2024-25
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SEASON PREVIEW
Logan Thorsten and D.J. Myles bring experience. A host of new faces provide fresh energy.
It’s a combination the Saint John’s University wrestling team is hoping leads to a successful season in 2024-25.
Here is a full look at the 2024-25 team:
Sophomore Duo
A pair SJU sophomores, Owen Herbst (Buffalo, Minn.) and Connor Krueger (Superior, Wis.), finished eighth at the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional as freshmen last March. Krueger totaled a team-best 2211 record, primarily at 141 pounds, and Herbst was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American, SJU’s 30th over the last 16 seasons. Herbst tallied an 11-4 record at 174 pounds, including seven pins. One of the pins was the fastest in school history –eight seconds.
Senior Leadership
Seniors D.J. Myles (Dayton, Minn./ Champlin Park) and Logan Thorsten (Foley, Minn.) will provide the
seasoned leadership for SJU in 2024-25. Thorsten totaled a 15-8 record at 165 pounds last season and begins his senior campaign with a 41-35 career mark. A two-sport student-athlete, Myles will again face a shortened wrestling season due to his role a Johnnie linebacker for the nationally-ranked football team. He went 8-7 at 197 pounds last season and has a 26-22 career record with 14 pins on the mat.
Others in Double Digits
Four other Johnnies recorded double digits in wins last season and return in 2024-25. Junior Zachariah Hunter (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) registered a 15-8 record at 197 pounds a year ago and was second on the team with 10 pins. He posted a 12-4 mark against Division III competition. Classmate Andy Johnson (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) went 11-10 at 174 pounds, including a 7-3 against fellow Division III wrestlers, and tied with Thorsten for the team lead with four major decisions.
Two others joined Herbst and Krueger with success as freshmen. Sophomore Kris Castro (Simi Valley, Calif./Chaminade) tallied a 16-13 record, primarily at 157 pounds, with a 9-3 mark against non-Division III competition. Sophomore Aidan Wayne (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo), meanwhile, went 14-11 with nine pins at 197 pounds.
The 2024-25 Schedule
SJU begins the 2024-25 season with a home dual Nov. 9 against Nebraska and hosts the Haws/Elton Rumble the following day (Nov. 10) in Collegeville. The Johnnies hit the road for the rest of fall semester –Nov. 23 at Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s 8-Man Battle and Dec. 7 at Division II MSU-Moorhead’s Dragon Open – and continue with a trip to Iowa Jan. 4 for Central’s Under Armour Invitational. SJU travels north Jan. 7 for a dual against Minnesota North-Itasca before the home schedule returns the weekend of Jan. 18-19. Buena Vista (Iowa) visits Sexton Arena for a dual that Saturday evening ahead of the North Country Invitational on Sunday.
The Johnnies make back-to-back trips to Moorhead for a Feb. 4 dual at Concordia and the Cobbers’ Last Shot Invitational Feb. 8, and compete Feb. 9 at Minnesota West C.T.C. A road dual Feb. 13 at Ridgewater serves as the precursor to the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional Feb. 28-March 1 at Augsburg.
2024-25 ROSTER
NAME YR. WT. HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
Thomas Allen Sr. 285 Colorado Springs, Colo. / St. Mary’s
Ethan Andryski Fr. 149 Savage, Minn. / Prior Lake
Calvin Brinkman Fr. 184 St. Paul, Minn. / Irondale
Owen Carlson Fr. 141 Albany, Minn. / Albany
Kris Castro So. 149 Simi Valley, Calif. / Chaminade
Henry Christofferson Fr. 285 Elk River, Minn. / Spectrum
Jawahn Cockfield So. 285 St. Paul, Minn. / Stillwater Area
Bryce Commerford So. 174 Minnetonka, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret’s
Zeke Conner Fr. 285 Tyler, Texas / Bishop Gorman
Laiken Copeman Fr. 165 Zumbrota, Minn. / Zumbrota-Mazeppa
Sam Cybyske Fr. 174 Plymouth, Minn. / Robbinsdale Armstrong
Steven Daiker Fr. 197 Rogers, Minn. / Rogers
Jose De Los Santos Fr. 141 Melrose, Minn. / Melrose Area
Will Diana Fr. 197 Eden Prairie, Minn. / Eden Prairie
James Diaz Jr. 197 Hemet, Calif. / Beaumont
Jayden Forniel Fr. 157 Newark, N.J. / St. Benedict’s Prep
Jon Gettel So. 157 Minneapolis, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret’s Cole Hamilton Fr. 174 Rogers, Minn. / Rogers
Marcus Hayes Jr. 125 Katy, Texas / Cypress Lakes
Owen Herbst So. 165 Buffalo, Minn. / Buffalo
Thomas Holmquist Fr. 125 Mendota Heights, Minn. / St. Thomas Academy
Zachariah Hunter Jr. 197 Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater Area
Andy Johnson Jr. 174 St. Cloud, Minn. / Tech
Xavier Jones So. 125 Annandale, Minn. / Annandale
Eric Jurek So. 197 Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater Area
Connor Krueger So. 133 Superior, Wis. / Superior
Drew Lange Fr. 174 Albany, Minn. / Holdingford
Anthony Leon-Arellano Fr. 285 Fresno, Calif. / Sunnyside
Cage Linton Sr. 184 St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin-Derham Hall
Teagyn Ludwig Jr. 125 Richmond, Minn. / Eden Valley-Watkins
Chris Mathis So. 125 Chicago, Ill. / Leo
Parker Meyers So. 174 Blue Earth, Minn. / Blue Earth Area
Josh Mitchell Fr. 184 Harker Heights, Texas / Harker Heights
D.J. Myles Sr. 184 Dayton, Minn. / Champlin Park
Billy Sandoval Fr. 184 Dallas, Texas / Thomas Jefferson
Alex Schuh Fr. 149 Tracy, Minn. / Tracy-Milroy-Balaton
Gabe Shatskikh So. 174 Faribault, Minn. / Faribault
Jordan Silvera Fr. 197 Forest Lake, Minn. / Forest Lake
Erick Solano So. 125 Katy, Texas / Paetow
Logan Thorsten Sr. 165 Foley, Minn. / Foley
Kenneth Torres So. 197 Fontana, Calif. / Marshall Fundamental
Jacob Vaughan Sr. 184 New Prague, Minn. / New Prague
Aidan Wayne So. 184 Maple Grove, Minn. / Osseo
Noah Whitfield-Lopez Sr. 174 Wheatland, Wyo. / Wheatland
Sports coverage to yo u . J o h n n i e s
ANDY RENNECKE Sports Editor
J-CLUB HALL OF HONOR
Minga Batsukh
In the celebration that followed Minga Batsukh’s first national championship in 2009, a challenge was laid in front of the standout Johnnie wrestler.
