SJU Wrestling 2022-23

SEASON PREVIEW

Young but eager to get started. That’s the description that best sums up the state of the Saint John’s University wrestling team as the Johnnies begin the 2022-23 season.

In all, a total of 13 freshmen will be part of the roster of a team looking to improve on its performance from a year ago. But the team is not without experience either. Here is a more in-depth look at how this year’s squad shapes up:

JUNIOR LEADERS

A pair of juniors, Ben Gilbertson (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) and Hayden LeMonds (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville), return in 2022-23. Gilbertson led the Johnnies with a 21-16 record between 174 and 184 pounds last season. Within that record was a team-leading nine decision wins, four major decisions and two technical falls. He went 15-11 against NCAA Division III competition. Gilbertson placed second in the 184-pound bracket at the MSU-Moorhead Dragon Open last December and won the Warrior bracket at 174 pounds at the Citrus Invitational.

LeMonds posted a 7-9 record at 165 pounds a year ago, but only wrestled in two events – seven total matches –after the holiday break due to injury. In the fall, LeMonds finished fourth at both the Wisconsin-Stevens Point Open and Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s 8-Man Battle.

SOPHOMORE SPARKS

Two SJU sophomores, D.J. Myles (Dayton, Minn./Champlin Park) and Logan Thorsten (Foley, Minn.), made instant impacts as freshmen last season for the Johnnies.

Thorsten tallied the Johnnies’ best winning percentage, .571 (16-12 record), between 149 and 157 pounds, including an 11-7 record against Division III competition. He placed third at the UWEC 8-Man Battle and led SJU with a 6-1 record to finish third at 157 pounds at the Citrus Invitational.

A two-sport athlete (football), Myles led the team in pins last year with seven and went 5-2 against nonDivision III opponents for a 9-9 record. He led eight Johnnies in the North Country Open’s silver bracket by taking the title at 197 pounds with a 3-0 record.

THE 2022-23 SCHEDULE

SJU opens its 2022-23 season Nov. 19 at UWEC’s 8-Man Battle, followed by MSU-Moorhead’s Dragon Open on Dec. 3. The first dual of the season is a Dec. 10 trip to Buena Vista (Iowa) and the fall semester ends Dec. 29-30 at the Citrus Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Johnnies begin 2023 with consecutive, out-of-state tournaments Jan 7 at Central (Iowa) and Jan. 14 at Elmhurst (Ill.) before their lone home event – the annual North Country Open – Jan. 22 in Collegeville. SJU ventures north Jan. 27 to take on Itasca C.C. and returns to Eau Claire, Wis., Feb. 4 for the Blugold Open. The Johnnies close the regularseason schedule with a pair of duals, Feb. 9 at Ridgewater and Feb. 14 at Concordia-Moorhead, before the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional on Feb. 24-25 on the campus of Concordia (Wis.) in Mequon, Wis.

2022-23 SCHEDULE

Nov. 19 at UW-Eau Claire 8-Man Battle Eau Claire, Wis. 10 a.m. Dec. 3 at MSU-Moorhead Open Moorhead 10 a.m.

Dec. 10 at Buena Vista Storm Lake, Iowa 2 p.m.

Dec. 29-30 at Citrus Invitational Pella, Iowa TBA

Jan. 7 at Central Invitational Elmhurst, Ill. 9 a.m.

Jan. 14 at Elmhurst Invitational Pella, Iowa 10 a.m.

Jan 22 North County Open Collegeville 10 a.m.

Jan. 27 at Itasca C.C. Grand Rapids 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 at UW-Eau Claire Open Eau Claire, Wis. 10 a.m.

Feb. 9 at Ridgewater Willmar 7 p.m.

Feb. 14 at Concordia Moorhead 7 p.m.

Feb. 24-25 at NCAA Upper Midwest Regional Mequon, Wis. All Day

Ben Gilbertson

Hayden LeMonds

D.J. Myles

Logan Thorsten

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BRUESS

Welcome to the Warner Palaestra Pool and Saint John’s University swimming and diving!

My name is Brian Bruess and, as of July 1, I am president of both College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University – the first time both of those titles have been held concurrently. In the short time that my wife Carol and I have been here, we have both certainly felt the engaging welcome of this community. The Benedictine hospitality lives up to its billing. Thank you to those who have reached out with greetings and well wishes.

