Oct. 26
vs. Gustavus Adolphus
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GAME PREVIEW
Today’s Matchup: Saint John’s out-gained Carleton 621146, including a 29-5 advantage in first downs, last Saturday (Oct. 19) in a 48-7 win in Northfield. Senior quarterback Aaron Syverson finished 30 of 39 passing for 400 yards and five touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Marselio Mendez led the receiving corps with seven catches for 138 yards and a score. SJU’s defense forced 11 punts, including nine three-andouts. Gustavus Adolphus, meanwhile, outgained winless Macalester 387249 and built a 30-7 lead thanks to three touchdown catches from wide receiver Caden Kleinschmidt en route to a 36-7 win in St. Paul. Kleinschmidt’s touchdowns covered 49, 41 and 76 yards as he finished with seven catches for 228 yards. A 79-yard interception return for a touchdown from linebacker Ty Glaser with 13:08 left in the fourth quarter served as the lone score of the second half.
Series History: Today’s game is the 90th meeting between Saint John’s and Gustavus Adolphus on the football field. The Johnnies are 53-33-3 all-time against the Gusties, including a 28-11-1 record here in Collegeville. SJU has won 33 of the last 36 meetings overall, despite last year’s 38-35 loss in St. Peter.
41-0: SJU improved to 41-0 all-time against Carleton with last Saturday’s win: 20-0 in Collegeville, 18-0 in Northfield and 3-0 at a neutral site. The Johnnies have now outscored the Knights 1,798-369 (43.9-9.0 avg.) in the series, which dates back to 1983, including a 514-53 advantage and four shutouts in the last 10 meetings.
Defense shines: The 146 yards of offense allowed by Saint John’s last Saturday at Carleton were its fewest since last year’s 63-7 Homecoming win over…Carleton…on Oct. 14, 2023. The Knights produced 146 yards on 21 more plays – 66 – than last week’s 45. The defensive showing also recorded a number of statistical superlatives that had not occurred since the 2018 season:
• The offensive margin of 475 (621146) was the Johnnies’ largest
Johnnies
since the 551 (717-166) recorded in their 84-6 win over Martin Luther in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Playoffs (Nov. 17).
• SJU forced nine three-and-outs against the Knights, which were the most since Martin Luther –also the Knights – had 10 in the 2018 playoff win.
• The five first downs allowed, which were all recorded through the air, were the fewest against SJU since Nov. 3 – two weeks prior to the postseason opener against Martin Luther – when Hamline totaled five (all on the ground) in a 51-0 win for SJU in Collegeville.
New MIAC Record: Syverson’s five-touchdown game last Saturday enabled him to break his tie with Jackson Erdmann ‘19 for sole possession of the MIAC record for multi-passing-touchdown games with 23. In SJU’s record book, Syverson is 13 completions from Alex Kofoed’s ‘07 program record of 830 and 208 passing yards behind him for second (10,737). He is now 81 of 107 passing (.757) for 1,124 yards (374.7 ypg.) and 15 touchdowns (to two interceptions) in three career games against Carleton.
AROUND THE
2024 MIAC Standings
Wartburg College
Knights
Head Coach: Chris Winter
2024 Record: 5-1
2024 ARC Record: 4-0
Sept. 7 at Monmouth (Ill.) W, 38-24
Sept. 14 at Saint John’s L, 13-35
Sept. 21 at Central (Iowa) W, 10-6
Sept. 28 Nebraska Wesleyan W, 34-0
Oct. 12 at Buena Vista (Iowa) W, 70-21
Oct. 19 Simpson (Iowa) W, 46-21
Oct. 26 at Coe (Iowa) 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 Luther (Iowa) 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Dubuque (Iowa) 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 Loras (Iowa) 1 p.m.
Carleton College Knights
Head Coach: Tom Journell 2024 Record: 2-4 2024 MIAC Record: 1-3
Sept. 7 at Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) L, 12-28
Sept. 21 Minnesota-Morris W, 28-7
Sept. 28 at Hamline W, 24-14
Oct. 5 Concordia L, 6-31
Oct. 12 at St. Olaf L, 13-19
Oct. 19 Saint John’s L, 7-48
Oct. 26 at St. Scholastica 5 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Bethel 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 Gustavus Adolphus 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 MIAC Week 1 p.m.
Bethel University
Royals
Head Coach: Mike McElroy
2024 Record: 5-1
2024 MIAC Record: 3-1
Sept. 14 at Northwestern (Minn.) W, 49-3
Sept. 21 UW-Eau Claire W, 51-30
Sept. 28 Saint John’s L, 20-45
Oct. 5 at Gustavus Adolphus W, 43-0
Oct. 12 Macalester W, 59-0
Oct. 19 Augsburg W, 73-8
Oct. 26 at Hamline 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 Carleton 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Concordia 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 at MIAC Week 1 p.m.
Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties
Head Coach: Peter Haugen
2024 Record: 4-2
2024 MIAC Record: 3-1
Sept. 7 Whitworth (Wash.) L, 7-40
Sept. 21 at UW-Stevens Point W, 31-10
Sept. 28 at Augsburg W, 28-0
Oct. 5 Bethel L, 0-43
Oct. 12 St. Scholastica W, 51-13
Oct. 19 at Macalester W, 36-7
Oct. 26 at Saint John’s 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 St. Olaf 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Carleton 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 MIAC Week 1 p.m.
Augsburg University
Auggies
Head Coach: Derrin Lamker
2024 Record: 2-4
2024 MIAC Record: 1-3
Sept. 6 Valley City State (N.D.) L, 14-24
Sept. 21 at Martin Luther W, 34-7
Sept. 28 Gustavus Adolphus L, 0-28
Oct. 5 at Saint John’s L, 20-45
Oct. 12 Hamline W, 37-27
Oct. 19 at Bethel L, 8-73
Oct. 26 St. Olaf 12 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Concordia 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 Macalester 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 at MIAC Week 1 p.m.
College of St. Scholastica Saints
Head Coach: Mike Heffernan
2024 Record: 2-4
2024 MIAC Record: 1-3
Sept. 14 Rockford (Ill.) L, 24-31
Sept. 21 at Crown W, 35-15
Sept. 28 at Concordia L, 0-35
Oct. 5 Macalester W, 30-28
Oct. 12 at Gustavus Adolphus L, 13-51
Oct. 19 at St. Olaf L, 33-36
Oct. 26 Carleton 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 Saint John’s 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Hamline 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 MIAC Week 1 p.m.
Oct. 19 St. Scholastica W, 36-33
Oct. 26 at Augsburg 12 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Gustavus Adolphus 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 at Saint John’s 1 p.m. Nov. 16 MIAC Week 1 p.m.
Sports coverage to yo u . J o h n n i e s
ANDY RENNECKE Sports Editor
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Drew Bramlett
6-1, 190, defensive back, Woodbury High School
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?
The beach because I love water.
What is your major and why did you choose it?
Accounting. It’s the language of business and I’m an entrepreneur. I also got some great advice from mentors and family as I explore this road.
What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m pretty good at drawing and I can juggle.
Tom Soler
6-0, 280, offensive line, Hill-Murray High School
What made you decide to come to Saint John’s?
