SJU Tennis 2023

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SEASON PREVIEW

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES

Saint John's finished fifth in the MIAC with a 6-3 record (10-7 overall) last spring. Four Johnnies earned a total of six 2022 All-MIAC honors and Jack Bowe was named the MIAC Steve Wilkinson Coach of the Year for the third time of his career (2003, 2019).

Seniors Peyton Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) and Wil McDowell (Sioux Falls, S.D./O'Gorman) earned the honor in singles competition, while Fischer, McDowell, senior Hunter Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) and sophomore Ryan Will (Northfield, Minn.) achieved the distinction in doubles play.

IN THE FALL

Eight Johnnies competed at the 2022 ITA Midwest Regional and Midwest Open Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Mankato and St. Peter.

A two-sport student-athlete (hockey and tennis), sophomore Cooper Anderson (St. Paul, Minn./White Bear Lake) went 1-1 in singles competition at the ITA Regional, while the other five Johnnies all took a loss in their first bout. All three doubles tandems went 0-1.

Freshman Taylor Duncan (Benson, Minn.) and senior Joe Dwyer (Hibbing, Minn.) suffered an 8-6 loss in their first doubles match at the Midwest Open. Friday's rain changed the scoring for the Midwest Open's singles bracket to match doubles competition (one set, first to eight). Duncan went 1-1, while Dwyer was 0-1.

The singles and doubles honors are the second consecutive for McDowell, who was also named to the MIAC AllSportsmanship team. He finished 5-9 in singles play, including a 5-8 record (4-4 MIAC) at No. 1. In doubles competition, McDowell and Hunter Fischer posted a 5-6 record (4-4 MIAC) with wins in five of their last six matches at No. 1.

Peyton Fischer achieved All-MIAC status with a 5-4 MIAC record (5-11 overall, 4-8 at No. 2) and teamed up with Will to lead SJU's doubles tandems with an 11-5 record (6-3 MIAC), 7-4 at No. 2 and 3-0 at No. 1.

Taylor Duncan

Peyton Fischer Joe Dwyer

Wil McDowell Ryan Will

Cooper Anderson

Wil McDowell

Ian Aadland, Taylor Duncan, Nolan Morrey

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to the Chang Tennis Complex and Saint John’s University tennis!

My name is Brian Bruess and I am president of both the 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 Johnnie home team out there today has worked hard to excel in a game 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 the 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 late in a match today, don’t lose faith: Johnnies are obviously great in the clutch.

So let’s get settled in and ready for the action. And as we cheer for today’s performances on the court, 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!

COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH

Jack Bowe finished his 25th season as the head tennis coach at Saint John’s in 2022 and has a 228-231 career dual record (115-103 MIAC). He is a three-time MIAC Coach of the Year (2003, 2019 and 2022).

2022 SEASON

The Johnnies finished fourth in the MIAC with a 6-3 record (10-7 overall) to earn their eighth MIAC Playoff appearance in the last 10 seasons and 15th overall in 2022.

2021 SEASON

SJU finished sixth in the MIAC, one win from the MIAC playoffs, with a 4-5 record (6-5 overall) in 2021.

2020 SEASON

SJU started the 2020 tennis season with seven consecutive wins and finished with a 7-3 (2-0 MIAC) record. Two of the three losses were to non-Division III opponents.

2019 SEASON

SJU tied for third in the MIAC with a 6-3 record (9-9 overall) to earn its fourth consecutive trip to the MIAC Playoffs and 10th in the last 13 seasons.

2018 SEASON

SJU ended the 2018 season with a 7-2 MIAC record (13-5

2023 SCHEDULE

overall) to finish third in the conference standings, its best season since 2004 (14-9 overall, 7-2 MIAC). The Johnnies won their first seven conference matches to earn their ninth trip to the MIAC Playoffs in the last 12 seasons.

PAST EXPERIENCE

Before coming to SJU, Bowe was the head tennis coach at the College of Saint Benedict for seven years. While serving as the head coach at the College of Saint Benedict, Bowe was named MIAC Coach of the Year in 1993. Bowe posted a 12-5 overall record at CSB in 1997.