I’m glad you’re here and hope you’re ready for some great competition. The young men out there competing for the Johnnies today have worked hard to excel in a sport they love. That means hours of training, conditioning, preparing and traveling.

Just as impressive, they’re working hard in the classroom. These are student-athletes in the best sense of both those traditions – and they uphold the academic standards for which Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s are well known.

Beyond that, these are Johnnies. As such, each is a member of this Benedictine community we hold dear.

Our students are engaged and involved with the causes and initiatives that move them. In their four years here, they will discover their opportunities to develop as active, thoughtful citizens.

That’s a lot going on. So if things get tight toward the end of a race, don’t lose faith: Johnnies are obviously great at keeping an eye on the clock.

So let’s get settled in and ready for the action. And as we cheer for today’s performances in the pool, let’s all commit to cheering a little louder in recognition of the performances we don’t see – in the classroom, in the lab and in service to their church or community

GO JOHNNIES!

KEVIN SCHILTZ

Kevin Schiltz is in his seventhixth season as head coach of the Johnnie wrestling team in 2022-23. A 16-year assistant wrestling coach at Saint John’s, Schiltz was named head coach of the Johnnies’ program on July 20, 2017. He is the first non-SJU graduate to lead the wrestling program since Jim Lind, who coached the Johnnies for two seasons from 1979-81.

2019-20 SEASON

Noah Becker ’20 was set to make his second national tournament appearance as the No. 3 seed at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in March before the COVID-19 pandemic ended his career.

2018-19 SEASON

Luke Dodd ’19 (197 pounds) advanced to the NCAA National tournament in March after a 3-1 showing at the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional in February. Jarod Novak ’20 (157 pounds) went 3-3, Noah Becker ’20 (133 pounds) and Jacob Scherber ’22 (174 pounds) both finished 2-2 at regionals. Scherber led the Johnnies with 27 wins, while Becker posted a team-best 26-4 record.

2017-18 SEASON

Luke Dodd ’19 (184 pounds), Anthony Hennen ’20 (141 pounds) and Quincy Spiering (285 pounds) each posted 2-2 records at the revamped NCAA Upper Midwest Regional in February. Noah Becker ’20 led the team with a 20-10 season record at 133 pounds for first-year head coach Kevin Schiltz.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Schiltz’s tenure as an assistant coach at SJU covered three different head coaches: John Elton ‘80 (2000-04), Brandon Novak ‘01 (2004-14) and Tony Willaert ‘11 (2014-16). In total, the program produced 18 All-Americans, including national champions Novak, John Newman ‘99 and Minga Batsukh ‘11 (three-time), and 53 national qualifiers in those 16 seasons.

EXPERIENCE

A native of Albert Lea, Minn., and the 1988 Minnesota state high school champion at 185 pounds, Schiltz was a threetime High School All-American in both freestyle and GrecoRoman. He graduated from Augsburg in 1993 and was a member of two NCAA Division III national-championship teams with the Auggies (1991 and 1993). He was also a

two-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Auggies’ football team.

Individually, Schiltz compiled a 150-28 record and was a rare four-time Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion and national qualifier, of which he earned All-America honors three times (third nationally at 190 pounds in 1989, fifth at 190 in 1990 and sixth at heavyweight in 1993). He finished fifth at the 1989 collegiate freestyle national championships and was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2016

Following graduation, Schiltz competed as an amateur on the national stage, finishing seventh at the 1997 U.S. Men’s Open (freestyle).

He started his coaching career as an assistant for two seasons (1996-98) at Division I Virginia and returned to Minnesota to serve as an assistant for one season at Division II St. Cloud State in 1999 before joining SJU.

PERSONAL

Schiltz and his wife, Susan, have two sons, Aidan and Zack, and reside in St. Joseph.

JOHNNIE WRESTLING

NAME YR. WT. HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL

Thomas Allen So. 285 Colorado Springs, Colo./St. Mary’s

Chad Crocker Jr. 149 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area

James Diaz Fr. 197 Hemet, Calif./Beaumont

Luke Dorweiler Fr. 133 New Prague, Minn./New Prague

Logan Edwards Sr. 165 Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake

Ben Gilbertson Jr. 184 Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice

Sam Hamilton Fr. 165 Parker, Colo./Valor Christian

Marcus Hayes Fr. 125 Katy, Texas/Cypress Lakes

Zachariah Hunter Fr. 197/285 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area