“I remember everyone was cheering and yelling,” Batsukh recalls. “They were saying ‘You’re a national champion! You’re a national champion!’ But (current SJU head coach) Kevin Schiltz, who was an assistant coach for us at the time, told me it was going to be a lot harder to do it a second time. Everyone was going to be gunning for me.
“That really motivated me. It made me want to keep getting better and work even harder. I wanted to come back and do it again.”
In fact, Batsukh returned to do it twice – following up his first NCAA Division III national title at 141 pounds with another as a junior in 2010, then closing his career by winning the national championship at 149 pounds as a senior in 2011. That makes him the only three-time national champion in school history.
After graduating from SJU, Batsukh returned to Mongolia and continued wrestling for a time, just missing out on the final spot in the 2012 Summer Olympics by the luck of the draw at that year’s Asian Wrestling Qualification Tournament.
He’s gone on to a career in the financial sector in Ulaanbaatar, but he and fellow SJU wrestler Mogi Baatar have both remained involved in the sport. They run a club for kids ages 5-14 that specializes in freestyle wrestling, jiujitsu and boxing.
Gary Svendsen
Gary Svendsen ‘72 wasn’t initially sold on the concept of attending Saint John’s University.
In fact, the highly sought-after wrestler from Coon Rapids (Minn.) High School had already decided on another school as a senior in the spring of 1968.
But SJU head coach Terry Haws – who had just completed his first season at the program’s helm – refused to take no for an answer. Svendsen changed his mind and enrolled in Collegeville just weeks before the 1968-69 school year was scheduled to start.
Despite breaking his leg early in his first semester on campus (which posed a challenge for the freshman who had been placed on the fourth floor of Benet Hall), he returned to action after Christmas and made an immediate impact, capturing an MIAC title at 118 pounds.
Svendsen repeated that feat the following year and also won his weight class during the Johnnies’ first trip to the National Catholic Invitational, which included prominent schools like Notre Dame and Marquette. He also advanced to the NAIA national tournament.
Svendsen went on to be a threetime MIAC champion and a two-time National Catholic Invitational champion wrestler. He also won the 1972 NAIA national title at 134 pounds and finished his career with a program-record .921 winning percentage (105-9 record).
Lou Adderley
Lou Adderley hadn’t wrestled at all before arriving at SJU as a freshman from The Bahamas in 1951.
But he went on to great success in the sport, winning the 1953-54 MIAC championship at 130 pounds.
He was also a dominant force on the tennis court, falling in the conference singles final as a freshman in 1952, then winning three-straight MIAC titles in 1953, ’54 and ’55.
After graduating in 1955, he returned to The Bahamas where he served as a
coach and as the director of athletics at Saint Augustine’s College, a secondary school for grades 7-12. There, he had a profound influence on not only some of the top athletes in the nation’s history, but on some of the country’s future leaders as well.
That group included Cynthia Pratt, who went on to become Deputy Prime Minister and is now the GovernorGeneral of The Bahamas.
He also stayed active in athletics himself, including as a player-coach on the first volleyball team to represent The Bahamas in the Pan-American Games in 1967.
Terry Haws
Terry Haws never wrestled himself. But he would go on to become one of the greatest wrestling coaches the state of Minnesota has ever seen.
After establishing successful high school programs at both St. James and St. Cloud Cathedral, Haws took over the head coaching job at Saint John’s in 1968 and immediately built the Johnnies into a national power.
Over his five seasons in Collegeville, his teams went a combined 73-101 in dual meet competition, won three MIAC titles and two National Catholic championships. His wrestlers captured 16 MIAC titles in their respective weight classes, 11 National Catholic championships and one NAIA national title.
Haws was also a successful high school football coach, who then became the first full-time assistant legendary Johnnies coach John Gagliardi ever had.
