom Soler So., 6-2, 290

WR 14 Darian Washington Sr., 6-3, 190

QB 6 Aaron Syverson Jr., 6-0, 190

Henry Trost Sr., 5-10,

DL 11 Andrew Bradley Sr., 5-11, 210

DL 16 Zach Jakes Sr., 6-1, 248

DL 95 Javier Gratacos Jr., 5-11, 292

LB 7 Jesse Moser Sr., 6-3, 201

LB 13 Carson DeKam Jr., 6-3, 233

LB 57 Braden Black Jr., 6-1, 226

DB 3 Kevin Durham Jr. Sr., 5-9, 188

DB 21 William Hawkins So., 6-2, 201

DB 23 Andrey Denson Jr., 5-9, 150

DB 27 Graham Nistler Sr., 6-0, 186

33 Ezekiel Sundberg Sr., 6-0, 183

When Gustavus Adolphus Has The Ball

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS OFFENSE

WR 0 Matthew Kipper Sr., 5-9, 160

TE 5 Ethan Sindelir Sr., 6-2, 218

OL 55 Luke Rooker So., 6-2, 272

OL 60 Sam Stafsholt Sr., 6-1, 292

OL 64 Zachary Classen Sr., 6-1, 282

OL 71 Will Pelto Jr., 6-3, 292

OL 74 Mitchell Borchardt Sr., 6-4, 320

WR 14 Jake Breitbach Jr., 6-2, 185

QB 6 George Sandven So., 6-5, 207

RB 1 Rohee Konde Jr., 6-0, 191

RB 29 Dalton Thelen Sr., 5-7, 155

Saint John’s Specialists

Conor Murphy So., 5-10,

Spencer Ell Jr., 5-11,

Landon Glenna Jr., 5-11, 200

Jack Eibensteiner Sr., 6-0, 220

Nick VanErp Sr., 5-11, 170

Troy Feddema Jr., 5-10, 200

Caden Wheeler Fr., 5-10, 195

Nick VanErp Sr., 5-11, 170

SAINT JOHN’S DEFENSE

DE 8 Metoriah Faoliu Sr., 6-1, 270

DT 91 Michael Wozniak Sr., 6-3, 255

DT 54 Amari Curtis Sr., 6-4, 250

DE 9 Joe Akoh Jr., 6-4, 240

LB 49 Erik Bjork Sr., 5-11, 215

LB 0 Octavius Wilson Jr. Sr., 5-11, 220

LB 3 Cooper Yaggie So., 6-0, 200

CB 24 Cayden Saxon Sr., 6-3, 200

S 18 Ethan Stark Sr., 6-1, 195

S 11 Noah Arneson Fr., 6-0, 185

CB 2 John Kohler Sr., 6-0, 190

Gustavus Adolphus Specialists

K 94 Andrew Abegglen Sr., 6-3, 214

P 1 Owen Casteel Jr., 6-0, 183

KR 29 Dalton Thelen Sr., 5-7, 155

River Wood Jr., 5-8, 149

PR 29 Dalton Thelen Sr., 5-7, 155

UPCOMING JOHNNIE EVENTS

Saturday, Oct. 22 Soccer vs. Macalester

Wednesday, Oct. 26 Soccer vs. St. Scholastica

Saturday, Oct. 29

Cross Country at MIAC Championships Football at St. Scholastica Hockey at UW-River Falls Soccer at Carleton Swimming & Diving at Macalester

Friday, Nov. 4

Cross Country vs. SJU Fall Finale Hockey at UW-Eau Claire Swimming & Diving vs. St. Olaf

Saturday, Nov. 5 Football vs. Carleton Hockey at Northland (Wis.)

John’s University vs. Gustavus Adolphus

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