St. Cloud State to battle for third consecutive NCAA title this week in Alabama
3/8/2017 1:40:00 PM | Wrestling
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The #1 St. Cloud State University wrestling team (17-1, 8-0 NSIC) will begin its quest for a third consecutive NCAA Division II national championship on Friday, March 10 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. Â The two-day NCAA Division II championship tournament will run through Saturday, March 11.
The Huskies will be sending a total of nine wrestlers to the NCAA championships this season, which equals the most wrestlers that the Huskies have ever sent to the national championships at the NCAA Division II level. Â SCSU also sent nine wrestlers to the NCAA finals when it was last held in Birmingham in 2013.
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Austin Goergen
This group of wrestlers headed to the NCAA finals in 2017 include #1 ranked Brett Velasquez at 125-pounds. Â Velasquez won the 2017 NCAA DII Super 3 Regional crown at 125-pounds this year and is the defending NCAA champion at 125. Â Velasquez enters the tourney with a 21-2 overall record. Â Velasquez was recently named to the NSIC All-Academic team for 2016-17.
At 133-pounds, Mike Rhone will be making his second trip to the NCAA championships. Â He made his first trip in 2015 and gained a fifth place finish that season, while helping the Huskies win a national team title. Â A redshirt at SCSU in 2015-16, Rhone is back again this season with a 19-6 overall record. Â He earned his trip to the NCAA finals with a third place finish at the regional meet. Â Rhone enters the tournament with a #6 national ranking at 133-pounds.
At 141-pounds, Jarred Oftedahl will be making his first trip to the NCAA championships.  Oftedahl is 20-5 this season, which includes 11 pins.  He also finished third at the NCAA regional to gain his bid to Birmingham.
In action at 149-pounds, #9 ranked James Pleski will be making his first trip to the NCAA tournament. In his first year with the Huskies, Pleski was 24-8 and placed third at the 2017 regional meet.
SCSU's Larry Bomstad is currently ranked #4 at 157-pounds.  He will be making his second trip to the NCAA finals after placing seventh at 149-pounds in 2015.  Bomstad owns a 19-3 record with seven pins.  He gained his spot on the national roster with a second place finish at the 2017 regional.Â
The list continues at 165-pounds with three-time All-American #7 ranked Gabe Fogarty, who owns a 22-8 record for the Huskies this season. Â Fogarty placed third at the Regional and has gained All-America status for the Huskies in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
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Brett Velasquez
At 174-pounds, #7 ranked Clayton Jennissen will be making his third trip to the NCAA tournament. Â He placed seventh at the nationals in 2016 and will bring a 27-8 record into the national tournament for the Huskies in 2017. Â He placed second at the NCAA regional tournament to earn his trip to Alabama.
SCSU's Uthman Rabiu will be returning to the NCAA finals for the second consecutive season at 184-pounds.  Rabiu owns a 17-6 record this season for the Huskies, which includes a fourth place finish at the recent NCAA regional.  In 2016, Rabiu placed 8th in the 184 bracket at the NCAA tournament.  He is currently ranked #7 in the nation in the latest DII poll at 184.
To complete the list, Austin Goergen will be making his fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA championships in 2017. Â The nation's #5 ranked wrestler at 285-pounds, Goergen owns a 27-1 record this winter with 17 falls to his credit. Â He placed third at the NCAA finals in 2016, second in 2015 and sixth in 2014. Â In action at the recent NCAA regional, Goergen placed third to gain his NCAA bid this year.
The tournament will get undeway with first round action beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 10 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. Â The tournament will continue through the final rounds of competition, which are slated to begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 11. Â The following links will provide a variety of information and resources regarding the upcoming NCAA championships.
NCAA DII Championship Press Conference on Mar. 8Â SCSU WRESTLING NEWS AND NOTES:
The St. Cloud State wrestling team has enjoyed great success in recent years. Â Here is a rundown of the Huskies' national finishes as a team over the past several seasons: 2016 - 1st, 2015 - 1st, 2014 - 6th, 2013 Â - 2nd, 2012 - 2nd, 2011 - 2nd, 2010 - 7th, 2009 - 8th, 2008 - 12th
Clayton Jennissen
The Huskies are led by head coach Steve Costanzo, who is in his 11th season at SCSU. Â His current record with the Huskies is 169-28. Â In his overall career as a college coach, Costanzo owns a 230-58-2 career record that includes time at Dana College and SCSU.