Sadly, his time at SJU was cut short when he passed away after suffering a heart attack at age 49 while with his team at the National Catholic Invitational in 1973.
WRESTLING
Brandon Novak
Brandon Novak served as head coach of the Saint John’s wrestling team from 2004 to 2014, compiling a record of 83-73 in dual meet competition.
Under Novak’s watch, Johnnie wrestlers earned All-American honors 15 times. That included Minga Batsukh, who won three-straight national titles from 2009-11.
Novak was a two-time All-American himself, who won a national title at 197 pounds in 2001. He was also an All-American linebacker on the football field and remains SJU’s current co-defensive coordinator.
Terry Haws
When Terry Haws took over as wrestling coach at Saint John’s in the fall of 1967, the program had not won a conference title in four years. But Haws, who had great success as a high school coach in St. James and at St. Cloud Cathedral, quickly built the Johnnies into a national power.
In his six seasons at the helm, his teams compiled a dual meet record
of 65-9-2, earning three-straight MIAC titles in 1971, ’72 and ’73.
Under his watch, wrestlers earned All-American honors four times and Gary Svendsen earned an NAIA national championship at 134 pounds during the 1971-72 season.
He also led the Johnnies to back-toback titles at the National Catholic Invitational Tournament in 1972 and ’72, a season in which he earned national Catholic Coach of the Year honors.
He was back with his team at the NCIT in Cleveland in February of 1973 when he died of a heart attack at the
John Elton
John Elton is the longest-serving head coach in Saint John’s wrestling history, having led the Johnnies from 1981 until his retirement in 2004. Under his watch, SJU sent wrestlers to the NCAA Division III national meet in all but two seasons.
Elton coached two wrestlers to Division III national titles - John Newman at 174 pounds in 1999 and Brandon Novak at 197 pounds in 2001.
Prior to taking over as head coach, Elton was a two-time qualifier for the national meet at 150 pounds for the Johnnies in 1979 and ’80.
JOHNNIE WRESTLERS THRIVING IN MULTIPLE SPORTS
In comparison to football – the other sport he plays at Saint John’s – senior D.J. Myles started wrestling relatively late.
“It wasn’t until my freshman year in high school, and my freshman and sophomore seasons didn’t go that great,” said Myles, who plays linebacker for the Johnnies and is a 197-pound team captain on the mat.
“My junior year, I made a huge jump. Then, during my senior year, I felt dominant. Most guys have 10, 11, 12 or even 13 years of wrestling under their belt by then. I just had four, so I felt like there was still a lot of growth yet to come and I wasn’t ready to give it up.”
Which is why Myles – who as a senior finished third at 182 pounds at the 7AAA-8AAA individual state prelims during the COVID-19 impacted 2020-
21 season – elected to continue in both sports in Collegeville.
He remains with the football team through the close of that season, then joins the wrestling team afterward.
“It can be a bit of a challenge,” said Myles, who finished 8-7 a year ago despite getting an even later start than usual as he recovered from a broken leg suffered during football season.
“I keep my focus on football, but as it gets to be later in the season, I’m also trying to do everything I can to make sure I’m prepared conditioningwise to jump into wrestling as soon as the time comes.”
Myles is not the only Johnnie wrestler involved in more than one sport. There is a group of seven on the roster this season,
including freshman Drew Lange, an 174-pounder out of Holdingford High School who plans to play baseball for SJU next spring.
He said not being forced to give up either sport is a big part of what drew him to Collegeville.
“I have two passions, and I wanted to find a place where I could pursue them both,” said Lange, the Class A state runner-up at 160 pounds as a junior and the third-place finisher in that weight class a year ago.
“This is all still new to me as a freshman, but during (fall baseball practice), I was able to spend a couple days a week there and a couple days a week with wrestling. When the time comes – and baseball practice starts up (around Feb. 1) – I’ll just have to see how it goes.
“I’m sure it will take a little adjusting. But I’ll figure out the right balance.”
Johnnies head coach Kevin Schiltz said being a two-sport athlete can pose scheduling and logistical challenges. But he said it also has its advantages for those able to make it work.
“I have two passions, and I wanted to find a place where I could pursue them both”
“It means they’re on a consistent schedule year-round,” said Schiltz, who is now in his eighth season.
“They have that completive mindset
going and they never turn it off. That can be really beneficial.”
Myles – a global business leadership major who maintains a 4.0 GPA while also working on and off campus and balancing various other leadership roles – does try to get in the wrestling room on Sundays and Mondays as the football practice schedule allows.
But he also stays mindful of not taking on more than he can handle.
“It’s a packed schedule and you have to maintain healthy living,” he said. “There is only so much you can give. The key for me has been taking everything one day at a time and being present in whatever it is that’s happening in that moment.”
That’s the approach Lange is trying to take as well.
“I love both these sports so much,” said Lange, who finished his high school career with a 227-57 record. “And being someplace like Saint John’s, where they work with you to help make it possible to do both, is exciting. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
COACHING STAFF
KEVIN SCHILTZ
Kevin Schiltz begins his eighth season as the head coach of the Johnnie wrestling team in 2023-24. He served as an assistant coach for 16 years before being named to the top job in July of 2017, becoming the first non-SJU graduate in that job since Jim Lind, who coached the Johnnies for two seasons from 1979-81.