Andy Johnson Fr. 174 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech

Tyler Karas So. 184 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area

Nate Langer So. 165 St. Paul, Minn./Eastview

Andrew LeMire Fr. 133 Stacy, Minn./Forest Lake

Hayden LeMonds Jr. 174 St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville

Teagyn Ludwig Fr. 125 Richmond, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins

Julian Mares Sr. 157 La Puente, Calif./Bishop Amat

Dan Miller Fr. 165 Isle, Minn./Isle

D.J. Myles So. 184 Dayton, Minn./Champlin Park

Logan Thorsten So. 157 Foley, Minn./Foley

Jacob Vaughan So. 165 New Prague, Minn./New Prague

Noah Whitfield-Lopez So. 157 Wheatland, Wyo./Wheatland

D.J. Myles

Hayden LeMonds

Ben Gilbertson

D.J. Myles

Teagyn Ludwig

Marcus Hayes

WRESTLING FACILITIES

WRESTLING ROOM

Opening in 1973, the wrestling room is the primary practice space for the wrestling team. Complete with padded walls and mats, as soon as one walks into the wrestling room, they are reminded of the proud tradition of Johnnie Wrestling as conference honors and titles of former grapplers adorn the walls.

MCGLYNN FITNESS CENTER

Opened in 1997, the 5,600 square foot McGlynn Fitness Center is equipped with upper body, lower body, and full core machines as well as cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes.

SEXTON ARENA

Although the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) dropped wrestling as an official conference recognized sport in 2004, Saint John’s University continues to add to its prestigious wrestling history to this day. Students pack the mats inside of Sexton Arena (and sometimes the Donald McNeely Spectrum) to watch the Johnnie grapplers take on some of the best competition that the country has to offer. During the days of MIAC wrestling (1948 to 2004), Saint John’s won a total of 14 team titles, 59 individual MIAC titles, and produced 8 Carl Larson Trophy Award winners (given to the best individual grappler in the conference). Eight of the 14 MIAC team titles came in straight succession from 1952 to 1959.

DONALD MCNEELY SPECTRUM

Sometimes, the Donald McNeely Spectrum is used in place of Sexton Arena.

J-CLUB HALL OF HONOR

MINGA BATSUKH

In the celebration that followed Minga Batsukh’s first national championship in 2009, a challenge was laid in front of the standout Johnnie wrestler.

“I remember everyone was cheering and yelling,” Batsukh recalls. “They were saying ‘You’re a national champion! You’re a national champion!’ But (current SJU head coach) Kevin Schiltz, who was an assistant coach for us at the time, told me it was going to be a lot harder to do it a second time. Everyone was going to be gunning for me.

“That really motivated me. It made me want to keep getting better and work even harder. I wanted to come back and do it again.”

In fact, Batsukh returned to do it twice – following up his first NCAA Division III national title at 141 pounds with another as a junior in 2010, then closing his career by winning the national championship at 149 pounds as a senior in 2011. That makes him the only three-time national champion in school history.

After graduating from SJU, Batsukh returned to Mongolia and continued wrestling for a time, just missing out on the final spot in the 2012 Summer Olympics by the luck of the draw at that year’s Asian Wrestling Qualification Tournament.

He’s gone on to a career in the financial sector in Ulaanbaatar, but he and fellow SJU wrestler Mogi Baatar have both remained involved in the sport. They run a club for kids ages 5-14 that specializes in freestyle wrestling, jiu-jitsu and boxing.

GARY SVENDSEN

Gary Svendsen '72 wasn't initially sold on the concept of attending Saint John's University. In fact, the highly sought-after wrestler from Coon Rapids (Minn.) High School had already decided on another school as a senior in the spring of 1968.

But SJU head coach Terry Haws – who had just completed his first season at the program's helm – refused to take no for an answer. Svendsen changed his mind and enrolled in Collegeville just weeks before the 1968-69 school year was scheduled to start.

Despite breaking his leg early in his first semester on campus (which posed a challenge for the freshman who had been placed on the fourth floor of Benet Hall), he returned to action after Christmas and made an immediate

impact, capturing an MIAC title at 118 pounds.

Svendsen repeated that feat the following year and also won his weight class during the Johnnies' first trip to the National Catholic Invitational, which included prominent schools like Notre Dame and Marquette. He also advanced to the NAIA national tournament.