Costanzo was the NCAA DII Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2012. Â
SCSU has won six consecutive NSIC league titles since 2012.  Over those six years, SCSU is 47-0 in NSIC dual meet action.  The Huskies have not lost an NSIC dual meet since an 18-13 loss against Augustana at home on Jan. 27, 2011.
Since the 2010-11 season, the most loses for the Huskies in a season have been two. Â Since 2010-11, the Huskies have amassed an impressive 130-7 record under the guidance of Coach Costano.
Mike Rhone
SCSU wrestlers to win NCAA DII individual titles include Gene Hannemann in 1995, John Sundgren (157) in 2011, Derek Skala (184) in 2012, Shamus O'Grady (184) in 2013, Tim Prescott (125) in 2015 and Brett Velasquez (125) in 2016.
In 2016-17, SCSU top winners were Austin Goergen, Vince Dietz and Clayton Jennissen with 27 wins apiece.  Goergen is 27-1 this season and his lone loss was a setback in the semifinals of the regional tournament.  He charted 26 consecutive wins this year before losing his first match of the year at the regional.
Goergen also paces SCSU with 17 pins this year and is just two shy of the team record of 19 pins in a season, which he set in 2014 and Clint Poster equalled in 2016.  In his career, Goergen has a 131-13 record for the Huskies and he owns the team record with 68 career pins over the past four seasons.
The other member of SCSU's 100 win club is senior Clayton Jennissen, who has a career mark of 111-44 with the Huskies.
SCSU's other four-time national qualifier is Gabe Fogarty and he brings in a career mark of 91-33.
Did you know that Coach Costanzo has coached 150 national qualifiers, 77 All-Americans and 7 national champs during his 18 seasons as a college coach.
Costanzo also led Dana College to a NAIA national title in 2006 before joining the staff at SCSU.
The Huskies captured the 2017 NWCA Division II National Duals title this season. Â This was the third time that SCSU has won the NWCA DII Duals titles. Â SCSUÂ also won the NWCA national duals crown in 2012 and 2013. Â SCSU won the 2017 title with dual wins over San Franciso State (37-11), Pitt-Johnstown (37-6), UW-Parkside (27-9) and Wheeling Jesuit (35-6).
SCSU wrestlers who have gone on to compete on the world stage at the Olympics include Dave Hazewinkel (1968 and 1972), Jim Hazewinkel (1968 and 1972) and Bruce Thompson (1976 and 1980). Â SCSUÂ volunteer assistant coach John Peterson is also an Olympic medalist for Team USA (silver in 1972 and gold in 1976).
2016-17 St. Cloud State National Qualifiers - Stat Line:
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Gabe Fogarty125 – Brett Velasquez, RSo., Bennington, Neb.
2016-17 Record: 21-2, 3 falls
Current NCAA Ranking: #1
Career Record at SCSU: 46-4, 7 falls
 133 – Mike Rhone, RSr., Benton, Pa.
2016-17 Record: 19-6, 5 falls
Current NCAA Rankings: #6
Career Record at SCSU: 59-18, 17 falls
 141 – Jarred Oftedahl, RJr., Chaska, Minn.
2016-17 Record: 20-5, 11 falls
Current NCAA Ranking: NR
Career Record at SCSU: 65-21, 35 falls
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Uthman Rabiu157 – Larry Bomstad, Jr., Lake Lillian, Minn.
2016-17 Record: 19-3, 7 falls
Current NCAA Ranking: 4th
Career Record at SCSU: 65-14, 28 falls
 165 – Gabe Fogarty, RSr., Jordan, Minn.
2016-17 Record: 22-8, 9 falls
Current NCAA Ranking: 7th
Career Record at SCSU: 91-33, 24 falls
 174 – Clayton Jennissen, RSr., Cambridge, Minn.
2016-17 Record: 27-8, 4 falls
Current NCAA Ranking: 7th
Career Record at SCSU: 111-44, 14 falls
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Larry Bomstad184 – Uthman Rabiu, RSr., St. Paul, Minn.