Under his watch, two wrestlers have advanced to the NCAA Division III national meet - Luke Dodd at 197 pounds in 2018-19 and Noah Becker at 133 pounds in 2019-20 (though Becker was unable to compete as the national meet was cancelled as a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic).
During his tenure as an assistant coach, the program produced 18 All-Americans, including national champions Brandon Novak ’01, John Newman ‘99 and Minga Batsukh ‘11 (three-time). There were also 53 national qualifiers in those 16 seasons.
The Albert Lea native was a 1988 Minnesota state champion at 185 pounds and a three-time high school
BRADY MEHR Brady Mehr is in his second season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2024-25. The 2020 SJU graduate wrestled for the Johnnies and has spent time coaching at the high school level before returning to his alma mater. BEN GILBERTSON Ben Gilbertson is in his first season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2024-25 after compiling a 47-38 career record with 15 pins the past four seasons. He is a two-time Academic AllDistrict honoree.
ANTHONY HENNEN Anthony Hennen begins his third season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2024-25. The 2020 SJU graduate wrestled for the Johnnies at 125 pounds as a freshman and sophomore and 141 pounds as a junior and senior.
All-American in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. He went on to Augsburg where he was a member of Division III national-championship teams in 1991 and ’93. He compiled a 150-28 career record and was a rare four-time Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion. He also earned All-America honors three times, placing third nationally at 190 pounds in 1989, fifth at 190 in 1990 and sixth at heavyweight in 1993.
In addition, he was a two-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Auggies’ football team. Schiltz was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2016.
Following graduation, Schiltz competed as an amateur on the national stage, finishing seventh at the 1997 U.S. Men’s Open (freestyle). He then started his coaching career as an assistant for two seasons (1996-98) at Division I Virginia, before returning to Minnesota to serve as an assistant for one season at Division II St. Cloud State (1999).
MATT VOS
Matt Vos begins his fourth season as an assistant wrestling coach at SJU in 202425. The 2004 SJU graduate qualified for the NCAA Division III meet three times during his career with the Johnnies, finishing third at 125 pounds during the 2001-02 season.
GARRETT VOS
Garrett Vos begins his third season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2024-25. The 2022 St. Cloud State graduate was a multi-time Division II All-American during his time with the Huskies and won a state championship at 120 pounds at Waconia High School in 2017 with a 38-3 record.
He
SCOTT FERNHOLZ
Scott Fernholz begins his 21st season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2024-25. The 1993 SJU graduate was a three-time national qualifier at 142 pounds, placing eighth during the 1989-90 season. He also won two MIAC titles.
CHAD HENLE
Chad Henle begins his tenth season as an assistant coach at SJU in 2024-25. The 2012 SJU graduate was a two-time national qualifier at 133 pounds, including a seventh-place finish as a junior during the 2010-11 season.
and his wife Susan have two sons, Aidan and Zack, and reside in St. Joseph.
WRESTLING
1947-48 John Weimerskirch (147 lbs.)
1948-49 Ted Burgaff (177 lbs.)
Norman McDonnel (157 lbs.)
John Weimerskirch (147 lbs.)
1950-51 Jim McKeown (137 lbs.)
George Pribyl (177 lbs.)
John Weimerskirch* (147 lbs.)
1951-52 Fred Grant (130 lbs.)
Jim McKeown (137 lbs.)
Clem Schoenbauer (Hwt.)
John Weimerskirch (147 lbs.)
1952-53 Bob Forster (Hwt.)
Fred Grant (130 lbs.)
Leo Kemper (177 lbs.)
Jim McKeown* (137 lbs.)
Jerre Miller (123 lbs.)
1953-54 Louis Adderley (130 lbs.)
Leo Kemper (Hwt.)
Tom Kemply (167 lbs.)
DeVaughn Nelson (157 lbs.)
Jim Tachney (177 lbs.)
Otto “Sy” Weber (147 lbs.)
1954-55 Don Flynn (137 lbs.)
DeVaughn Nelson (157 lbs.)
Jim Tachney (177 lbs.)
1955-56 Lawrence Betzler (157 lbs.)
Don Flynn (137 lbs.)
Mike Gibbs (147 lbs.)
DeVaughn Nelson (167 lbs.)
1956-57 John O’Fallon (167 lbs.)
1957-58 Lawrence Betzler (147 lbs.)
Jim Kuelbs (157 lbs.)
Gary Sauer (123 lbs.)
1958-59 Lawrence Betzler (147 lbs.)
Tom Brudos (130 lbs.)
Jerry Dalseth (137 lbs.)
Jim Kuelbs (157 lbs.)
Gary Sauer (123 lbs.)
1959-60 Jim Kuelbs* (167 lbs.)
Pat Murtaugh (157 lbs.)
1960-61 Ben Pulkrabek (191 lbs.)
1961-62 John Fritz (147 lbs.)
John Fruth (130 lbs.)
Tony Leifeld (123 lbs.)
Ben Pulkrabek (Hwt.)
1963-64 Don Schreifels (177 lbs.)
1964-65 Maury Neifeld (191 lbs.)
Don Schreifels (177 lbs.)
1966-67 Pat Beyer (137 lbs.)
Bob Westby (123 lbs.)
1968-69 Gary Svendsen (115 lbs.)
1969-70 Gary Svendsen (118 lbs.)
Henry Wollmering (134 lbs.)