Svendsen went on to be a three-time MIAC champion and a two-time National Catholic Invitational champion wrestler. He also won the 1972 NAIA national title at 134 pounds and finished his career with a program-record .921 winning percentage (105-9 record).

HALL OF FAMERS

BRANDON NOVAK

Brandon Novak served as head coach of the Saint John’s wrestling team from 2004 to 2014, compiling a record of 83-73 in dual meet competition.

Under Novak’s watch, Johnnie wrestlers earned AllAmerican honors 15 times. That included Minga Batsukh, who won three-straight national titles from 2009-11.

Novak was a two-time All-American himself, who won a national title at 197 pounds in 2001. He was also an All-American linebacker on the football field and remains SJU’s current co-defensive coordinator.

In his six seasons at the helm, his teams compiled a dual meet record of 65-9-2, earning three-straight MIAC titles in 1971, ’72 and ’73. Under his watch, wrestlers earned All-American honors four times and Gary Svendsen earned an NAIA national championship at 134 pounds during the 1971-72 season. He also led the Johnnies to back-to-back titles at the National Catholic Invitational Tournament in 1972 and ’72, a season in which he earned national Catholic Coach of the Year honors.

He was back with his team at the NCIT in Cleveland in February of 1973 when he died of a heart attack at the age of 49.

JOHN ELTON

John Elton is the longest-serving head coach in Saint John’s wrestling history, having led the Johnnies from 1981 until his retirement in 2004. Under his watch, SJU sent wrestlers to the NCAA Division III national meet in all but two seasons.

Elton coached two wrestlers to Division III national titlesJohn Newman at 174 pounds in 1999 and Brandon Novak at 197 pounds in 2001.

TERRY HAWS

When Terry Haws took over as wrestling coach at Saint John’s in the fall of 1967, the program had not won a conference title in four years. But Haws, who had great success as a high school coach in St. James and at St. Cloud Cathedral, quickly built the Johnnies into a national power.

Prior to taking over as head coach, Elton was a two-time qualifier for the national meet at 150 pounds for the Johnnies in 1979 and ’80.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

ALL-MIAC (FIRST-TEAM ONLY)

1947-48

John Weimerskirch (147 lbs.)

1948-49 Ted Burgaff (177 lbs.)

Norman McDonnel (157 lbs.)

John Weimerskirch (147 lbs.)

1950-51 Jim McKeown (137 lbs.)

George Pribyl (177 lbs.)

John Weimerskirch* (147 lbs.)

1951-52 Fred Grant (130 lbs.)

Jim McKeown (137 lbs.)

Clem Schoenbauer (Hwt.)

John Weimerskirch (147 lbs.)

1952-53 Bob Forster (Hwt.)

Fred Grant (130 lbs.)

Leo Kemper (177 lbs.)

Jim McKeown* (137 lbs.)

Jerre Miller (123 lbs.)

1953-54 Louis Adderley (130 lbs.)

Leo Kemper (Hwt.)

Tom Kemply (167 lbs.)

DeVaughn Nelson (157 lbs.)

Jim Tachney (177 lbs.)

Otto “Sy” Weber (147 lbs.)

1954-55 Don Flynn (137 lbs.)

DeVaughn Nelson (157 lbs.)

Jim Tachney (177 lbs.)

1955-56 Lawrence Betzler (157 lbs.)

Don Flynn (137 lbs.)

Mike Gibbs (147 lbs.)

DeVaughn Nelson (167 lbs.)

1956-57 John O’Fallon (167 lbs.)

1957-58 Lawrence Betzler (147 lbs.)

Jim Kuelbs (157 lbs.)

Gary Sauer (123 lbs.)

1958-59 Lawrence Betzler (147 lbs.)

Tom Brudos (130 lbs.)

Jerry Dalseth (137 lbs.)

Jim Kuelbs (157 lbs.)

Gary Sauer (123 lbs.) 1959-60 Jim Kuelbs* (167 lbs.)

Pat Murtaugh (157 lbs.)

1960-61 Ben Pulkrabek (191 lbs.) 1961-62 John Fritz (147 lbs.)

John Fruth (130 lbs.)

Tony Leifeld (123 lbs.)

Ben Pulkrabek (Hwt.)

1963-64 Don Schreifels (177 lbs.) 1964-65 Maury Neifeld (191 lbs.)

Don Schreifels (177 lbs.) 1966-67 Pat Beyer (137 lbs.)

