St. Cloud State Wrestling Picked First in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Nick Novak Named Preseason Wrestler of the Year

Preseason coaches' poll wrestling 2024-24

St. Cloud State Wrestling Picked First in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Nick Novak Named Preseason Wrestler of the Year

10/17/2024 2:10:00 PM | Wrestling

Huskies look to build off 5th Place National Finish

Burnsville, Minn.- St. Cloud State Wrestling was picked to finish 1st in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by the league office on Thursday. Senior 157-pounder Nick Novak was named the NSIC Preseason Wrestler of the Year as selected by the league's head coaches for the second consecutive year.

Head Coach Steve Costanzo enters his 19th season with St. Cloud State ahead of the 2024-25 season. Costanzo and the Huskies are coming off a 2023-24 season that saw the Huskies tally a perfect 14-0 record on their way to an NSIC Championship. The Huskies also won their eighth consecutive Super Region V Championship, qualifying eight wrestlers for the National Championships. In Wichita, the Huskies produced six All-Americans leading to a 5th place finish. Costanzo would be awarded NSIC Coach of the Year and Super Region V Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career for his efforts.

"I am very excited about this team this year," said Coach Steve Costanzo. "We have an abundance of talent all over our room. With a strong nucleus of experience, we also have a good contingency of talented youth. Time will tell how good this team could be, but with strong leadership, fellowship and health - this team has the potential to have a banner of a year."

Novak enters his senior season with the Huskies and is looking to continue his storied career. Last season, Novak registered a 24-1 record and reached the national championship for the second consecutive season at 157-pound class but was defeated 10-7 by Gabe Johnson of Central Oklahoma to finish as the national runner-up. Novak earned a plethora of honors last year as he was named NSIC Wrestler of the Year, First Team All-NSIC, and Super Region V Wrestler of the Year as well as earning his second consecutive All-American honors while winning the Super Region Championship for the third consecutive season at his respective weight class.

"Nick is a hard-nosed, no nonsense and very committed student-athlete. He strives to be his best in all facets of his life. Nick is very serious about his academics, career path and the sport of wrestling. We are very fortunate to call him, one-of-our-own! He is on pace to have one of the greatest careers as a Huskies wrestler and we are very excited to see what he accomplishes this season," said Costanzo.

St. Cloud State comes into this year holding the most All-Americans from last year of any NCAA Division II team with six while rostering eight national qualifiers. The Huskies return five of their six All-Americans from last year including Colby Njos, Novak, Cole Glazier, Bryce FitzPatrick, and Dominic Murphy.

At 149 pounds, redshirt senior Colby Njos went 20-3 with seven bonus point victories a season ago. The Anoka, Minn. native reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time in his career after becoming the Super Region V Champion. After losing in the quarterfinal round, Njos went on an immaculate run in the wrestle backs with three consecutive decision victories to reach the 3rd place match where he would defeat Dylan Brown of Central Oklahoma 3-1 to earn All-American honors for the second time in his career. Njos also earned Second Team All-NSIC a year ago.

Sophomore Cole Glazier enters his second season with the Huskies after an incredible true freshman campaign. Glazier went 30-5 and produced 22 bonus point victories at the 174-pound class while becoming a national qualifier after a 3rd place finish at the Super Region V Championships. Glazier would be defeated in Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament but rallied off three consecutive victories in the wrestle backs to earn All-American Honors. The Kasson, Minn. native would ultimately finish 8th in Wichita and earned Second Team All-NSIC last year.

At 184 pounds, redshirt senior Bryce FitzPatrick finished last year with a 17-6 record, recording 13 bonus point victories. FitzPatrick reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his career after a 3rd place finish at the Super Region V Championships. FitzPatrick would be defeated in Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament, but picked up three straight victories, including two falls, to earn All-American Honors. The Mahtomedi, Minn. native went on to finish 8th and earn Second Team All-NSIC.

Graduate Student Dominic Murphy went 21-5 with 11 bonus victories on his way to his second consecutive Super Region V Championship at the 197-pound class. Murphy reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year where he won his first two matches to reach the Semifinals and secure his second straight All-American Honors. Murphy would be defeated in the semifinals and then in the consolation semifinals and landed in the 5th place match. Murphy picked up a major decision victory to place 5th. On the year, Murphy was named NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year while earning Second Team All-NSIC.

At 125 pounds, redshirt junior Conor Knopick enters his second season with the Huskies where he finished last year with a 16-6 record and eight bonus point victories. Knopick would qualify for the NCAA Tournament after placing third at the Super Region V Championships.

Graduate Student Caleb Meekins is the final returning national qualifier from the 2023-24 season after finishing with an 18-9 record while totaling 13 bonus point victories. Meekins reached the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season after placing third at the Super Region V Championships at the 133-pound class.

Other notable returning wrestlers for the Huskies include Alyeus Craig, Bryce Dagel, Archer Heelan, Donnie Hidden, Tyson Meyer, Sam Spencer, and Nolan Throne who all cracked the Huskies lineup during the dual season. Craig totaled a record of 15-6 last season while nearly qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Craig placed 4th at the Super Region V Championships at the 141-pound class for the second consecutive season. Dagel compiled a 19-4 record at the 174-pound class last year with nine bonus point victories. Heelan went 9-3 at the 125-pound class with three bonus point victories. Hidden totaled a 13-3 record with nine bonus point victories at the 285-pound class. Meyer went 18-5 at the 184-pound class with 11 bonus point victories. Spencer registered a 7-5 record at the 133-pound class with three bonus point victories. Throne totaled a 12-3 record with eight bonus point victories at the 149-pound class.

While the Huskies graduated three-time All-American Anthony Herrera in the offseason, they picked up three-time national qualifier and 2024 All-American La'Ron Parks from Notre Dame College. Parks finished 4th at the NCAA Tournament last year while wrestling at the heavyweight class. In his career, Parks compiled an 82-26 record with the Falcons. He has finished third three times at the Super Region III Championships while earning two All-Conference nods and an All-Conference Honorable Mention.

Along with Parks, the Huskies were active in the offseason acquiring talent as they added Brandon Eusebio, Joel Jesuroga, David Platt, and Gabriel Smith. Eusebio comes from Lindenwood University where he posted a 4-9 record. Jesuroga comes from the University of Iowa where he registered a 20-6 record. Platt transferred from Itasca Community College where he was a NJCAA All-American. Smith comes from Cornell College where he totaled a 59-22 record with 34 bonus point victories while becoming a 2024 All-American. All hope to make an impact on the Huskies lineup this season.

St. Cloud State (80) earned eight of a possible 10 first place votes while UW-Parkside (73) earned the other two first place votes.

Preseason Coaches' Poll Results

St. Cloud State
UW-Parkside
Augustana
UMary
Northern State
Minnesota State Mankato
Minot State
Southwest Minnesota State
MSU Moorhead
Sioux Falls

St. Cloud State opens their season on Wednesday, October 30 with the annual Black and Red Classic. The Huskies will start dual season as they host Sioux Falls on Sunday, December 8. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Wrestling, stay tuned to scsuhuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.