SCSU wrestling headed to 2017 NCAA Super 3 Regional on Feb. 24-25
2/22/2017 3:02:00 PM | Wrestling
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The #1 St. Cloud State University wrestling team (17-1, 8-0 NSIC) will begin the postseason portion of its 2016-17 schedule with a trip to the 2017 NCAA Division II Super 3 Region tournament on Feb. 24-25. Â The tourney will be held on the campus of Minnesota State University, Moorhead in Moorhead, Minn.
The tournament will feature 15 schools from the Super 3 region, which includes SCSU, Northern State, Minnesota State Moorhead, Minnesota State Mankato, Augustana, U-Mary, Minot State, Upper Iowa, Southwest Minnesota State, Maryville, Lindenwood, McKendree, Drury, Central Missouri and Truman State. Â The tournament will be held at Nemzek Fieldhouse on the campus of MSU, Moorhead.
Action gets underway at 9 a.m. on Feb. 24 and will conclude with the start of the final round of competition at 4 p.m. on Feb. 25. Â The regional tournament serves as a qualifying round for the upcoming 2017 NCAA Division II championships, which will be held in Birmingham, Ala. on March 10-11.
The Huskies placed second at the 2016 NCAA Division II Super 3 Regional and are the two-time NCAA Division II national champions. Â In 2016-17, St. Cloud State captured first place at the NWCA Division II National Duals and the Huskies also won their sixth consecutive NSIC championship this winter with a perfect 8-0 record.
LIVE VIDEO/STATS: Fans can follow live stats and video from the Regional meet on www.trackwrestling.com
LIVE AUDIO: Fans can also listen to live audio reports on the second day of competition from John O. Peterson and Brad Hildreth on the KVSC Sports Stream
NCAA Super 3 Regional Schedule of Events: Friday February 24th -Session I (4 Mats)Â
9:00 AM: Doors open for spectators
10:00AM—2:00PM: Championship Round 1 (70 Matches) & First Round Wrestle Backs (30 Matches)Â
Session II (4 Mats)Â
3:00 PM: Doors open for spectatorsÂ
4:00Â PM-8:00PM: Quarterfinals (40 Matches) & 2nd Round Wrestle-backs (40 Matches)Â
Saturday February 25th - Session III (4 Mats)
10:00Â AM: Doors OpenÂ
11:00AM-2:00 PM: Â Semi-Finals (20 Matches) & 3rd Round Wrestle-backs (20 Matches) & Consolations (20 Matches)Â
SCSU was ranked #1 in the latest NCAA Division II poll.
SCSU claimed its sixth consecutive NSIC championship in 2017. The Huskies won the title outright with a 30-6 dual win at Augustana on Feb. 16. SCSU has now won 52 consecutive NSIC dual matches dating back to the 2010-11 season.
SCSU has won nine consecutive dual matches heading into the NCAA Super 3 Regional.
The two-time defending national champions, SCSU placed second at the NCAA DII Super 3 Regional in 2016. Last year, SCSU sent seven wrestlers to the NCAA finals from the regional meet and claimed four individual regional titles.Â
Austin Goergen
Returning individual champions from last year's regional include Brett Velasquez at 125 and Austin Goergen at 285.
#1 ranked Austin Goergen completed his 2016-17 season with a fall against Augsustana. Goergen now has a school record 65 pins during his career with the Huskies. He is now 23-0 in 2016-17.
Here is a rundown of the placewinners for SCSU at the 2016 NCAA DII Regional: 125 - Brett Velasquez (1st), 133 - Jarred Oftedahl 5th place, 141 - Matt Nelson 4th place, 149 - Jay Hildreth 1st place, 165 - Clint Poster 1st place, 174 - Clayton Jennissen 2nd place, 184 - Uthman Rabiu 2nd place, 197 - VJ Giulio 5th place, 285 - Austin Goergen 1st place. Â Velasquez, Jennissen, Rabiu and Goergen are all slated to wrestle at the 2017 regional for the Huskies.
SCSU advances 7 wrestlers to nationals last year and all 7 earned All-America honors. Â This group included: Â Brett Velasquez - 1st place at 125 pounds, Matt Nelson - 5th place at 141 pounds, Jay Hildreth - 4th place at 149 pounds, Clint Poster - 3rd place at 165 pounds, Clayton Jennissen - 7th place at 174 pounds, Uthman Rabiu - 8th place at 184 pounds and Austin Goergen - 3rd place at 285 pounds.
Austin Goergen has 127 career wins during his tenure at SCSU.  Of note, Clint Poster set the team record for most career wins last season with 148 from 2012-16.  Poster (2014-15 and 2015-16), Shamus O'Grady (2012-13) and Tad Merritt (2010-11) all own the team record for most wins in a season with 40. Â
Success has been a hallmark of the SCSU program over the past decade. Â In action at the NCAA Regional tournament, SCSU has been impressive with the following team place finishes: Â 2016 (2nd), 2015 (2nd), 2014 (3rd), 2013 (1st), 2012 (1st), 2011 (1st), 2010 (2nd), 2009 (2nd), 2008 (4th) and 2007 (7th).
At the NCAA championships, SCSU has won the NCAA title in 2015 and 2016. Â SCSU placed 3rd in 2014 and placed 2nd in 2013 (the last time the tourney was held in Birmingham, Ala.). Â SCSU also placed second in 2012 and 2011 and 7th in 2010. Â At the 2009 NCAA finals, SCSU placed 8th, 12th in 2008 and 32nd in 2007.
Coach Steve Costanzo is in his 11th season at SCSU. Â He currently owns a 169-28 dual match record at SCSU and has guided the Huskies to six consecutive NSIC titles in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012. Â The Huskies have only lost five dual matches since the 2011-12 season. Â The NCAA DII coach of the Year in 2016 and 2011, Costanzo has led SCSU to NCAA titles in 2015 and 2016 and five SCSU wrestlers have gained NCAA titles since 2011.