When I came on my visit to SJU, the coaches seemed like one big family. They were laughing together and talking about their own families. Then, when I had my one-on-one meeting with (head coach) Gary Fasching, I felt like I was speaking with a coach who was going to help me grow as a man more than a football player.
What are some of your hobbies?
Golfing, playing any type of card game, fishing, hunting and playing guitar.
If you were trapped on a desert island, what teammate would you want with you and why?
(Defensive lineman) Zach Frank. He would tell me so many stories it would feel like I was watching a TV show.
D.J. Myles
5-11, 205, linebacker, Champlin Park High School
What is your best memory of your time here - on or off the field?
Beating Trinity (Texas) week one at home last year. It was a great game overall, and I had my best game in front of a huge home crowd. The atmosphere was incredible.
What is the most interesting place to which you’ve traveled?
Before my sophomore year in high school, I went to the Czech Republic on a mission trip. It’s a beautiful place, and the people you meet there are amazing.
Who is someone you really admire and why?
I really admire my mother. She is a loving, caring and hardworking woman. She’s the glue that keeps our family together. She’s taught me so much over the years, and I’m truly blessed to have her in my life.
Dawson Van Meter
6-0, 230, defensive lineman, Luck (Wisconsin) High School
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?
It would probably have to be the Abbey. It’s absolutely stunning. Every time I go by it, I stare in awe.
What is something most people wouldn’t know about you? I cut off part of my thumb in high school.
Who is someone you really admire and why?
Both my parents. I’ve learned so many life lessons and skills from them that it would be impossible to pick anyone else. They have great success stories.
Riley Kangas
6-1, 240, linebacker, Bethlehem Academy High School
What is your best memory of your time here - on or off the field?
(Offensive lineman) Tommy Hessburg doing the 10-waffle challenge at the Reef and getting kicked out for eating too much.
What is your major and why did you choose it?
Exercise and health science. It fit my future goal of being an orthopedic surgeon.
What is the most interesting place to which you’ve traveled?
Ireland on spring break last year.
By Frank Rajkowski
Former Johnnie kicker named SJU Entrepreneur of the Year
In a way, it was a football injury that opened a door to the world for Anthony Schmidt ’09.
The TotinoGrace High School graduate was the Johnnies starting kicker as a freshman in 2005, connecting on 65 of 70 extra points and booting three field goals. But he suffered an injury that kept him out of action as a sophomore, and he elected to study abroad his junior season.
“That had a big impact on me,” he recalls of the experience. “In all, I ended up studying abroad in some form or fashion four times at Saint John’s, and it kind of got in my blood.”
Schmidt went to work for UnitedHealth Group after his time in Collegeville, but the travel bug remained strong. That - combined with the inspiration to fill a software-related void that had
become apparent to him - led him to Uruguay. It was there in 2012 that he took a chance and founded Tarmac, a nearshore software development company that has grown from a twoperson operation to employ over 300 engineers in the U.S., Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands and North Macedonia.
The company designs, builds, scales and maintains custom software for companies like Caribou Coffee, Allina Health and Boston Scientific.
“I figured the worst thing that could happen is I could fail and end up living on my parents’ couch,” Schmidt said of his venture. “When you’re in your 20s, that’s not the worst thing in the world. At the time, I didn’t see a ton of downside. As you get older, and you have kids and you have to pay the mortgage, risk becomes a much bigger factor. But when you’re young, it’s easier to take chances.”
In addition to Tarmac, Schmidt now owns and operates several other businesses in the software and hospitality space. That success made
him an ideal choice for this year’s SJU Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award — along with the College of Saint Benedict Entrepreneur of the Year and CSB/SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards - are presented annually by the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at CSB and SJU.
Schmidt, CSB award winner Lacie Gerhardson ’00 and CSB/SJU social award winner Katie Kalkman ’06 will be honored in a program scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Monday (Oct. 28) at the Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom in Golden Valley. Tickets can be purchased online at connect.csbsju. edu/register/2024EOYAwards.
“It was definitely a big surprise, but I’m really honored,” said Schmidt, who now resides in Key West, Florida with his wife and two children. “After running a business for 14 years, to get this kind of recognition from my alma mater is a lot more rewarding than I even expected it to be.”
JOEY GENDREAU
It was just a summer workout this past offseason members of the Saint John’s University offense going against members of the Johnnie defense in a seven-on-seven drill.
But when junior tight end Joey Gendreau caught a pass from quarterback Aaron Syverson and turned toward the end zone, he found his cousin Cooper Yaggie a two-time All-MIAC senior linebacker waiting.
What happened next was the subject of some dispute.
“He thought he would have scored, and I thought I would have stopped him,” the 6-foot, 210-pound Yaggie recalls. “So we got into a bit of an argument.”
“The rule in seven-on-seven is you’re down where you get tagged,” the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Gendreau added.
“But it was right at the goal line and it was the last play. I felt like in a game, I’d have been able to run through a couple of guys and roll into the end zone. He felt differently. So we got into it a little bit.”
me there,” Yaggie wistfully concedes.
“It was all good,” Gendreau added. “We like to get after each other. But once we step off the field, we’re still family and we’re still friends. We’re just really competitive people. That’s the way it’s always been.”
Even as kids, the two often snuck away to a room off the kitchen in the Yaggie family farmhouse near Breckenridge
Yaggie grew up in Breckenridge, helping on the farm where his family has grown wheat, soybeans, sugar beets and corn for decades. His parents Bruce and Bradi have now taken over the farm’s day-to-day operations, moving into the home in which his grandparents Robert and Darlene lived while he was growing up. Gendreau - whose mother Nancee is Bruce’s sister grew up in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, where he was a standout at Minnetonka High School. But he visited the farm and cabin often.
“We’re a pretty close-knit family and we got together a lot,” Gendreau said. “I always loved going up there.”
Football has long been part of the family’s fabric. Both Robert and Bruce played at North Dakota State. So it was only natural that both Yaggie and Gendreau followed in their footsteps, each drawing plenty of interest from college recruiters after successful prep careers.
“We’d get in our fair share of tussles, then we’d eventually get yelled at by our grandpa,” Gendreau recalls.
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Joey Gendreau and Cooper Yaggie as kids
“I looked at NDSU and I looked at Concordia because it was in the area and I wanted to stay involved
members, and sometimes around 20, at home games. It’s like a mini
Indeed, the Yaggie clan are regulars in the tailgate lot - identifiable by the life-size cutouts of both players they put up each home football Saturday.
The cousins have given them plenty to cheer about. Coming into action today, Gendreau had 29 catches for 333 yards and a touchdown this season while Yaggie had 32 tackles, including four for
“I’m just really happy we’ve gotten this chance to play together,” said Yaggie, who hopes to work in the agriculture field following his graduation this May with an eye toward one day taking over the family
“I know it’s especially exciting for our grandpa (grandmother Darlene
passed away at age 76 in 2016 after a nearly two-year battle with esophageal cancer). He’ll be the first to tell you how proud he is. He has both our numbers No. 3 and No. 0 on the back of his hat.”
“It’s been nice for us and nice for our family,” added Gendreau, a double major in exercise and health science and global business leadership. “It’s been another great way for everyone to spend time together.”
“We usually have at least 10 family members, and sometimes around 20, at home games. It’s like a mini family reunion.”