Prior to his tenure at the College of Saint Benedict, Bowe served as the head men’s tennis coach at St. Cloud State for five years. Bowe, himself, played tennis at St. Cloud State University and is currently a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association.

ASSISTANT COACH

Joe Amsberry

Amsberry is a USPTA certified teaching pro. A native of Park Rapids, Minnesota, Joe played tennis for four years at Concordia College. Following graduation from Concordia, Joe completed his masters degree in occupational therapy at Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ. Additionally, Amsberry has been working with Bowe Tennis Academy for the past 4 years.

Date Contest Site

Sep. 30-Oct. 1 at ITA Midwest Regional Championships St. Peter, Minn.

Feb. 18 St. Scholastica Sartell, Minn./Sta-Fit

Feb. 19 Bethany Lutheran Sartell, Minn./Sta-Fit

March 5 vs. Saint Vincent Orlando, Fla. (USTA)

March 6 vs. Judson Orlando, Fla. (USTA)

March 7 vs. Covenant Kissimmee, Fla. (Oak Street)

March 7 vs. Hampden-Sydney Orlando, Fla. (USTA)

March 9 vs. Piedmont Orlando, Fla. (USTA)

March 10 vs. Cedarville Orlando, Fla. (USTA)

March 18 St. Olaf Sartell, Minn./Sta-Fit

March 19 Saint Mary’s Sartell, Minn./Sta-Fit

March 25 at Concordia Fargo, N.D.

March 26 at Gustavus Adolphus St. Peter, Minn.

April 1 at Hamline Rogers, Minn.

April 15 Macalester Collegeville, Minn./Chang Tennis Complex

April 22 Bethel Collegeville, Minn./Chang Tennis Complex

April 23 at Carleton Northfield, Minn.

PROUD SPONSOR AND CONTRACTOR FOR JOHNNIE ATHLETICS

2023 JOHNNIES

NAME YR. HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL

Ian Aadland Jr. Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd

Cooper Anderson So. St. Paul, Minn./White Bear Lake

Will Deters Jr. Minneapolis, Minn./Wayzata

Taylor Duncan Fr. Benson, Minn./Benson

Joe Dwyer Sr. Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing

Hunter Fischer Sr. Spicer, Minn./Willmar

Peyton Fischer Sr. Spicer, Minn./Willmar

Will Fischer Sr. Spicer, Minn./Willmar

Evan Kostynick Fr. Hudson, Wis./Hudson

Zach Lagergren Fr. Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids

Wil McDowell Sr. Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman

Mason Meyer Jr. Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson

Nolan Morrey Jr. Rochester, Minn./Lourdes

Daniel Perez Jr. Quito, Ecuador

Mark Rosen Jr. Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson

Ryan Will So. Northfield, Minn./Northfield

Wil McDowell

Cooper Anderson

Daniel Perez Hunter Fischer

Peyton Fischer, Ian Aadland and Joe Amsberry (asst. coach)

MIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS/AWARDS

MIAC CHAMPIONS

ALL-MIAC SELECTIONS (SINCE 2003)