Bob Westby (123 lbs.) 1968-69 Gary Svendsen (115 lbs.) 1969-70 Gary Svendsen (118 lbs.)

Henry Wollmering (134 lbs.) 1970-71 Terry Elfering (118 lbs.)

Dennis Legatt (158 lbs.)

Tom Miller (190 lbs.)

Gary Svendsen (134 lbs.)

Tom Svendsen (126 lbs.)

Jerry Workman (167 lbs.)

1971-72 Terry Elfering (118 lbs.)

Joe Hayes (142 lbs.) 1972-73 Al Bielat (177 lbs.)

Terry Elfering (118 lbs.)

Joe Hayes (142 lbs.)

Dave Pulkrabek (158 lbs.)

Tom Svendsen (134 lbs.)

1973-74 Jay Huffman (118 lbs.)

Greg Miller (Hwt.)

Larry Osterhaus (158 lbs.)

Tom Svendsen (134 lbs.)

Jerry Workman (190 lbs.)

1974-75 Greg Miller (Hwt.)

1975-76 John Shimshock (150 lbs.)

1981-82 Jim Goodman (167 lbs.)

1984-85 John Schletty (167 lbs.)

1985-86 Dave Barthel (118 lbs.)

1986-87 Dave Barthel (118 lbs.)

1990-91 Scott Fernholz (142 lbs.)

1991-92 Scott Fernholz (142 lbs.)

1993-94 Chris Grothe (190 lbs.)

Jason Scherber (158 lbs.)

1994-95 Chris Grothe (190 lbs.)

Jason Scherber* (167 lbs.)

Rich Schneckenberger (158 lbs.)

Dan Tschudi (142 lbs.)

1996-97 John Newman (167 lbs.)

Matt Ryan* (158 lbs.)

Dan Tschudi (150 lbs.)

1997-98 John Newman* (167 lbs.)

Brandon Novak (190 lbs.)

1999-00 Jeremy Abfalter (165 lbs.)

2000-01 Brandon Novak* (197 lbs.)

2002-03 Dan Fiecke (197 lbs.)

2003-04 Dan Fiecke (197 lbs.)

Matt Vos* (125 lbs.)

*Carl Larson Trophy as MIAC Outstanding Wrestler

Scott Fernholz

Tom Miller

Chris Grothe

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2009 (141 LBS.), 2010 (141 LBS.) & 2011 (149 LBS.)

MINGA BATSUKH

The 2011 D3wrestle.com National Wrestler of the Year, Minga Batsukh ’11 finished his collegiate career as a three-time NCAA Division III champion and a four-time national qualifier, winning the 141-pound title in 2009 and 2010, followed by the 149-pound title in 2011. He became the first three-time individual national champion in school history, regardless of sport, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. Batsukh compiled an 88-19 career record, which included a 28-12 record as a freshman and a 60-7 mark his final three seasons. He broke the SJU school record for takedowns in a match with 17 at the 2011 North Country Open.

2001 (197 LBS.)