GARY FASCHING
It’s never easy to replace a legend, but Gary Fasching has proven himself up to the task. The 1981 SJU graduate took over for John Gagliardi when the winningest coach in college football history retired following the 2012 season. Since that time, Fasching has guided the Johnnies to five MIAC titles and led his team to eight-straight NCAA Division III playoff berths from 201422 (no season in 2020) a program
KOLE HECKENDORF
Kole Heckendorf is in his seventh season as SJU’s offensive coordinator and his 12th as a member of the team’s coaching staff. In 2019, his offense set program records by averaging 371.4 passing yards and 512.9 total yards per game. Heckendorf was a standout wide receiver at North Dakota State, who ended his career (2005-08) with the Bison as the program’s career leader in catches (178) and receiving yards (2,732). He then spent time with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers and Indianapolis Colts.
Josh Bungum (running backs) - A 2016 SJU graduate, Josh Bungum is in his ninth season on the coaching staff. He was an All-American pick as a player in 2015 and finished his career second in program history in receptions.
Mike Magnuson (offensive line) - A 1990 SJU graduate, Mike Magnuson is in his 10th season on the coaching staff and his seventh coaching the team’s offensive lineman. He was a three-year starter for the Johnnies at offensive tackle himself, helping lead the team to two NCAA Division III playoff appearances.
Ben Eli (offensive line) - A 2016 SJU graduate, Ben Eli is in his eighth season on the coaching staff. As a player, he was an All-American selection at center.
COACHING STAFF
and MIAC record streak. A three-year starter for the Johnnies at linebacker (1977-78, 1980-81), Fasching served 17 years as an assistant football coach and recruiting coordinator on Gagliardi’s staff before taking over as head coach. He has since been named MIAC coach of the year six times (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022). Prior to coming to SJU, Fasching was the head coach at St. Cloud Cathedral High School from 1986-95, leading the Crusaders to back-to-back state titles in 1992 and ’93. In 2022, he was inducted into both the Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) Hall of Fame and the St. Cloud Cathedral Athletic Hall of Fame. He and his wife Cindy reside in St. Joseph.
BRANDON NOVAK
Brandon Novak is in his 25th season as an assistant coach for the Johnnies and currently serves as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. The 2001 SJU graduate was a two-time All-American selection at linebacker who earned MIAC MVP honors in 1999. He was a three-time All-American wrestler and won the NCAA Division III national champion at 197 pounds in 2001. He went on to coach the Johnnie wrestling team for 10 years before stepping down following the 2013-14 season.
Graydon Kulick (quarterbacks) - A 2021 graduate of SJU, Graydon Kulick is in his second season on the coaching staff. He played at Davidson and Western Kentucky before transferring to play for the Johnnies.
Max Jackson (defensive assistant/ diversity and student success) - A 2019 SJU graduate, Max Jackson is in his fourth season on the coaching staff. He was a two-time All-American safety and a twotime All-MIAC pick in baseball.
Collin Franz (defensive line) - A 2021 SJU graduate, Collin Franz is in his third season on the coaching staff. He started all 12 games for the Johnnies as player in 2021 (utilizing his extra year of eligibility).
Andy Auger (defense) - A 1995 SJU graduate, Andy Auger is in his sixth season
DAMIEN DUMONCEAUX
Damien Dumonceaux is in his 19th season on the SJU coaching staff and currently serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach. He was a three-year starter at nose tackle for the Johnnies from 200305, earning All-American honors as a senior. That season, he was also named Football Gazette’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and D3football.com’s Defensive Player of the Year, while receiving the MIAC Mike Stam Award as the conference’s top lineman.
as a volunteer assistant. Prior to that, the former football and baseball standout for the Johnnies was head football coach at St. Cloud Cathedral from 2013-15.
Tom Wicka (linebackers) - A 1990 SJU graduate, Tom Wicka is in his third season as a volunteer assistant. He was a two-time All-MIAC pick at linebacker at SJU.
Alexi Johnson (kickers) - A 2017 SJU graduate, Alexi Johnson is in his seventh season as a volunteer assistant. He was the Johnnies’ kicker from 2013-16, ending his career second in school history in career field goals (27) and career PAT’s (190).
Alex Larson (tight ends) - A 2024 graduate of SJU, Larson was a three-time All-American at tight end as a player. He is in his first season on the coaching staff.
1 Joe Akoh Sr. DL 6-4 240 Hugo, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
1 Alex Hart Fr. DB 5-10 165 Minneapolis, Minn./Wayzata
2 Nolan Dumonceaux Fr. DB 6-0 180 Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake
3 Cooper Yaggie Sr. LB 6-0 210 Breckenridge, Minn./Breckenridge
4 Will Peroutka Fr. DB 5-11 175 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount
5 Landon Danner Fr. LB 6-2 220 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount
5 Graham Gerlach Sr. DB 5-11 190 St. Paul, Minn./Roseville Area
6 Isaac Potter Jr. LB 6-0 210 Waseca, Minn./Waseca
7 Evan Wahlin Jr. DB 5-11 185 Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral
8 Peyton Goettlicher So. DB 5-11 190 Mankato, Minn./West
9 Westin Hoyt Fr. DB 6-1 190 Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake
10 Mateo Cisneros Sr. DB 5-11 195 Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View
11 Noah Arneson Jr. DB 6-0 195 Independence, Minn./Orono
11 Carson Ray Fr. DL 6-1 210 Minneapolis, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s
12 Logan Jans So. DB 6-4 185 St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville
13 Landon Weyer Fr. DB 5-11 185 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area
14 Alex Harren Jr. LB 6-2 210 Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice
15 Charlie King Fr. DL 6-6 260 Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy
15 Caden Renslow So. DB 6-1 195 Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley
16 Blake Simonson Jr. DB 5-11 175 Waconia, Minn./Waconia
17 Vincent Pyne So. DB 6-0 185 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount
18 Will Seymour Fr. DB 6-1 170 New Prague, Minn./New Prague
19 Daylen Cummings Fr. DB 6-0 190 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial
19 Adam Schavey So. LB 5-11 200 Winnebago, Minn./Blue Earth Area