1970-71 Terry Elfering (118 lbs.)
Dennis Legatt (158 lbs.)
Tom Miller (190 lbs.)
Gary Svendsen (134 lbs.)
Tom Svendsen (126 lbs.)
Jerry Workman (167 lbs.)
1971-72 Terry Elfering (118 lbs.)
Joe Hayes (142 lbs.)
1972-73 Al Bielat (177 lbs.)
Terry Elfering (118 lbs.)
Joe Hayes (142 lbs.)
Dave Pulkrabek (158 lbs.)
Tom Svendsen (134 lbs.)
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
1973-74 Jay Huffman (118 lbs.)
Greg Miller (Hwt.)
Larry Osterhaus (158 lbs.)
Tom Svendsen (134 lbs.)
Jerry Workman (190 lbs.)
1974-75 Greg Miller (Hwt.)
1975-76 John Shimshock (150 lbs.)
1981-82 Jim Goodman (167 lbs.)
1984-85 John Schletty (167 lbs.)
1985-86 Dave Barthel (118 lbs.)
1986-87 Dave Barthel (118 lbs.)
1990-91 Scott Fernholz (142 lbs.)
1991-92 Scott Fernholz (142 lbs.)
1993-94 Chris Grothe (190 lbs.)
Jason Scherber (158 lbs.)
1994-95 Chris Grothe (190 lbs.)
Jason Scherber* (167 lbs.)
Rich Schneckenberger (158 lbs.)
Dan Tschudi (142 lbs.)
1996-97 John Newman (167 lbs.)
Matt Ryan* (158 lbs.)
Dan Tschudi (150 lbs.)
1997-98 John Newman* (167 lbs.)
Brandon Novak (190 lbs.)
1999-00 Jeremy Abfalter (165 lbs.)
2000-01 Brandon Novak* (197 lbs.)
2002-03 Dan Fiecke (197 lbs.)
2003-04 Dan Fiecke (197 lbs.)
Matt Vos* (125 lbs.)
*Carl Larson Trophy as MIAC Outstanding Wrestler
Scott Fernholz
Tom Miller
Chris Grothe
WRESTLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2009 (141 lbs.), 2010 (141 lbs.) & 2011 (149 lbs.) Minga Batsukh
The 2011 D3wrestle.com National Wrestler of the Year, Minga Batsukh ’11 finished his collegiate career as a three-time NCAA Division III champion and a four-time national qualifier, winning the 141-pound title in 2009 and 2010, followed by the 149-pound title in 2011. He became the first three-time individual national champion in school history, regardless of sport, and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. Batsukh compiled an 88-19 career record, which included a 28-12 record as a freshman and a 60-7 mark his final three seasons. He broke the SJU school record for takedowns in a match with 17 at the 2011 North Country Open.
2001 (197 lbs.)
Brandon Novak
1999 (174 lbs.)
John Newman
1972 (134 lbs.)
Gary Svendsen
MIAC Champions
1948 John Weimerskirch 147
1949 John Weimerskirch 147
Norman McDonnel 157
Ted Burgraff 177
1951 Jim McKeown 137
John Weimerskirch 147
George Pribyl 177
1952 Fred Grant 130
Jim McKeown 137
John Weimerskirch 147
Clem Schoenbauer Hwt
1953 Jerre Miller 123
Fred Grant 130
Jim McKeown 137
Leo Kemper 177
Bob Foster Hwt
1954 Louis Adderly 130 Otto
“Sy” Weber 147
DeVaughn Nelson 157
Tom Kemply 167
Jim Tachney 177
Leo Kemper Hwt
1955 Don Flynn 137
DeVaughn Nelson 157
Jim Tachney 177
1956 Don Flynn 137
Mike Gibbs 147
Lawrence Betzler 157
DeVaughn Nelson 167
1957 John O’Fallon 167
1958 Gary Sauer 123
Lawrence Betzler 147
Jim Kuelbs 157
1959 Gary Sauer 123
Tom Brudos 130
Jerry Dalseth 137
Lawrence Betzler 147
Jim Kuelbs 157
1960 Pat Murtaugh 157
Jim Kuelbs 167
1961 Ben Pulkrabek 191
1962 Tony Leifeld 123
John Fruth 130
John Fritz 147
Ben Pulkrabek Hwt
1964 Don Schreifels 177
1965 Don Schreifels 177
Maury Neifeld 191
1967 Bob Westby 123
Pat Beyer 137
1969 Gary Svendsen 115
1970 Gary Svendsen 118
Henry Wollmering 134
1971 Terry Elfering 118
Tom Svendsen 126
Gary Svendsen 134
Denis Legatt 158
Jerry Workman 167
Tom Miller 190
1972 Terry Elfering 118
Joe Hayes 142
1973 Terry Elfering 118
Tom Svendsen 134
Joe Hayes 142
Dave Pulkrabek 158
Al Bielat 177
1974 Jay Huffman 118
Tom Svendsen 134
Larry Osterhaus 158
Jerry Workman 190
Greg Miller Hwt
1975 Greg Miller Hwt
1976 John Shimshack 150
1982 Jim Goodman 167
1985 John Schletty 167
1986 Dave Barthel 118
1987 Dave Barthel 118
1991 Scott Fernholz 142
1992 Scott Fernholz 142
1994 Jason Scherber 158
Chris Grothe 190
1995 Dan Tschudi 142
Rich Schneckenberger 158
Jason Scherber 167
Chris Grothe 190
1997 Dan Tschudi 150
Matt Ryan 158
John Newman 167
1998 John Newman 167
Brandon Novak 190
2000 Jeremy Abfalter 165
2001 Brandon Novak 197
NCAA Great Lakes Region Champions
2003 Dan Fiecke 197
2004 Dan Fiecke 197
2009 Mogi Baatar 133
Minga Batsukh 141
2010 Minga Batsukh 141
2011 Matt Baarson 165
Minga Batsukh 149
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
Chris Sandy 141
2012 Chad Henle 133
Matt Pfarr 174
NCAA West Region Champions
2013 Ryan Arne 157
Mitch Hagen 184
2014 Ryan Michaelis 197
2016 Ben Henle 141
Carl Larson Award Winners The Carl Larson Award was awarded annually to the MIAC outstanding wrestler.