BRANDON NOVAK 1999 (174 LBS.) JOHN NEWMAN

1972 (134 LBS.) GARY SVENDSEN

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

MIAC CHAMPIONS

1948 John Weimerskirch 147

1949 John Weimerskirch 147

Norman McDonnel 157

Ted Burgraff 177

1951 Jim McKeown 137

John Weimerskirch 147

George Pribyl 177

1952 Fred Grant 130

Jim McKeown 137

John Weimerskirch 147

Clem Schoenbauer Hwt

1953 Jerre Miller 123

Fred Grant 130

Jim McKeown 137

Leo Kemper 177

Bob Foster Hwt

1954 Louis Adderly 130

Otto “Sy” Weber 147

DeVaughn Nelson 157

Tom Kemply 167 Jim Tachney 177

Leo Kemper Hwt

1955 Don Flynn 137

DeVaughn Nelson 157 Jim Tachney 177

1956 Don Flynn 137

Mike Gibbs 147

Lawrence Betzler 157

DeVaughn Nelson 167

1957 John O’Fallon 167

1958 Gary Sauer 123

Lawrence Betzler 147

Jim Kuelbs 157

1959 Gary Sauer 123

Tom Brudos 130

Jerry Dalseth 137

Lawrence Betzler 147 Jim Kuelbs 157

1960 Pat Murtaugh 157 Jim Kuelbs 167

1961 Ben Pulkrabek 191

1962 Tony Leifeld 123

John Fruth 130

John Fritz 147

Ben Pulkrabek Hwt

1964 Don Schreifels 177

1965 Don Schreifels 177

Maury Neifeld 191

1967 Bob Westby 123

Pat Beyer 137

1969 Gary Svendsen 115

1970 Gary Svendsen 118

Henry Wollmering 134

1971 Terry Elfering 118

Tom Svendsen 126

Gary Svendsen 134

Denis Legatt 158

Jerry Workman 167

Tom Miller 190

1972 Terry Elfering 118

Joe Hayes 142

1973 Terry Elfering 118

Tom Svendsen 134

Joe Hayes 142

Dave Pulkrabek 158

Al Bielat 177

1974 Jay Huffman 118

Tom Svendsen 134

Larry Osterhaus 158

Jerry Workman 190

Greg Miller Hwt

1975 Greg Miller Hwt

1976 John Shimshack 150

1982 Jim Goodman 167

1985 John Schletty 167

1986 Dave Barthel 118

1987 Dave Barthel 118

1991 Scott Fernholz 142

1992 Scott Fernholz 142

1994 Jason Scherber 158

Chris Grothe 190

1995 Dan Tschudi 142

Rich Schneckenberger 158

Jason Scherber 167

Chris Grothe 190

1997 Dan Tschudi 150

Matt Ryan 158

John Newman 167

1998 John Newman 167

Brandon Novak 190

2000 Jeremy Abfalter 165 2001 Brandon Novak 197

NCAA GREAT LAKES REGION CHAMPIONS

2003 Dan Fiecke 197

2004 Dan Fiecke 197

2009 Mogi Baatar 133

Minga Batsukh 141

2010 Minga Batsukh 141

2011 Matt Baarson 165

Minga Batsukh 149

Chris Sandy 141

2012 Chad Henle 133

Matt Pfarr 174

NCAA WEST REGION CHAMPIONS

2013 Ryan Arne 157

Mitch Hagen 184

2014 Ryan Michaelis 197

2016 Ben Henle 141

CARL LARSON AWARD WINNERS

The Carl Larson Award was awarded anually to the MIAC outstanding wrestler. 1997 Matt Ryan Zumbrota 1953 Jim McKeown Albert Lea