2016-17 Record: 17-6, 2 falls
Current NCAA Rankings: 7th
Career Record at SCSU: 65-33, 16 falls
 285 – Austin Goergen, RSr., Caledonia, Minn.
2016-17 Record: 27-1, 17 falls
Current NCAA Ranking: 5th
Career Record at SCSU: 131-13, 68 falls
Fina NCAA Division II National Rankings for 2016-17
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TEAM RANKINGS
Rank
School
PR
Points
1.
St. Cloud State
1
58
2.
Notre Dame
T4
51
3.
Nebraska-Kearney
3
50
4.
McKendree
14
42
5.
Maryville
2
41
6.
California Baptist
13
36
7.
Ashland
T7
31
8.
Augustana
24
29
9.
Central Oklahoma
T4
28
Findlay
11
28
Mercyhurst
6
28
12.
Pitt.-Johnstown
15
27
Tiffin
T7
27
14.
Colorado State-Pueblo
16
26
15.
Lake Erie
T17
24
16.
Minn. State-Mankato
T19
23
17.
Fort Hays State
T10
22
18.
Indianapolis
T19
20
19.
King
RP
19
20.
Wisconsin-Parkside
T7
17
21.
Northern State
T22
16
22.
Western State
T25
14
UNC-Pembroke
RP
14
24.
Seton Hill
RP
13
25.
Newman
T25
11
Minn. State-Moorhead
RP
11
Limestone
RP
11
Also Receiving Points:Â Minn. State-Mankato, Limestone, Adams State, Newberry, Upper Iowa, Wheeling Jesuit, Simon Fraser, Kutztown, Chadron State, East Stroudsburg, Gannon, Shorter, Lindenwood, Ohio Valley, Shippensburg
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS:
125
133
1. Brett Velasquez, So. St. Cloud State
2. Dustin Reed, Sr. Newman
3. Ivan McClay, Sr. Notre Dame
4. Ronnie Wardleigh, Sr. Western State
5. Allen Diltz, Fr. Seton Hill
6. Willie Bohince, Sr. Mercyhurst
7. Blake Glougouski, Fr. Lake Erie
8. Ronzell Darling, Sr. Wisconsin Parkside
9. Darek Huff, So. Adams State
10. Josh Lindsey, Fr. Central Oklahoma
11. Trung Doung, Jr. Newberry
12. Brandon Carroll, Fr. Augustana
1. Michael Labry, Sr. Ashland
2. Blake Bosch, Sr. Minn. State-Moorhead
3. Dustin Kirk, Jr. King
4. Paul Garcia, So. Colorado State-Pueblo
5. NaQuan Hardy, Jr. McKendree 6. Mike Rhone, Sr. St. Cloud State
7. Bryce Shoemaker, Jr. Nebraska Kearney
8. Martin Ramirez, Sr. Adams State
9. Dustin Warner, Jr. Wheeling Jesuit
10. Carmon Ciotti, Fr. Gannon
11. Josh Walker, Jr. Upper Iowa
12. David Bavery, Jr. Notre Dame
141
149
1. Nate Rodriguez, Sr. Maryville
2. Nick Crume, Jr. Indianapolis
3. Darren Wynn, Jr. McKendree
4. Bryce Killian, Jr. King
5. Trey Grine, Jr. Tiffin
6. Chris Eddins, So. Pitt Johnstown
7. Cobey Fehr, Sr. Notre Dame
8. Joseph Alessandro, So. Seton Hill
9. Dylan Nance, So. East Stroudsburg
10. Brandon Ball, Fr. Fort Hays State
11. Josh Ailey, Sr. Central Oklahoma
12. Pete Cunningham, Jr. Cal Baptist
1. Nic Goebel, Sr. Findlay
2. Tyler Stenberg, Sr. Northern State
3. Nick Boggs, Jr. Lake Erie
4. Michael Screptock, Sr. Tiffin
5. Juwan Edmont, So. Notre Dame
6. Keith Surber, Jr. Nebraska-Kearney
7. James Krischke, Jr. Maryville