1997
Matt Ryan Zumbrota
1953
Jim McKeown Albert Lea
1998
John Newman Mayer
1960
Jim Kuelbs Clements
2001
Brandon Novak Becker 1995
Jason Scherber Rogers 2004 Matt Vos Arlington
1951 John Weimerskirch Litchfield
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
MOST VICTORIES
Career 143 Matt Ryan, 1993-97
Season 52 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95
Freshman 33 Mogi Baatar, 2006-07 33 Jacob Malone, 2003-04
MOST CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES
Rich Schneckenberger 32 1993-94
FASTEST FALL
Owen Herbst :08 2023-24
Matt Strobl :10 1995-96
FASTEST TECHNICAL FALL
Dan Tschudi :51 1996-97
MOST FALLS
Career
55 Matt Ryan, 1993-97
Season 22 Matt Ryan, 1994-95
MOST CONSECUTIVE FALLS
Rich Schneckenberger 5 1994-95
MOST NEAR-FALL POINTS
Career 475 Dan Tschudi, 1993-97
Season 282 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95
Match 19 Pat Manning, 1983-84
MOST TAKEDOWNS
Career 336 John Newman, 1995-99
Season 126 Rich Schneckenberger, 1993-94
Match 17 Minga Batsukh, 2010-11
MOST REVERSALS
Career 105 Chuck Chmielewski, 1984-88
Season 35 Shawn Govern, 1985-86
Match 5 Mark Devetter, 1983-84 5 John Svihel, 1983-84
MOST ESCAPES
Career 208 Mike Timm, 1996-00
Season 96 Dan Willaert, 200203
Match 11 John Haberman, 1990-91
MOST TEAM POINTS
Career +521 Rich Schneckenberger, 1990-95
Season +194 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95
MOST MATCH POINTS
Career 1,385 Rich Schneckenberger, 1990-95
Season 560 Rich Schneckenberger, 1994-95
GREATEST POINT SPREAD
Mike Tess 26 1983-84 32-6 over Rick Aanerud, Golden Valley
Rich Schneckenberger
Mogi Baatar
John Newman
PROUD
SPONSOR AND CONTRACTOR FOR JOHNNIE
ATHLETICS
WRESTLING
1979 Chris Meyer 134 8th
John Elton 150
Dan Quinn 177
1980 John Elton 150
1982 Jim Goodman 167
1983 Brian Baker 134
1985 Brian Baker 134
John Schletty 167
1986 Dave Barthel 118
1987 Dave Barthel 118
1989 Phil Wilder HWT
1990 Scott Fernholz 142 8th
Tim Oelke 158 8th
1991 Scott Fernholz 142
Terry Fasching 158
Mike Honken 177
1992 Scott Fernholz 142
Terry Fasching 158
Rich Schneckenberger 167
1993 Scott Fernholz 142
Scot Doboszenski 150
Rich Scneckenberger 158
Jason Scherber 167
Chris Grothe 190 5th
1994 Dan Tschudi 142
Jason Scherber 158
Rich Schneckenberger 167 5th
Chris Grothe 190
1995 Dan Tschudi 142 7th
Matt Ryan 150
Rich Schneckenberger 158 3rd
Jason Scherber 167
Chris Grothe 190
1996 Dan Tschudi 142
Matt Ryan 150 5th
Andy Lien 177 5th
Chris Grothe HWT
1997 Dan Tschudi 150 7th
Matt Ryan 150 8th
John Newman 167 3rd
Brandon Novak 190 5th
Matt Wentland HWT
1998 Mike Timm 126
Matt Strobl 150
Lance Bodeen 158
John Newman 174
Andy Lien 177 3rd
Brandon Novak 190
1999 Eric Tschudi 125
Jeremy Abfalter 165
John Newman 174 1st
Ryan Tietz 184 5th
2000 Adam Mergen 125
Jeremy Abfalter 165
Chris Gross 174
Ryan Tietz 184
NCAA PARTICIPANTS
Brandon Novak 197 3rd
2001 Matt Vos 125
Brian Vetter 141
Brian Lahr 165
Brandon Novak 197 1st
2002 Matt Vos 125 3rd
Chuck Griffith 133
Tim Anderson 149
2003 Dan Fiecke 197
2004 Matt Vos 125
Nate Lefebvre 133
Dan Fiecke 197 5th
2005 Dan Fiecke 197
Jacob Malone 157
2006 Dan Fiecke 197
Jacob Malone 157 4th
Dan Willaert 184 7th
2007 Jacob Malone 157 5th
Minga Batsukh 141
Mogi Baatar 125
2008 Dustin Baxter 184
Matt Schrupp 165
Mogi Baatar 125 7th
2009 Matt Baarson 157
Mogi Baatar 133
Minga Batsukh 141 1st
Dustin Baxter 184 7th
2010 Matt Baarson 165
Mogi Baatar 133
Minga Batsukh 141 1st
2011 Matt Baarson 165 4th
Minga Batsukh 149 1st
Dustin Baxter 184 3rd
Chad Henle 133 7th
Matt Pfarr 174 7th
Chris Sandy 141
Tony Willaert 197
2012 Dustin Baxter 197 2nd
Mitch Hagen 184
Chad Henle 133
Matt Pfarr 174 4th
Chris Stevermer 157
2013 Ryan Arne 157
Mitch Hagen 184 5th
Ryan Michaelis 197
John Scepaniak Hwt
Nick Schuler 165
Chris Stevermer 149
2014 Ben Henle 141
Ryan Michaelis 197
2015 Ben Henle 141
Ryan Michaelis 197
2016 Teddy Erickson 165
Ben Henle 141
Mike Pleski 133