1998 John Newman Mayer 1960 Jim Kuelbs Clements

2001 Brandon Novak Becker 1995 Jason Scherber Rogers

2004 Matt Vos Arlington

1951 John Weimerskirch Litchfield

NCAA PARTICIPANTS

1979 Chris Meyer 134 8th

John Elton 150

Dan Quinn 177

1980 John Elton 150

1982 Jim Goodman 167

1983 Brian Baker 134

1985 Brian Baker 134

John Schletty 167

1986 Dave Barthel 118

1987 Dave Barthel 118

1989 Phil Wilder HWT

1990 Scott Fernholz 142 8th

Tim Oelke 158 8th

1991 Scott Fernholz 142

Terry Fasching 158

Mike Honken 177

1992 Scott Fernholz 142

Terry Fasching 158

Rich Schneckenberger 167

1993 Scott Fernholz 142

Scot Doboszenski 150

Rich Scneckenberger 158

Jason Scherber 167

Chris Grothe 190 5th

1994 Dan Tschudi 142

Jason Scherber 158

Rich Schneckenberger 167 5th

Chris Grothe 190

1995 Dan Tschudi 142 7th

Matt Ryan 150

Rich Schneckenberger 158 3rd

Jason Scherber 167

Chris Grothe 190

1996 Dan Tschudi 142 Matt Ryan 150 5th

Andy Lien 177 5th

Chris Grothe HWT

1997 Dan Tschudi 150 7th

Matt Ryan 150 8th

John Newman 167 3rd

Brandon Novak 190 5th

Matt Wentland HWT

1998 Mike Timm 126

Matt Strobl 150

Lance Bodeen 158

John Newman 174

Andy Lien 177 3rd

Brandon Novak 190

1999 Eric Tschudi 125

Jeremy Abfalter 165

John Newman 174 1st

Ryan Tietz 184 5th

2000 Adam Mergen 125

Jeremy Abfalter 165

Chris Gross 174

Ryan Tietz 184

Brandon Novak 197 3rd

2001 Matt Vos 125

Brian Vetter 141

Brian Lahr 165

Brandon Novak 197 1st

2002 Matt Vos 125 3rd

Chuck Griffith 133

Tim Anderson 149

2003 Dan Fiecke 197

2004 Matt Vos 125 Nate Lefebvre 133

Dan Fiecke 197 5th

2005 Dan Fiecke 197

Jacob Malone 157

2006 Dan Fiecke 197

Jacob Malone 157 4th Dan Willaert 184 7th

2007 Jacob Malone 157 5th

Minga Batsukh 141

Mogi Baatar 125

2008 Dustin Baxter 184

Matt Schrupp 165 Mogi Baatar 125 7th

2009 Matt Baarson 157

Mogi Baatar 133

Minga Batsukh 141 1st

Dustin Baxter 184 7th

2010 Matt Baarson 165 Mogi Baatar 133

Minga Batsukh 141 1st

2011 Matt Baarson 165 4th

Minga Batsukh 149 1st

Dustin Baxter 184 3rd

Chad Henle 133 7th

Matt Pfarr 174 7th

Chris Sandy 141

Tony Willaert 197

2012 Dustin Baxter 197 2nd

Mitch Hagen 184

Chad Henle 133

Matt Pfarr 174 4th

Chris Stevermer 157

2013 Ryan Arne 157 Mitch Hagen 184 5th

Ryan Michaelis 197

John Scepaniak HWT Nick Schuler 165 Chris Stevermer 149

2014 Ben Henle 141

Ryan Michaelis 197

2015 Ben Henle 141

Ryan Michaelis 197

2016 Teddy Erickson 165 Ben Henle 141 Mike Pleski 133

2017 Noah Becker 133

Luke Dodd 184

Teddy Erickson 165

Robert Tait 197

2019 Luke Dodd 197

2020 Noah Becker 133

Scott Fernholz

Scott Meyer

Dan Tschudi

INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

MOST VICTORIES

Career 143 Matt Ryan, 1993-97

Season 52 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95

Freshman 33 Mogi Baatar, 2006-07 33 Jacob Malone, 2003-04

MOST CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES

Rich Schneckenberger 32 1993-94

FASTEST FALL

Matt Strobl :10 1995-96

FASTEST TECHNICAL FALL

Dan Tschudi :51 1996-97

MOST FALLS

Career 55 Matt Ryan, 1993-97

Season 22 Matt Ryan, 1994-95

MOST CONSECUTIVE FALLS

Rich Schneckenberger 5 1994-95

MOST NEAR-FALL POINTS

Career 475 Dan Tschudi, 1993-97

Season 282 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95

Match 19 Pat Manning, 1983-84

MOST TAKEDOWNS

Career 336 John Newman, 1995-99

Season 126 Rich Schneckenberger, 1993-94

Match 17 Minga Batsukh, 2010-11

MOST REVERSALS

Career 105 Chuck Chmielewski, 1984-88

Season 35 Shawn Govern, 1985-86

Match 5 Mark Devetter, 1983-84

5 John Svihel, 1983-84

MOST ESCAPES

Career 208 Mike Timm, 1996-00

Season 96 Dan Willaert, 2002-03 Match 11 John Haberman, 1990-91

MOST TEAM POINTS

Career +521 Rich Schneckenberger, 1990-95 Season +194 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95

MOST MATCH POINTS

Career 1,385 Rich Schneckenberger, 1990-95 Season 560 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95

GREATEST POINT SPREAD

Mike Tess 26 1983-84 32-6 over Rick Aanerud, Golden Valley

Rich Schneckenberger

Mogi Baatar

John Newman

FULL PAGE AD 1922 7th Street North I St. Cloud, MN 56303 I rengelprinting.com

INSTITUTIONAL

PRESENTS STUDENT FUND

Octavius Wilson Jr. has thrived at Saint John’s University.

Not only has the senior linebacker from Hill-Murray High School played a key role in the Johnnies’ defensive rotation, but he’s also served on the program’s leadership council and as a representative on the SJU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

This past summer, he completed an internship in the financial department at Microsoft at the company’s corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

But he said none of that would have been possible were it not for the assistance that scholarships provide.

“All of my tuition expenses rest with me, so scholarships were the main thing I had to consider when I was looking at school where I could continue my education,” said Wilson, an economics major who has received the Fran and Julia Ladner Family Endowed Scholarship, the Joyce and William Sexton Scholarship, the Joseph Friedrich Scholarship and a Dean’s Scholarship.