20 Hudson Poole Fr. DB 5-10 165 Excelsior, Minn./Minnetonka
21 Jalen Crowley Fr. DB 6-2 190 St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge
21 Nolan Rueter Sr. LB 6-2 205 Avon, Minn./Albany
22 Andrew Lipke Fr. LB 6-3 210 Stewart, Minn./Hutchinson
22 Charlie Ryks Jr. DB 6-0 195 Maple Grove, Minn./Breck
23 Aiden McMahon So. LB 6-1 220 Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove
24 John Hawkins Jr. DB 6-0 180 St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral
24 Mitch Vener Jr. DL 6-2 230 South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul
25 Zachariah Hunter Jr. LB 5-11 215 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area
26 Jack Savasten Sr. DB 6-2 205 Farmington, Minn./Farmington
28 Ryan Sanvik Sr. DB 5-11 175 North Branch, Minn./Chisago Lakes
29 Cage Linton Sr. DB 5-11 200 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
30 Darby Boelter Fr. DB 5-10 180 Crosslake, Minn./Pequot Lakes
30 Will Diana Fr. LB 6-1 220 Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie
31 Dylan Hanson So. DB 6-1 180 Savage, Minn./Prior Lake
31 Mason McKelvy Fr. LB 6-1 190 Austin, Texas/Westlake
32 Bailey Evans Fr. DB 5-11 190 Breckenridge, Minn./Breckenridge
32 Jake Schwinghammer Sr. LB 6-0 215 Woodbury, Minn./Tartan
33 Jack St. Fleur Jr. DB 6-0 210 San Diego, Calif./Christian Unified
34 Drew Bramlett Sr. DB 6-1 190 Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury
35 Josh Muehlbauer So. DL 6-1 230 Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown
36 Clay Wolf Fr. DB 6-2 200 Breezy Point, Minn./Pequot Lakes
37 Kaeden Carter Fr. DB 6-1 165 Lakeville, Minn./ North
37 Zach Helfmann So. LB 6-2 240 St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park
38 Mason Hughes Fr. DB 5-9 160 Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi
39 D.J. Myles Sr. LB 5-11 205 Dayton, Minn./Champlin Park
40 Isaac Hetland Sr. DL 6-1 235 Osakis, Minn./Osakis
41 Beau Boudreaux So. LB 6-0 205 Huson, Mont./Frenchtown
42 Robbie Burslem Fr. DL 6-5 215 Austin, Texas/St. Dominic Savio Catholic
43 Hayden Sanders Sr. LB 6-0 220 Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park
44 Andrew Molenaar Jr. DL 6-0 230 Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View
45 Joey Greenagel Fr. DB 6-0 180 Maple Plain, Minn./Orono
45 Vinny Wanda Jr. DL 6-3 235 Lakeville, Minn./North
46 Ben Dahl Sr. LB 5-9 200 Otsego, Minn./Rogers
47 Jalen Graham Fr. LB 5-10 200 Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park
47 Liam O’Malley Sr. DB 6-0 175 Sarasota, Fla./Booker
48 Jack Bjork Sr. LB 6-0 220 Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi
49 Cooper Nelson Fr. LB 6-0 225 Sherman Oaks, Calif./Crespi Carmelite
50 J.P. Weber So. LB 6-0 210 Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert
51 Henry Bendickson So. LB 6-1 190 St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park
52 Tanner Gelinas Fr. LB 6-1 180 Canyon Lake, Calif./Vista Murrieta
53 Kaden Lukkes Jr. LB 5-10 180 New Prague, Minn./New Prague
53 Dawson Van Meter Sr. DL 6-0 230 Luck, Wis./Luck
54 Eric Jurek So. LB 5-11 200 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area
55 Alex Larson Fr. DL 6-2 250 St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park
56 Kellen O’Keefe Fr. LB 6-2 205 Le Center, Minn./Tri-City United
57 Austin Wisdom Fr. LB 5-11 220 Simi Valley, Calif./Crespi Carmelite
59 Jayden Leach Jr. LB 6-1 215 Bayport, Minn./Stillwater Area
60 Jackson Carlson So. LB 6-3 210 Duluth, Minn./East
61 Emilio Velishek Fr. LB 6-0 215 Jordan, Minn./Jordan
66 Will Mahowald So. DL 6-1 240 Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen
67 Grady Minnerath Fr. DL 6-0 245 Paynesville, Minn./Rocori
70 Caleb Thom Jr. DL 6-2 230 Minneapolis, Minn./Totino-Grace
71 Cam Cortright Fr. DL 6-2 240 Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata
73 Jack Krza Jr. DL 6-4 245 Littleton, Colo./Mullen
74 Jawahn Cockfield Fr. DL 6-0 240 St. Paul, Minn./Stillwater Area
81 Logan Gass Fr. DL 6-7 205 Fulda, Minn./Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda
82 Etah Akoh Sr. DL 6-4 240 Hugo, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
83 Alex Lundebrek Sr. DL 6-4 250 Otsego, Minn./Rogers
85 Braden Sotis Fr. DL 6-1 220 Temecula, Calif./Linfield Christian
86 Tim Johnson Fr. DL 6-2 250 Elk River, Minn./Elk River
87 Jordan Borgeson Sr. DL 6-3 245 Rochester, Minn./Lourdes
88 Alex Wimmer Fr. DL 6-0 215 Anoka, Minn./Anoka
89 Michael Kasel Fr. DL 6-2 210 Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi
90 Landon Gallagher Sr. DL 6-2 250 Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta
91 Ben Thorman Fr. DL 6-2 250 Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson
92 Chandler Obering Jr. DL 6-4 255 Orange, Calif./Villa Park
93 Riley DeRosier Jr. DL 6-1 235 Baxter, Minn./Brainerd
94 Ben Karr Jr. DL 6-2 230 Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray
95 Travis Johnson Sr. DL 6-3 250 Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta
96 Riley Kangas Sr. DL 6-1 240 Faribault, Minn./Bethlehem Academy
97 Zach Frank Sr. DL 6-3 270 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial
98 Tommy Gilmore Sr. DL 6-3 250 Otsego, Minn./Rogers
99 Cole Engen Jr. DL 6-1 235 Esko, Minn./Esko
0 Joey Gendreau Jr. TE 6-3 230 Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka
1 Marselio Mendez Sr. WR 5-9 165 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
2 Takhi Vaughn Jr. RB 5-9 175 Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie
2 Dylan Wheeler Jr. WR 6-2 190 St. Paul, Minn./Mounds View
3 Zander Dittbenner Jr. QB 6-0 200 Mankato, Minn./West
4 Riley Schwellenbach So. WR 5-9 160 Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge
5 Joey Moberg Sr. WR 5-10 200 St. Paul, Minn./Johnson
6 Aaron Syverson Sr. QB 6-0 195 Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka
7 Mason Delzer Fr. RB 6-1 205 Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer
7 Brady VanErp Sr. WR 6-2 185 Battle Lake, Minn./Ottertail Central
8 Sam Nolan So. WR 6-0 180 Lakeville, Minn./North
9 Lucas Jansky Jr. QB 6-1 200 Kimball, Minn./Kimball Area
9 Sam Ovsak Fr. WR 6-0 180 Breckenridge, Minn./Fargo (N.D.) Shanley
10 Zach Roebuck Jr. WR 5-10 195 Olympia Fields, Ill./Rich Central
11 Leyton Riviere Fr. QB 6-0 185 Pflugerville, Texas/St. Dominic Savio Catholic
12 Conor Murphy Sr. K 5-10 180 Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman
12 Reece Dawson Fr. QB 6-3 215 Rogers, Minn./Rogers
13 Nirvaan Yogarajah Fr. QB 6-2 170 Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s
14 David Duplantier Fr. WR 6-3 185 Leander, Texas/St. Dominic Savio Catholic