2017 Noah Becker 133
Luke Dodd 184
Teddy Erickson 165
Robert Tait 197
2019 Luke Dodd 197
2020 Noah Becker 133
Meyer
Scott Fernholz
Chris
2024-25 SEASON SCHEDULE
Date Time At Opponent
Location
Nov. 9, 2024 7 p.m. Home Nebraska Wesleyan Collegeville / The Donald McNeely Spectrum
Nov. 10, 2024 12 p.m. Home Haws/Elton Rumble Collegeville / Sexton Arena
Nov. 23, 2024 10 a.m. Away UW-Eau Claire 8-Man Battle Eau Claire, Wis.
Dec. 7, 2024 11 a.m. Away MSU-Moorhead Open Moorhead
Jan. 4, 2025 9:30 a.m. Away Central Invitational Pella, Iowa
Jan. 7, 2025 1 p.m. Away Minnesota North College-Itasca Grand Rapids
Jan. 18, 2025 7 p.m. Home Buena Vista Collegeville / Sexton Arena
Jan. 19, 2025 12 p.m. Home North Country Invitational Collegeville / Sexton Arena
Feb. 4, 2025 7 p.m. Away Concordia Moorhead
Feb. 8, 2025 11 a.m. Away Cobber Last Shot Invitational Moorhead
Feb. 9, 2025 2 p.m. Away Minnesota West C.T.C. Worthington
Feb. 13, 2025 6 p.m. Away Ridgewater Willmar
Feb. 28, 2025 All Day Away NCAA Upper Midwest Regional Minneapolis
LAST SEASON IN PICTURES
WRESTLING FACILITIES
WRESTLING ROOM
Opening in 1973, the wrestling room is the primary practice space for the wrestling team. Complete with padded walls and mats, as soon as one walks into the wrestling room, they are reminded of the proud tradition of Johnnie Wrestling as conference honors and titles of former grapplers adorn the walls.
SEXTON ARENA
Although the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) dropped wrestling as an official conference recognized sport in 2004, Saint John’s University continues to add to its prestigious wrestling history to this day. Students pack the mats inside of Sexton Arena (and sometimes the Donald McNeely Spectrum) to watch the Johnnie grapplers take on some of the best competition that the country has to offer. During the days of MIAC wrestling (1948 to 2004), Saint John’s won a total of 14 team titles, 59 individual MIAC titles, and produced 8 Carl Larson Trophy Award winners (given to the best individual grappler in the conference). Eight of the 14 MIAC team titles came in straight succession from 1952 to 1959.
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.
Donald McNeely spectrum
The Donald McNeely Spectrum is a multi-purpose fieldhouse located inside the Warner Palaestra that can also be used for home meets.
FANDOM is TRADITION
SCHOLARSHIP FEATURE
Scholarships help Deutschman thrive at SJU
It was one of his high school coaches who first put Saint John’s University on Jacob Deutschman’s radar.
Ben Sieben – an All-MIAC standout at wide receiver for the Johnnies in the late 1990s – is now an assistant coach at Anoka High School where Deutschman was the starting quarterback before graduating in 2022.
“I didn’t know much about Saint John’s before that,” Deutschman said. “But (Sieben) went here and he talked to me about it. So I took a visit and I really enjoyed the campus. When I discovered more about the quality of education that’s offered here, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
And it was scholarships that helped make that possible. Deutschman – an exercise and health science major who will be a junior this fall –currently receives the Agee Family Scholarship, as well as an academic achievement scholarship.
“It takes away so much stress when you know you have scholarships in place to help make everything work financially,” said Deutschman, who hopes to one day pursue a chiropractic career. “It allows you to focus your energy on academic success.”
Deutschman is doing just that while continuing as a member of the SJU football team.
“Jacob is a testament to the kind of young men that we have here at Saint John’s,” Johnnies head coach Gary Fasching said. “As a
member of our football team, Jacob has battled through a couple of injuries but has persevered. He had a very good spring for us, and we hope that he can carry that into the coming season”.