He’s also received Securian Foundation and Eddie Phillips Scholarships from the Minnesota Private College Council.

“Saint John’s was the top place when it came to offering the kind of scholarship package that made going here realistic and affordable for me,” he continued. “I’m really grateful for that because it helped make this opportunity possible.”

Wilson is not alone. In all, 98 percent of SJU students receive scholarships or financial aid. The SJU Student Fund helps make that happen by providing direct financial support to our students.

When you support the student fund, 100 percent of your gift goes directly toward student scholarships. Those who give receive recognition in the annual Honor Roll of Donors and a receipt stating their gift is tax deductible. They also gain the confidence of knowing their gift had a direct impact in allowing Wilson and so many others to experience all that SJU has to offer.

Please consider giving, either by visiting the student fund page in the SJU Alumni section of the CSB+SJU website or by calling 320-363-2591 or 1-800-653-7303.

Website: givesju.com Phone: 320-363-3099

Email: johnemail@csbsju.edu

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University form a partnership of two of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, attracting students from 41 states and 14 countries. Visit csbsju.edu/admissions to get in touch with our Admission team today to start your life-changing experience at CSB and SJU!

STRONG INTEGRATION

The long-standing Coordinate Relationship between CSB and SJU demonstrates a history of delivering excellent outcomes through an outstanding joint academic program. Strong Integration is a natural extension and strengthening of our current relationship. It is not a merger of the two institutions; the college and university will remain two separate institutions aligned with their respective sponsoring monastic communities. Strong Integration necessitates no changes to the joint academic program, the admission of students or the separate conferring of degrees. Rather, Strong Integration will ensure that future students are educated by a thriving CSB and SJU. It will allow the college and university to continue delivering a superior liberal arts education with maximal effectiveness in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

The collaborative work of our two institutions and two founding monastic communities is a vital part of what makes the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University such beloved and special places. Our work has been guided throughout by the Benedictine Values, the institutions’ missions, and the needs of our students, and we are proud to take this historic step in our shared history.

We want to channel the best of both schools in new and exciting ways while still maintaining the individual identities of each. Strong Integration will further solidify already-deep ties while still celebrating each school as a college for women and a men’s university. With all of us working together, Bennies and Johnnies will continue writing new and limitless chapters of our shared history in the years to come.

Granite Partners is a private investment and holding company founded in 2002 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with a mission to grow companies and create value for all stakeholders. As trusted partners, innovative leaders, and responsible stewards, we are committed to 100-year sustainability, and we aspire to world-class wellbeing for all people in and around the Granite community.

WRESTLERS IN ROTC

Dan Miller acknowledges that balancing ROTC and wrestling at the college level can be a lot of work.

But the Saint John’s University freshman says there are commonalities in each that benefit him in both.

“Wrestling is all about discipline and so is ROTC,” said the Isle (Minnesota) High School graduate, who is wrestling at 165 pounds for the Johnnies this season. “The work ethic and training are really the same for both. They’re both about pushing yourself past your limits to be successful.”

College of Saint Benedict and St. Cloud State University.

“The kind of training wrestlers put in is even more rigorous than you find in a lot of other sports and the military loves that,” said Johnnies head coach Kevin Schiltz, who is entering his sixth season at the helm. “If you look at a lot of Navy Seals or Army Rangers, those guys are former wrestlers. They’re used to the kind of grind that’s required.”

Schiltz said wrestlers who are also part of ROTC are extremely easy to coach.

“If you ask them to do something, it gets done,” he said. “They just have that mindset. They look at you as almost a commanding officer. So if there’s something that needs to get accomplished, they find a way to make it happen.”

Miller said he chose SJU, in part, because he’d have the opportunity to be part of both programs.

“I wanted to look into the Army, but I also wanted to wrestle in college,” he said. “That’s why my high school coach suggested Saint John’s to me. There’s a really long wrestling tradition here and the ROTC program is really highly regarded as well. So it seemed like the perfect fit.”

Perhaps that’s why so many SJU wrestlers have also been part of the ROTC program on campus over the years. This season, Miller and two of his teammates – freshman 197-pounder James Diaz and sophomore 184-pounder Tyler Karas – are members of the Fighting Saints Battalion, an ROTC program comprised of students from SJU, the

“There’s a really long wrestling tradition here and the ROTC program is really highly regarded as well”

Dan Miller

Tyler Karas

James Diaz