15 Landen Mickelson Fr. QB 6-2 210 Andover, Minn./St. Agnes
16 Jake Deutschman Jr. QB 6-1 200 Ramsey, Minn./Anoka
16 Thomas Jacobs So. WR 5-10 165 Lakeland, Minn./Stillwater Area
17 Faaris Amegankpoe Sr. WR 6-3 190 Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove
18 Spencer Ell Sr. P 5-11 185 Morristown, Minn./Bethlehem Academy
18 Caden Caligiuri So. WR 6-1 200 Winnipeg, Manitoba/Oak Park
19 Owen Amrhein Jr. WR 5-11 185 Waconia, Minn./Waconia
20 Wyatt Sawatzke Jr. WR 6-3 205 Monticello, Minn./Monticello
22 Jaxon Sawyer Jr. RB 6-1 205 San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine College Prep
23 Dylan Kirchner So. RB 6-0 195 Andover, Minn./Andover
24 Wyatt McCabe Fr. RB 5-10 180 Mayer, Minn./Watertown-Mayer
26 Mike Barry Fr. WR 6-0 180 Hugo, Minn./Mahtomedi
27 A.J. Loch Sr. WR 6-1 190 Kildeer, Ill./Stevenson
27 Caden Wheeler Jr. RB 5-10 200 Andover, Minn./Andover
28 Quinn Christoffersen Sr. RB 5-10 200 St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul
29 Andrew Flaten Fr. RB 5-9 190 Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria
30 Corey Bohmert So. RB 5-10 175 Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi
32 Andy Becker Fr. RB 5-10 210 Kimball, Minn./Kimball Area
33 Will Blakey So. RB 6-0 200 St. Paul, Minn./Central
34 Tyler Hoheisel So. RB 5-11 190 Monticello, Minn./Monticello
35 Michael Beckius Fr. WR 6-0 180 New Prague, Minn./New Prague
38 Ryan Warford So. WR 6-0 185 Woodbury, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
39 Andrew Schaffer So. WR 6-1 195 Chaska, Minn./Chaska
40 Blake Ehlert Sr. WR 6-0 185 St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral
43 Maverick Harper Fr. RB 5-11 200 Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial
49 Caelan McKean Fr. LS 5-8 195 Chanhassen, Minn./Minnetonka
50 Nick McKenzie Sr. OL 6-1 280 New London, Minn./New London-Spicer
51 Barrett Van Deun So. OL 6-1 285 Omaha, Neb./Millard West
52 Colton Rada So. OL 6-3 285 Chaska, Minn./Chaska
53 Spencer Gustin Sr. OL 6-2 280 St. Cloud, Minn./Tech
54 Grant Peroutka Sr. OL 6-1 280 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount
55 Tom Soler Sr. OL 6-0 280 Circle Pines, Minn./Hill-Murray
56 Eddie Reece Jr. OL 6-5 275 Hudson, Wis./Hill-Murray
57 Shane Atz Jr. OL 5-11 280 Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area
58 Joe Duerr Fr. OL 6-3 325 Buffalo, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville
59 Joey Nelson Fr. OL 6-5 280 Chanhassen, Minn./Chanhassen
60 Ian DeGross Jr. OL 6-3 280 Elko, Minn./New Prague
61 Matt Peterson So. OL 6-3 245 Esko, Minn./Esko
62 Isaak Nowak So. OL 6-3 280 Andover, Minn./Andover
63 Joe Vascellaro Sr. OL 6-3 295 Minneapolis, Minn./St. Thomas Academy
64 Hunter Nething Fr. OL 6-3 295 Elk River, Minn./Elk River
65 Sean Lew Sr. OL 6-2 280 Bermuda Dunes, Calif./Shadow Hills
66 Luke Wright Jr. OL 6-0 265 Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury
68 Charlie Brophy So. OL 6-2 280 Maple Plain, Minn./Orono
70 Alex Markgraf Jr. OL 6-0 280 St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville
71 Thomas Graves Fr. OL 6-3 285 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
72 Charlie Folkens Sr. OL 6-3 290 Rogers, Minn./Rogers
73 Diego Hurtado Fr. OL 5-11 260 Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton
74 Ethan Lincoln So. OL 6-3 285 Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake
75 Josh Quirk Fr. OL 6-1 245 Minneapolis, Minn./Edina
76 Zeke Conner Fr. OL 6-8 295 Tyler, Texas/Bishop Gorman
77 Mikey Oftedahl Fr. OL 6-2 295 Minnetrista, Minn./Mound-Westonka
78 Michael Bougie So. OL 6-5 300 South St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
79 Tommy Hessburg Sr. OL 6-5 310 Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Grosse Pointe South
80 Will Mathiasen Fr. TE 6-3 210 Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen
81 Graham Beltrand Sr. TE 6-4 225 Long Lake, Minn./Orono
82 Dom DiMaggio So. TE 6-3 235 Northfield, Minn./Northfield
83 Eddie Don Fr. WR 6-0 185 Diamond Bar, Calif./Damien
84 E.J. Hosty So. TE 6-7 200 Chicago, Ill./Fenwick
86 Cade Berg So. WR 6-5 190 Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong
87 Josh Delange Jr. WR 6-4 210 Medina, Minn./Orono
88 Charlie Plum Jr. TE 6-4 225 Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
89 Andrew Harren So. TE 6-5 220 Rice, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice
90 Matt Hansen So. K/P 5-11 145 Longmont, Colo./Niwot
92 Thomas Theising Fr. K/P 5-10 160 Minneapolis, Minn./Wayzata
93 Ashton Hecksel So. K/P 5-10 165 Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer
0 Walker Britz Jr. RB 6-0 200 Mankato, Minn./West
1 Hamza Malim Sr. WR 5-11 179 Edina, Minn./Edina
2 Jake Breitbach Sr. WR 6-2 200 Golden Valley, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong
3 Tanner Domschot Sr. DB 5-11 183 White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake
4 Nathan Stephenson Jr. WR 6-0 162 Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview
4 Braden Black Sr. DL 6-0 246 Rochester, Minn./John Marshall
5 Owen Watson So. TE 6-4 229 Mendota Heights, Minn./Two Rivers
5 Darius Howard Sr. DB 5-11 176 Houston, Texas/Heights
6 George Sandven Sr. QB 6-6 217 Edina, Minn./Edina
6 Nolan Perry Jr. DB 5-11 175 Rockford, Minn./Rockford
7 River Wood Sr. RB 5-8 161 St. Petersburg, Fla./Dixie-Hollins
8 Dom Mathies Jr. QB 5-9 174 Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice
8 Taylor Stroh Sr. DB 5-7 170 Jordan, Minn./Jordan
9 Charlie Barnick Sr. TE 6-1 212 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount
9 Eric Lyons Jr. Jr. DB 5-5 143 Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation
10 Christian Rodriguez So. RB 5-9 186 Waseca, Minn./Waseca
10 Colton Loeschke Jr. LB 6-0 220 Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls
11 Myshawn King Jr. LB 6-0 230 Houston, Texas/Benjamin Davis
12 Jack Sieben Fr. K 6-0 173 Hastings, Minn./Hastings
13 Jacob Ginskey Fr. QB 6-1 188 Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna
13 Carson DeKam Sr. LB 6-3 225 Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna
15 Landen Goebel Jr. DB 6-0 175 Becker, Minn./Becker
17 Andrew Gotziaman Sr. QB 6-1 210 Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn
17 Chance Swansson So. DB 5-7 140 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount
18 Logan Carlson Sr. WR 5-9 164 St. James, Minn./Mankato Loyola
18 Zach Boutwell So. DB 5-11 185 Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata
21 William Hawkins Sr. DB 6-1 208 New Orleans, La./Jesuit
22 Nathan Le Sr. DB 5-11 200 Savage, Minn./Burnsville
24 Alim Kamara So. DB 5-9 156 St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall
30 Cal Birkey So. RB 5-8 185 Algona, Iowa/Bishop-Garrigan
31 Walker Hennen Fr. RB 6-0 190 Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria
34 Cale Morton Fr. WR 6-2 180 Sioux Falls, S.D./Harrisburg
35 Ty Glaser Sr. LB 5-10 221 Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson
39 De’Marion Brown Fr. RB 5-9 185 Kilgore, Texas/Leveretts Chapel
41 Finn Zellmer Jr. TE 5-11 217 Eagan, Minn./Holy Angels
42 Bode Hogan Jr. LB 6-1 232 Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield
43 Will White Jr. LB 5-10 226 Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice
45 Declan Crumley Jr. LB 6-1 214 Albany, Minn./Albany
47 Ethan Bartell So. LB 6-2 216 Mankato, Minn./West
49 Jack Klug Sr. LB 6-4 227 Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake
50 Isaac Rooker Sr. OL 6-3 268 Stillwater, Minn./Totino-Grace
51 Samuel Proscia Fr. LS 6-0 193 Marion, Texas/Marion
52 Eli Halfpap Fr. DE 6-4 241 Adel, Iowa/Van Meter
54 Dane Dingmann Jr. OL 5-9 220 Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice
55 Luke Rooker Sr. OL 6-3 288 Stillwater, Minn./Totino-Grace
55 Torrin Smith Fr. DL 6-0 243 Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna
57 Caleb Aflakpi So. DL 6-5 239 North St. Paul, Minn./Mahtomedi
61 Jacob Goman Sr. OL 6-4 302 Orono, Minn./Orono
65 Tyler Frey Fr. OL 6-1 250 Elko, Minn./Lakeville South
66 Isak Sevig Jr. DL 6-3 235 Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson
67 Aaron Reichard Sr. OL 6-0 257 Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice
69 Jack Swanson Sr. DL 6-5 313 Pine Island, Minn./Pine Island
70 Ayden Gawtry Fr. OL 6-0 281 Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo
71 Will Pelto Sr. OL 6-3 255 Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake
72 James Hren Jr. OL 6-1 272 Cottage Grove, Minn./East Ridge
75 Connor Scholten Jr. OL 6-1 268 Springfield, Minn./Springfield
76 Ritter Cook Jr. OL 6-3 280 Farmington, Minn./Farmington
80 Caden Kleinschmidt Jr. WR 6-4 202 Morgan, Minn./Cedar Mountain
81 Jake Pavek So. WR 6-2 195 Detroit Lakes, Minn./Detroit Lakes
82 Connor McCormick Jr. WR 6-3 190 Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area
83 Jake Deeb So. WR 5-8 177 Scandia, Minn./Forest Lake
87 Jordan Wold So. TE 6-2 235 Eagan, Minn./St. Thomas Academy
89 Trajan Kaeppe Sr. DL 6-4 262 Cottage Grove, Minn./St. Thomas Acad.
91 Dylan Larson Sr. DL 6-1 277 White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake
92 Nelson Herrera Sr. DL 6-5 248 Pasadena, Texas/Pasadena
93 Cody Bonk Sr. DL 5-11 228 Buffalo, Minn./Mayer Lutheran
94 Dalen Smith Fy. DL 6-1 278 Chanhassen, Minn./Chanhassen
95 Javier Gratacos 5th DL 6-0 292 Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona
98 Owen Forsythe Jr. K/P 6-0 183 Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee
99 Max Olson So. DL 6-3 253 Trimont, Minn./Martin County West
Head Coach: Peter Haugen (16th season)
Assistant Coaches: Carlin Shoemaker, Landon Rauen, Derek Glynn, Kevin Durham, Ethan Sindelir, Lyle Opdahl, Dalton Thelen, Brett Aamot, Joey Brown, Gabe Loberg, Dylan Blount, Kainen Craig, Jake Griffieth, Alexander Keasler, Jack Vande Berg
FAMILY WEEKEND ALWAYS A SPECIAL TIME AT CSB AND SJU
Welcome to Family Weekend at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
It’s always an amazing time at the two schools, offering a chance for current students to welcome parents and other family members showing them around and introducing them to the places and people that help make their time here so rewarding.
“Family Weekend is a special time each year,” CSB and SJU President Brian J. Bruess said. “A chance for parents to shine, siblings to aspire and students to show off a bit. But mostly, it’s about bringing families together on our two beautiful campuses.”
Beyond today’s game, there are plenty of other events taking place to mark the occasion. Things kicked off yesterday with the Second Annual President’s Fishing Classic on Lake Sagatagan and a fish fry afterward. The CSB volleyball team played host to Hamline at Claire Lynch Hall, and the Bennie hockey team took on the University of Minnesota club team in an exhibition at the Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud.
Mass in the Abbey Church will follow today’s game, and a Wild West Family
“A chance for parents to shine, siblings to aspire and students to show off a bit. But mostly, it’s about bringing families together on our two beautiful campuses.”
Hoedown Throwdown is being held on the CSB Mall from 2 to 5 p.m. The Bennie volleyball team plays host to Gustavus at 5 p.m. at Claire Lynch Hall and the Swayed Pines Variety Show will be held at Bad Habit Brewery in St. Joseph from 6 to 8 p.m.
The weekend continues Sunday with Mass at the Sacred Heart Chapel at CSB and the Abbey Church at SJUboth beginning at 10:30 a.m. Student Mass at CSB is scheduled for 6 p.m. and Student Mass at SJU begins at 9 p.m.
PROUD
SPONSOR AND CONTRACTOR FOR JOHNNIE
ATHLETICS
From Cathedral to Collegeville: Muyres led SJU to its first national title
Growing up in St. Cloud, Craig Muyres aspired to one day play college basketball.
College football, on the other hand, seemed a bit more unlikely – even though he was a standout in three sports (football, basketball and baseball) at St. Cloud Cathedral High School.
“When you only weigh 125 pounds, college football coaches don’t exactly look at you as a solid specimen,” said the 5-foot-11 Muyres, who led Cathedral to a runner-up finish at the Minnesota State Catholic Basketball Tournament as a senior in 1960, earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
“It seemed like basketball was going to be my sport.”
Indeed, Muyres went on to start four seasons for the Johnnie basketball team, earning All-MIAC honors twice – including as a junior when he averaged 24.5 points per game. But he managed to do pretty well in football too – starting all four seasons, the final two at both safety and quarterback.
During his two seasons under center, SJU went 19-0 – including a 10-0 finish in 1963 capped by a 33-27 victory over Prairie View A&M in the NAIA national championship game in Sacramento. Muyres threw for 136 yards and two touchdowns in that victory, earning high praise from his legendary head coach afterward.
“Craig Muyres, our quarterback, is absolutely the greatest clutch player in the country,” said John Gagliardi as he accepted the national championship trophy.
“I’ll take my quarterback before any of them,” he continued when talking with reporters afterward. “Give me a close ballgame in the second half,
give me Craig at the controls and I’m in good shape.”
By then, Muyres had put on weight –tipping the scales at 175 pounds as a senior.