Deutschman is the oldest in a family of four children – two of whom are cousins whom his parents Brent and Sarah adopted after his aunt died of cancer and his uncle died of complications from ALS within a month of one another in 2016.
“That was a really rough moment to go through as a family,” he recalls. “My cousins lost their mother and father and we lost an aunt and uncle. It was hard, but we got through it, and it drew us even closer together.
“We’re a very tight-knit family.”
Those close familial ties are part of why he values so deeply the sense of
community he’s found at SJU and the College of Saint Benedict.
“If I hadn’t been able to come here, I would have missed out on the bonding experiences I’ve had with my classmates, as well as the oneon-one relationships I’ve formed with my professors and coaches,” he said. “I’ve made such great friends during my time here. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Which is why he’s so appreciative of the assistance scholarships have provided, and so grateful to the donors who’ve helped make that possible.
“I want to say thank you for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “It’s meant so much to me to be here.” Alumni
SUPPORT THE GO JOHNNIES CHALLENGE
EACH SEPTEMBER
The Saint John’s University athletic department’s 2024 Go Johnnies Challenge - a 24-hour, online giving campaign – held Sept. 12 was another victory for its student-athletes, including the Johnnie wrestling team.
A total of 916 donors contributed $239,834 to support SJU’s studentathletes, athletic programs and the Fighting Saints Battalion (ROTC program consisting of CSB+SJU and St. Cloud State students). The Go Johnnies Challenge has now raised $1.5 million for SJU athletics in the six-year history of the event.
The initial goal for the 24-hour campaign was to reach 650 donors for each of SJU’s 650 varsity and club student-athletes. The event is a partnership between the athletic department, Institutional Advancement (alumni office) and J-Club volunteers.
“Another amazing day for Saint John’s and for Johnnie athletics,” SJU athletic director Bob Alpers ‘82 said. “A sincere
Thank You to all who support our student-athletes and our programs.
An incredible number of donors and amazing financial support! We are so grateful for your generosity.
“I’d also like to extend a special thanks to the team that makes the Go Johnnies Challenge possible; Adam Herbst ‘99, Ted Kain ‘12, Sarah Forystek, Frank Rajkowski and Ryan Klinkner ‘04. They are the unsung heroes and make the day possible.”
After the initial goal of 650 donors was reached just before 4 p.m. that day, a stretch goal of 900 was created and eclipsed.
Of the 852 total donors, 77% were alumni, 17% parents, 9% friends, 4% faculty/staff and 3% students (some were categorized into multiple distinctions).
47 matching gifts specific to a sport or organization were made and inspired others to join in support.
Donors represented 39 of the 50 U.S. states.
Thank you to all who helped make this day a success!
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.
SJU ATHLETES TEAM UP TO FIGHT HUNGER
Colby Kern believes there’s a simple explanation for why so many Saint John’s University student-athletes and other members of the CSB and SJU campus communities turned out to pack meals for those in need Sunday.
“This is one of the reasons why people come to Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s,” the now-senior swimmer said. “You want to be part of something bigger than yourself. You want to give of your own time and help with volunteer opportunities like this. “It’s part of who we are at these schools.”
This year’s event - held as always on a Sunday in Lent on the SJU campus in Guild Hall – was the centerpiece of the SJU athletic department’s eighthannual food packing service project.
Over 325 participants turned out to pack 76,032 meals for Kids Fighting Hunger – a Central Minnesotabased organization that works with volunteer groups to package food and prepare it for distribution where it’s needed most.
Each packaged meal can feed six adults or 10 children, so the number of actual meals is much higher than 76,000. Student-athletes donate their own money to help cover the cost of the food and members of the SJU
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also collect funds at home athletic events.
This year, Kern said a total of just over $15,000 was raised in donations.
“For SAAC, this is our biggest event of the year,” Kern said. “It’s the most important thing we do.”
SJU athletic director Bob Alpers ’82 said the event was the culmination of a year-long effort by Johnnie student-athletes.
“Our athletes are so conscientious and they have such big hearts,” Alpers said. “SAAC works on KFH all year long. They don’t just show up one Sunday and pack meals. They’ve worked on this before school starts. They’ve worked on it at every home athletic contest we have. Starting at 8 a.m. and going through around 2 p.m., around 325 folks came (out) to pack (meals) on St Patrick’s Day. They are amazing.
“Our students are committed and dedicated to doing good deeds and good work – helping folks who need it, especially on a Sunday in Lent.”
Alpers praised partners like the SJU Student Senate, SJU Campus Ministry and Granite Rotary whom he said help make the event so successful each year. The groups assist financially and help to pack meals. He said the effort is also a way for student-athletes to show their appreciation for the opportunities they’ve been given.
“We’re so lucky here,” Alpers said. “Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s are two of the best colleges in the nation and our guys know they are blessed to have the opportunity to represent Saint John’s athletically and do what we love to do.
“Giving back has always been really important to our SAAC guys and they pass that same love of service on to their teammates on each of our teams.”
Max Doom, the 2023-24 SAAC president, said such events are a way to spread positivity in a world that can use it more than ever.
“There needs to be more good in the world,” said Doom, a track-and-field athlete who graduated last spring. “We see so much negativity out there, and to be able to give back in ways like this will maybe spread hope to other people – whether that’s people here in our community or people somewhere else in the world. “That’s something I think is needed.”