8. Brent Fickel, Sr. Ashland 9. James Pleski, Fr. St. Cloud State
10. Logan Grass, So. Mercyhurst
11. Dominick Nania, Sr. Wheeling Jesuit
12. Ty Lydic, Sr. Seton Hill
157
165
1. Cody Law, Jr. Pitt Johnstown
2. Destin McCauley, Jr. Nebraska Kearney
3. Ryan Strope, Jr. McKendree 4. Larry Bomstad, Jr. St. Cloud State
5. Joey White, Sr. Findlay
6. Heath Lange, So. Indianapolis
7. Bryan Dutton, Jr. Central Oklahoma
8. Greg Tooley, Fr. Fort Hays State
9. Tyler Nation, Sr. Augustana
10. DeAndre Johnson, Sr. Limestone
11. Dylan Herman, So. Minn. State-Mankato
12. Eric Lewandowski, Jr. Gannon
1. Isaiah White, Fr. Notre Dame
2. Francis Mizia, Sr. Mercyhurst
3. Calvin Ochs, Jr. Nebraska-Kearney
4. Brock Wingbermuehle, So. McKendree
5. Tyler Reinhart, Jr. Pitt Johnstown
6. JaCobi Jones, Jr. Colorado State-Pueblo 7. Gabe Fogarty, Sr. St. Cloud State
8. TC Warner, Jr. Kutztown
9. Nick Vandermeer, Jr. Lake Erie
10. Kade Kitchens, So. Shorter
11. Kyle Jolas, Jr. Lindenwood
12. Sean Havlovic, Jr. Northern State
174
184
1. Nick Becker, Jr. Wisconsin-Parkside
2. Robert Shade, Sr. UNC-Pembroke
3. Adam Cooling, Sr. Minn. State-Mankato
4. Nolan Kistler, Jr. Cal Baptist
5. Bradley Metz, Sr. Findlay
6. Huston Evans, Sr. Newberry 7. Clayton Jennissen, Sr. St Cloud State
8. Nick Foster, Fr. McKendree
9. Chance Helmick, Jr. Chadron State
10. Brandon Supernaw, So. Western State
11. Dalton George, So. Ohio Valley
12. Justan Rivera, So. Notre Dame
1. Garrett Lineberger, Sr. Notre Dame
2. Nick Fiegener, So. California Baptist
3. JaVaughn Perkins, Fr. Colorado State-Pueblo
4. Aero Amo, Jr. Augustana
5. Corey Abernathy, Jr. Minn. State-Mankato
6. Zeb Wahle, Sr. Maryville 7. Uthman Rabiu, Sr. St. Cloud State
8. Zach Stodden, Jr. Nebraska-Kearney
9. Jordan Murphy, Sr. Ashland
10. Mikey Thomas, Sr. UNC-Pembroke
11. Konnor Schmidt, So. Western State
12. Tyler Hughes, Jr. Lake Erie
197
285
1. Jake Waste, Sr. Cal Baptist
2. Jon Inman, Sr. Fort Hays State
3. Luke Cramer, Jr. Ashland
4. Ben Goodwin, Sr. Augustana
5. Matt Rudy, So. Limestone
6. Ethan Sheretz, So. Maryville
7. Morgan Smith, Sr. Simon Fraser
8. Greg Wilson, Jr. Central Oklahoma
9. Joe Gomez, Sr. Northern State
10. Matt Blome, Fr. Minn. State-Mankato
11. Evan Rosborough, Sr. Lake Erie
12. Evan Ramos, Jr. Shippensburg
1. Caleb Cotter, Jr. Central Oklahoma
2. Kevin Barrett, Jr. Nebraska-Kearney
3. Garrett Grey, Sr. Tiffin
4. Donnell Walker, Sr. Maryville 5. Austin Goergen, Sr. St. Cloud State
6. Andy Welton, Sr. Mercyhurst
7. Michael Lowman, Sr. Augustana
8. Logan Hopp, Sr. Upper Iowa
9. Paul Head, Sr. Cal Baptist
10. Christian Lance, Fr. Fort Hays State
11. Dylan Faulkenberg, So. Indianapolis
12. Kameron Teacher, Fr. Notre Dame