SINGLES

2003 Mike Solum

2004 Mike Solum

Steve Tacl

2005 Trevor Beach

2006 Ted Lauer

2007 Trevor Beach

Ted Lauer

Mark Steelman

2008 Luke Odegaard

2009 Dutch Hansen

Mark Steelman

2010 Dutch Hansen

Fabricio Moncada

2011 Fabricio Moncada

2012 Ian Hansen

Fabricio Moncada

2013 Fabricio Moncada

Willie Paul

2014 Jack Hansen

Joe Laue

Jordan Otto

ALL-AMERICANS

1989 Todd Schlorf (singles)

1990 Todd Schlorf (singles)

1990 Todd Schlorf & Craig Herold (doubles)

1992 Ray Young (singles)

1993 Ray Young (singles)

2015 Jack Hansen

Tim Larson

2016 Tim Larson

2017 Tim Larson

Ryan Meger

2018 Thomas Gillach

Tim Larson

Ryan Meger

2019 Thomas Gillach

Ryan Meger

2021 Thomas Gillach

Wil McDowell

2022 Peyton Fischer

Wil McDowell

DOUBLES

2005 Curtis Horton/Steve Tacl

2006 Curtis Horton/Steve Tacl

2007 Trevor Beach/Ted Lauer

Kevin Goihl/Dan Ruehl

2008 Trevor Beach/Dan Ruehl

Kevin Goihl/Ted Lauer

2012 Ian Hansen/Fabricio Moncada

2013 Fabricio Moncada

2015 Ben Lahren/Tim Larson

2016 Jack Hansen/Ben Lahren

Tim Larson/Andrew Nagel

2018 Thomas Gillach/Nate Jordre

Tim Larson/Jonah Punnoose

2019 Thomas Gillach/Nate Jordre

Ryan Meger/Jonah Punnoose

2021 Thomas Gillach/Wil McDowell

2022 Hunter Fischer/Peyton Fischer

Wil McDowell/Ryan Will

Trevor Beach

Jack Hansen

Tim Larson

Thomas Gillach

Dan Ruehl

Ryan Meger

Jonah Punnoose

Wil McDowell

Mike Solum

1953 Team

THE FISCHER TRIPLETS

As strange as it seems to each of them, Will, Hunter and Peyton Fischer will soon likely go their separate ways. The triplets have always stuck together - first at Willmar High School where each had standout tennis careers. Then again at Saint John’s University, the school at which all three enrolled in the fall of 2019.

According to school records, that made them just the fourth set of complete triplets to attend Saint John’s or the College of Saint Benedict in the previous 10 years (from 2009 to 2019).

But after graduation this spring, Hunter and Peyton plan to go to (likely separate) medical schools while Will is planning to attend law school.

“I’m the oddball,” Will joked. “But somebody has to be there to defend these guys if they get sued for malpractice.”

All kidding aside though, each of the three brothers said it will be weird to be on their own next fall.

“Being together is all we’ve ever really known,” said Hunter, who earned All-MIAC honors in doubles play as a juniorteaming primarily with classmate Wil McDowell (whom the brothers say is an honorary Fischer) at No. 1 doubles.

“Growing up, I think you can count on one hand the number of activities we haven’t all done. Will did knowledge bowl by himself. But otherwise, it’s usually been all of us together.” Which makes this final season of tennis so special.

“There’s a lot more emotion there knowing that this is the last one,” said Peyton, who earned All-MIAC singles honors a year ago. “But not just because it’s the last time for the three of us. It’s also the last time we’re going to get to play with all the friends and teammates we’ve gotten to know over the past four years here.”

The brothers all say they did not talk with each other making their final college choice four years ago. Each elected to attend SJU separately.

“We knew we all were considering Saint John’s, but we didn’t tell each other when we decided,” Peyton said.

“When the day came to make our final decisions, our mom talked to us all individually. And we all separately had decided the same thing.

“Then we all told each other and it was a really great moment.” But perhaps not a surprising one as each of the three has a knack for knowing what the others are thinking.

“That’s definitely true with Hunter and I especially,” Will said. “We had a tennis party recently and everybody hated

playing Catch Phrase against us. We all seem to know what’s going on in each other’s heads.”

Those heads have helped the trio become successful both on the court and off during their time in Collegeville. Hunter and Peyton, both biology majors, as well as Will, who is majoring in computer science, earned All-MIAC academic honors as juniors.

Hunter had a 4.0 GPA, Peyton had a 3.94 and Will had a 3.86.

And all three, along with McDowell, are team captains this season.

“It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” Hunter said. “I think back to when we were freshmen here and we had some really great senior role models. They seemed like heroes to us. So it’s crazy to think we’re now in the same spot as they were.”

Now they are each determined to make the most of the time they have remaining.

“We have a lot of talent on this team and I think we can do some really good things,” Peyton said. “But the biggest thing, I think, for all of us is just making sure we enjoy every moment. We only have a handful of practices and matches left. And I want to make sure that we’re always smiling and helping make the other people around us happy too.”