“I got to Saint John’s and the food was so good I kept eating all the time,” he recalls with a chuckle.
But increased weight or not, Muyres was still surprised when Gagliardi approached him prior to his junior season and told him he was taking over at quarterback.
“Well, especially because I’d thrown one football during my freshman year when he put me in there and it didn’t work out well,” Muyres said. “I asked him one time why he picked me over all the other quarterbacks we had. He said it was because I was a great allaround athlete. But that didn’t mean I was going to be a good quarterback.”
He was though, throwing for 836 yards and 11 touchdowns that first season and earning All-American honors.
“As I started to throw a few more passes, I got more and more
confident,” he said. “And I had John believing in me, so that meant a lot.”
Muyres went on to a long career in accounting after graduating from SJU. He is now retired and lives in Maple Lake. But he looks back with fondness on his time in Collegeville.
“I couldn’t think of a better place to be,” said Muyres, who has battled cancer the past five years. “That was a really special time in my life.”
TRADITION UNRIVALED
On the basis of on-field accomplishments alone, the Saint John’s University football team ranks among the nation’s elite.
Through the years, the Johnnies have won four national championships at either the NAIA or NCAA Division III level (1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003), and have made 32 postseason appearances.
SJU has won or shared 36 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, 14 more than any other member school, and the program’s streak of eight-straight Division III playoff berths from 2014 to 2022 surpassed its own conference record.
Four Johnnies have won the Gagliardi Award, named in honor of legendary former SJU head coach John Gagliardi and handed out annually to the top player in Division III, and the program can boast 147 All-Americans and 35 Academic All-Americans.
But what makes football at Saint John’s special goes well beyond even all those numbers. During his 60 seasons in Collegeville, Gagliardi – whose 489 career victories are the most in college football history – developed his famous list of Nos which still form the program’s core values.
That list which includes no whistles, no tackling in practice (players wear
shorts/ sweats and shoulder pads) and no blocking sleds or tackling dummies has drawn national media interest over the years from venerable outlets such as Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, the Today Show and many, many others.
Then there is the atmosphere ...
Johnnie home games are truly an autumn playground: the vivid fall colors blazing from the trees in the woods surrounding the natural bowl that forms Clemens Stadium, the smoke rising from the grills behind the concession stands (home to the uniquely incredible heavenly apples) and, of course, the crowds.
SJU consistently ranks among the national leaders in attendance at the NCAA Division III level and has led the way 11 times since 2005.
Since the 2001 season, the program has recorded a single-game attendance number of 10,000 or more 23 times.
That included a record crowd of 17,327 for a matchup against St. Thomas in 2015, a game preceded by a live broadcast of ESPN’s “Sports Center on the Road” program.
Last season alone saw crowds of 11,321 and 10,477 for matchups against Bethel and Carleton respectively.
Add it all up and you have something beyond amazing.
You have ... a Tradition Unrivaled.
LAST WEEK IN PICTURES
Clemens Stadium
From the start, those in charge of developing the space now known as Clemens Stadium had something majestic in mind. So they set about turning a former cranberry bog into a natural bowl stadium that has been the home of Saint John’s University football for 116 years.
Ringed by the gorgeous fall colors of the surrounding Central Minnesota woods, the field has long become a destination spot, a status only solidified when Sports Illustrated named it one of college football’s top 10 “Dream Destinations” in 1999.
The facility itself has expanded often over the years. Concrete seating was added in 1933 and expanded in 1957. The familiar stone entrance behind the south end zone was built in 1939 and the first press box and concession stand were erected four years later. In 1997, local philanthropist Bill Clemens – the man for whom the stadium is named provided a million-dollar donation that allowed for construction of a new grandstand, an expanded press box, larger concession stands and restrooms and a new entrance. Another donation by Clemens, who attended SJU from 1938-40, made possible the installation of an artificial playing surface in 2002.
A third tier to the press box was added in 2009 and lights were installed in 2012.
Meanwhile, large crowds have been commonplace. SJU has finished among the national leaders in pergame attendance in NCAA Division III in each of the last 20 seasons –including crowds of 10,000 or more 23 times since 2001.
That included a facility-record 17,327 for a matchup against St. Thomas on Sept. 26, 2015 – a day in which ESPN’s “Sports Center On the Road” program was broadcast live from the stadium, and a crowd of 13,107
FOOTBALL FACILITIES
on hand to see legendary former coach John Gagliardi become the winningest coach in college football history when SJU beat Bethel 29-26 on Nov. 8, 2003.
Gagliardi Field
A big part of the success of the Saint John’s University football program over the years has been the way players of the past helped pave the way for players of the present and future.
The Gagliardi Field and Seasonal Dome complex is a perfect example of that sense of community. Named in honor of legendary former football coach John Gagliardi - the winningest coach in college history it was made possible by gifts from more than 50 individual donors many of whom were former players.
The artificial turf field has markings for a full-length football field, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, two crosscourt soccer fields, baseball and softball, along with three batting cages when the Skalicky Dome goes up from October to April each academic year.
It’s a year-round home for intramural sports on campus, but also serves as a practice facility for the football team and other varsity sports.
McGlynn Fitness Center
When it comes to training, the right facilities are important. But having the right people in place to staff them is just as critical.
Luckily, Saint John’s University has both.
The 5,600-feet McGlynn Fitness Center which was made possible by a generous gift from the Burt McGlynn family, and is open to all students and alums is equipped with a full range of free weights, upper-body, lower-body and fullcore machines, and cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bicycles.
FANDOM is TRADITION
No one knows better the transformative educational experience the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University offer than graduates of the two schools.
The Alum Referral Scholarship offers Bennies and Johnnies the chance to help future students receive those same opportunities.
As a CSB and SJU graduate, 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 deadline for Fall 2024 high school senior referrals is Jan. 15, but younger students can be referred all year long. 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/alum-referralscholarship) in the Alumni and
FUTURE BENNIES AND JOHNNIES
Friends section of the CSB+SJU website and get started today.
There is no cost for a referral. The amount will be built into the student’s financial aid package from CSB and SJU. Though anyone who would like to make a gift is encouraged to visit givecsb.com or givesju.com
“We know that our alumni are some of the best advocates for CSB and SJU,” said Edward Lamm, the chief strategic enrollment officer at CSB and SJU.
“Through the Alumni Referral Scholarship, they have a unique opportunity to help future students not only discover the benefits of a transformative Bennie or Johnnie education, but also support them financially. This program makes it easy for alumni to play an active role in shaping the next generation of leaders, and we’re excited to see how their referrals will positively impact our community.”
Know a high school student who would make a great Bennie or Johnnie?
Our alums – the women and men who’ve lived and learned in this community – are our most powerful ambassadors. Talk about CSB and SJU to the students in your world!
ALUM REFERRAL SCHOLARSHIP
Mark Mooney and his Saint John’s teammates faced Gustavus twice during the 1987 season.
The first meeting is one Mooney - then a senior safety would like to forget. The second is one he will always remember.
“I’d never cried after a football game before,” said Mooney, a two-time All-MIAC selection who went to serve as an assistant coach at SJU before departing following the 1995 season, opening the door for current head coach Gary Fasching to join the staff as an assistant.
“But I cried after we lost that first game against them. It looked like that would keep us out of the playoffs because we’d lost once already.”