Peyton, Will and Hunter

COACH OF THE YEAR & ALL-MIAC JOHNNIES

Four Saint John's University tennis student-athletes earned a total of six 2022 All-MIAC honors and Jack Bowe was named the MIAC Steve Wilkinson Coach of the Year for the third time of his career (2003, 2019) on May 10, 2022.

Juniors Peyton Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) and Wil McDowell (Sioux Falls, S.D./O'Gorman) earned the honor in singles competition, while Fischer, McDowell, junior Hunter Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar) and freshman Ryan Will (Northfield, Minn.) achieved the distinction in doubles play.

The singles and doubles honors are the second consecutive for McDowell, who was also named to the MIAC AllSportsmanship team. He finished 5-9 in singles play, including a 5-8 record (4-4 MIAC) at No. 1. In doubles competition, McDowell and Hunter Fischer posted a 5-6 record (4-4 MIAC) with wins in five of their last six matches at No. 1.

Peyton Fischer achieved All-MIAC status with a 5-4 MIAC record (5-11 overall, 4-8 at No. 2) and teamed up with Will to lead SJU's doubles tandems with an 11-5 record (6-3 MIAC), 7-4 at No. 2 and 3-0 at No. 1.

The Johnnies finished fourth in the MIAC with a 6-3 record (10-7 overall) to earn their eighth MIAC Playoff appearance in the last 10 seasons and 15th overall in 2022.

Hunter Fischer

Wil McDowell

Ryan Will and Peyton

ACADEMIC HONORS

The 2022 Saint John's University tennis team and seven student-athletes earned academic honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) July 13. 2022.

To be eligible for the ITA All-Academic Team Award, an institution must submit the academic year's grade-point averages for each student-athlete on the roster and carry a team GPA of 3.2 or higher.

The 15 Johnnies combined for a 3.33 GPA in 2021-22. In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status, a studentathlete must have a grade-point average of 3.50 or better for the current academic year.

The Johnnies recognized were (alphabetically, academic years are for 2021-22):

• Sophomore Ian Aadland (Brainerd, Minn.), a mathematics major;

• Freshman Cooper Anderson (White Bear Lake, Minn.), a global business leadership major;

• Junior Hunter Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar), a biology major (pre-medicine emphasis);

• Junior Peyton Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar), a biology major;

• Junior Will Fischer (Spicer, Minn./Willmar), a computer science major;

• Sophomore Nolan Morrey (Rochester, Minn./ Lourdes), a history major;

• Sophomore Mark Rosen (Bloomington, Minn./ Jefferson), an accounting major.

The Johnnies finished fourth in the MIAC with a 6-3 record (10-7 overall) to earn their eighth MIAC Playoff appearance in the last 10 seasons and 15th overall in 2022.

TEAM TRAVEL

In addition to the beautiful sights of Collegeville, the Saint John’s University tennis program also visits Florida during spring break for a training trip.

2022

2022

FACILITIES

CHANG TENNIS COMPLEX

The complex includes seven United States Tennis Association-approved courts, lights, fencing, bleachers and a storage building. It is located behind Becker Park’s left-field fence.

The tennis portion is named in honor of Dr. Lian Chang by her spouse, Paul Winter ‘61, an avid tennis player. A Twin Cities psychiatrist, Chang was born and raised in Taiwan and attended Catholic University in Washington D.C. She received a master of science degree at Texas Woman’s University before completing her residency in psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

STA-FIT TENNIS DOME

Sta-Fit’s 5-court tennis dome is climate controlled making tennis a year-round activity.

THE DONALD MCNEELY SPECTRUM

The 60,000-square-foot Spectrum field house, designed by Ellerbe Becket Architects, features the University’s eightlane indoor 200-meter track, five indoor tennis courts and facilities for golf and baseball practices. The Spectrum and the Palaestra bustle with varsity, intramural and club sports activities throughout the academic year.

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.

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.

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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.