It was indeed a heartbreaking afternoon for the Johnnies, who led 24-0 late in the second quarter, and 31-19 midway through the fourth, in the matchup on Oct. 11 in Collegeville.
But the Gusties scored two touchdowns in the game’s final six minutes the first on a pass from quarterback Dean Kraus to wide receiver Todd Raarup, who then got
FEATURED FLASHBACK
the ball to halfback Tim Schwartz on a play that covered 37 yards. The second came on a 1-yard sneak by Kraus with 46 seconds remaining, capping a drive that went 69 yards in 12 plays and was kept alive twice on fourth down.
“We had a great defense that year, but that was our worst game,” Mooney said. “Kudos to them. They had a great quarterback and a great wide receiver. But we felt like we didn’t play very well.”
Still, things broke the Johnnies way allowing them to make the NCAA Division III postseason field and setting the stage for a first-round rematch against the Gusties on Nov. 21 in St. Peter. In that game, the Johnnies took a 7-0 lead on an 8-yard pass from John Lahti to Bob Kelly in the second quarter, but Gustavus cut the gap to four when Doug Dittberner booted a 37-yard field goal in the third.
The Gusties were then on the move late, driving all the way to the SJU 16yard line with 2:33 to play. That’s when Mooney issued a call-to-arms to his teammates in the defensive huddle.
“(He) screamed ‘Somebody make a play,’” defensive tackle Tom Zalewski told the St. Cloud Times afterward.
Zalewski responded, pressuring Kraus into throwing a high wobbler into the sunny, but windy conditions. Mooney got in front of the intended receiver, allowing defensive end Tim Lebens to pick off the pass. The Johnnie offense then ran off the remaining time, sealing a 7-3 victory.
“That was a good feeling,” said Mooney, whose team fell 13-3 at Central (Iowa) the following week, ending its season 8-3 overall.
On this date (Oct. 26) in history: 1940 - Benny Lorenz rushed for three touchdowns - including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarteras SJU rolled past St. Olaf 19-0 in Collegeville.
2002 - Kent Crowley rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown and Blake Elliott hauled in a pair of touchdown passes as SJU beat Concordia 34-9 on the road in Moorhead.
GROWING COMPANIES ENHANCING COMMUNITIES
Granite Partners is a private investment and long-term holding company founded in 2002 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with a mission to grow companies and create value for all stakeholders. We advance a culture of trust, innovation, and excellence as essential to 100-year sustainability, and we aspire to world-class wellbeing for everyone in the Granite community.
STARTERS
When Saint John’s Has the Ball
SAINT JOHN’S OFFENSE
WR 1 Marselio Mendez Sr., 5-9, 165
WR 4 Riley Schwellenbach So., 5-9, 160
TE 0 Joey Gendreau Jr., 6-3, 230
LT 79 Tommy Hessburg Sr., 6-5, 310
LG 50 Nick McKenzie Sr., 6-1, 280
C 72 Charlie Folkens Sr., 6-3, 290
RG 55 Tom Soler Sr., 6-0, 280
RT 54 Grant Peroutka Sr., 6-1, 280
WR 2 Dylan Wheeler Jr., 6-2, 190
QB 6 Aaron Syverson Sr., 6-0, 195
RB 27 Caden Wheeler Sr., 5-10, 200
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS DEFENSE
DE 93 Cody Bonk Sr., 5-11, 228
NT 95 Javier Gratacos Sr., 6-0, 292
DT 69 Jack Swanson Sr., 6-5, 313
DE 99 Max Olson So., 6-3, 253
OLB 49 Jack Klug Sr., 6-4, 227
MLB 13 Carson DeKam Sr., 6-3, 225
OLB 21 William Hawkins Sr., 6-1, 208
CB 18 Zach Boutwell So., 5-11, 185
S 3 Tanner Domschot Sr., 5-11, 183
S 8 Taylor Stroh Sr., 5-7, 170
CB 15 Landen Goebel Jr., 6-0, 175
When Gustavus Adolphus Has the Ball
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS OFFENSE
WR 2 Jake Breitbach Sr., 6-2, 200
TE 9 Charlie Barnick Sr., 6-1, 212
LT 55 Luke Rooker Sr., 6-3, 288
LG 70 Ayden Gawtry Fr., 6-0, 281
C 67 Aaron Reichard Sr., 6-0, 257
RG 71 Will Pelto Sr., 6-3, 255
RT 76 Ritter Cook Jr., 6-3, 280
TE 87 Jordan Wold So., 6-2, 235
WR 80 Caden Kleinschmidt Jr., 6-4, 202
QB 13 Jacob Ginskey Fr., 6-1, 188
RB 7 River Wood Sr., 5-8, 161
SAINT JOHN’S DEFENSE
DE 9 Joe Akoh Sr., 6-4, 240
DT 97 Zach Frank Sr., 6-3, 270
DT 40 Isaac Hetland Sr., 6-1, 235
DE 32 Jake Schwinghammer Sr., 6-0, 215
LB 43 Hayden Sanders Sr., 6-0, 220
LB 23 Aiden McMahon So., 6-1, 220
LB 3 Cooper Yaggie Sr., 6-0, 210
CB 16 Blake Simonson Jr., 5-11, 175
S 33 Jack St. Fleur Jr., 6-0, 210
S 11 Noah Arneson Jr., 6-0, 195
CB 10 Mateo Cisneros Sr., 5-11, 195
Upcoming Johnnie Events
Saturday, Oct. 26
Soccer at St. Olaf
Swimming & Diving at Macalester
Saturday, Nov. 2
Cross Country at MIAC Championship
Football at St. Scholastica
Hockey at UW-River Falls
Soccer at Carleton
Swimming & Diving vs. St. Olaf
Thursday, Nov. 7
Hockey vs. St. Scholastica
Friday, Nov. 8
Cross Country vs. Fall Finale
Swimming & Diving at Hamline
Saturday, Nov. 9
Basketball vs. UW-Oshkosh
Football vs. St. Olaf
Hockey at St. Scholastica
Wrestling vs. Nebraska Wesleyan
Sunday, Nov. 10
Wrestling vs. Haws/Elton Rumble
Thursday, Nov. 14
Hockey vs. UW-River Falls
Friday, Nov. 15
Basketball at Central (Iowa)
Saint John’s Specialists
K 12 Conor Murphy Sr., 5-10, 180
P 18 Spencer Ell Sr., 5-11, 185
LS 44 Andrew Molenaar Jr., 6-0, 230
SS 2 Nolan Dumonceaux Fr., 6-0, 180
H 18 Spencer Ell Sr., 5-11, 185
KR 1 Marselio Mendez Sr., 5-9, 165
5 Joey Moberg Sr., 5-10, 200
PR 1 Marselio Mendez Sr., 5-9, 165
Gustavus Adolphus Specialists
K 12 Jack Sieben Fr., 6-0, 173
P 98 Owen Forsythe Jr., 6-0, 183
LS 47 Ethan Bartell So., 6-2, 216
H 17 Andrew Gotziaman Sr., 6-1, 210
KR 7 River Wood Sr., 5-8, 161 17 Chance Swansson So., 5-7, 140 PR 17 Chance Swansson So., 5-7, 140
