WINONA STATE WARRIORS
FOOTBALL
2024 SCHEDULE
Sept 5
Sept 14
Sept. 21
Sept 28
Oct 5
Oct. 12
Oct 19
Oct 26
Nov. 2
Nov 9
Nov 16
SAGINAW VALLEY STATE at CONCORDIA-ST PAUL WAYNE STATE at NORTHERN STATE MSU MOORHEAD UMARY at AUGUSTANA BEMIDJI STATE MINNESOTA DULUTH at SMSU at MINOT STATE 7:00pm 6:30pm 1:00pm 6:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 1:00pm
THE MATCHUP
WEEK 1
September 5, 2024 @ 7:00pm Winona, Minn Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium
GAME BREAKDOWN
WINONA STATE SAGINAW VALLEY STATE
2023 Record.......................6-5, 3-3
INSIDE THE SERIES
QUICK NOTES
Winona State dropped the 2023 season opener on the road at Saginaw Valley State, 34-24, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools
Last season, WSU finished 5-6 overall and 5-5 within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
The Warriors enter the 2024 season ranked seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
The Winona State offense averaged 25.36 points per game a season ago, while the defense allowed 27 09 points/game
WSU is 7-3 in the last 10 season openers, including a 4-1 mark at home.
BY THE NUMBERS
3
7
Head coach Brian Bergstrom enters year 3 at the helm of the Warrior football team.
The 7:00pm kickoff will be the first night game in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium since Sept 2, 2021 (WSU 47, CSP 6). 112
The 2024 season will be the 112th season of play in Winona State football history 16
The Warriors return 16 studentathletes who played in all 11 games in 2023
The 2024 campaign will feature six home games and five away games Winona State finished 3-2 at home last season and 5-0 in 2022.
Three opponents on WSU’s 2024 schedule were ranked in the Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll. Augustana (14), Minnesota Duluth (17), and Bemidji State (25) were each featured in the poll.
Winona State returns their QB, top two receivers, and top three rushers from 2023.
The Warrior defense returns eight of the top nine tacklers from last season
Following this week’s game, the Warriors travel to Concordia-St Paul for a 6:30pm kickoff against the Golden Bears on Saturday, Sept 14
TOP RETURNING PERFORMERS
Home Sweet Home
GAME NOTES WSU QUICK FACTS
Winona State has had a winning record at Maxwell Field each of the last seven seasons. Under Coach Bergstrom, WSU holds an 8-2 record at home.
Under The Lights
Winona State opens the season under the lights at Maxwell Field for the first time since 2021. WSU is 5-0 in night gams at home dating back to 2015.
A Season Ago
WSU and SVSU matched up on Aug 31, 2023 in University Center, Mich and the Cardinals jumped out to a 27-0 lead in the first half. The Warriors tried to come back, but fell short as SVSU hung on for a 34-24 victory
The Bergstrom Era
Brian Bergstrom is entering year three at the helm of the Warrior football program Bergstrom holds a 13-10 record with WSU, including an NSIC South Title and a trip to the NCAA Playoffs in 2022
Stenstrom’s Signals
Cole Stenstrom started all 11 games for Winona State last season The University of South Dakota transfer is in his second full season with the Warriors and will look to build on key connections.
Dynamic Duo
Sylvere Campbell and Kaleb Skelly, both transfers a season ago, led the receiving corps in 2023. Campbell hauled in a team-high six touchdowns and led WSU with 629 receiving yards Skelly led the Warriors with 45 receptions and garnered 571 yards
Backfield By Committee
WSU returns the top three rushers from last season. Cair’ron Hendred led the way with 604 yards and five TDs Ty Gavin tallied 412 yards on a team-high 100 carries. Quentin Pringle had a strong back half of the season, rushing for 341 yards in seven games.
Specialist Services
Jacob Scott and Tristan Root are both back after taking care of kicking and punting duties during 2023. Scott was a perfect 34-34 on PATs and went 13-20 on field goals Root averaged 41 38 yards on 47 punts with 20 inside the 20
Defensive Depth
Although the Warriors lose their top tackler from 2023, WSU returns the next top eight tacklers Tristan Root, Trey Borske, Griffin Wiegel, Myles Hawthorne, Kyjuan Vengrowsky, Nick Bucaro, Jamon Williams, and Connor Haggerty all look to lead the defensive unit once again this year.
All-NSIC
Eight Warriors were named to All-NSIC Teams in 2023, and six return for the 2024 season. Trey Borske, Kyjuan Vengrowsky, and Enrique De Leon were defensive representatives Sylvere Campbell, Noah Pappas, and Kaleb Skelly represented the Warrior offense
Wayne State at MSU Moorhead 9/5 @ 6pm
Augustana at UMary 9/5 @ 6pm
Winona State vs Saginaw Valley State.......9/5@ 7pm
Minot State at SMSU 9/7 @ 5pm
Concordia-St Paul at Upper Iowa 9/7 @ 6pm
Sioux Falls at Northern State.......................9/7 @ 6pm
Bemidji State at Minnesota State 9/7 @ 6pm
2024 WINONA STATE FOOTBALL ROSTER
NAME
Jacob Rolen
Sylvere Campbell
Kaleb Skelly
Joe Sikma
Ty Gavin
Griffin Wiegel
Thomas Kiesau
Vernon Porte
Jacob Scott
Justin Wohlers
Tristan Root
Peter Anderson
Voshon Porte
Jamon Williams
Cayden Holcomb
Jonathan Mann
Carson Sippel
Jackson Flottmeyer
Cole Stenstrom
Blake Schraufnagel
Jim Curtin
Ethan Doucette
Easton Knoll
Quentin Pringle
Aaron Newton
Nick Bucaro
Alex Oechsner
Anthony Powell
Cair'ron Hendred
Lincoln Snitker
Josh Buri
Ethan Torgrimson
Eliajah Randle
Joseph Staff
Ben Bowe
Austin Morris
Jacob Anderson
Colton Geurink
Drew Goettl
Carter Nair
Marques Monroe
Ben Kingsbury
Brady Foster
Sam Shutter
Darioh Balisidya
Bronson Schofield
Sidney Green
Ben Burgess
Brent Jeske
Trey Borske
Bryan Cassellius
Myles Hawthorne
David Nies
Enrique De Leon
Wesley Wollan
Jim Schwaab
Mason Carnell
Devin Arriaga
Ben Forcier
Jack Larson
Clay Craker
Blake Haus
Keaton Brown
Brecken Klein
Riley Johnson
Jordan Haddad
Magnus Nelson
Jauron Hall
Patrick Wright, Jr.
HOMETOWN
Stockbridge, GA
Milwaukee, Wis
Blaine, Minn.
Waukesha, Wis
Chicago, Ill
Combined Locks, Wis. La Crescent, Minn
Atlanta, GA
Flower Mound, Texas Lake City, Minn. Eau Claire, Wis
Hoffman Estates, Ill
Atlanta, Ga.
Country Club Hills, Ill
Rochester, Minn
Rosemount, Minn. Sherwood, Wis
La Crosse, Wis
Arden Hills, Minn. Mayville, Wis
Frankfort, Ill
Kimberly, Wis. Kasson, Minn.
Bolingbrook, Ill
Atlanta, GA.
Bartlett, Ill.
Muskego, Wis
Rogers, Minn
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Waukon, Iowa
Stewartville, Minn
Sartell, Minn.
Minneapolis, Minn
Brookfield, Wis
Chaska, Minn. Marshall, Minn
Maple Grove, Minn
Wausau, Wis.
Eau Claire, Wis. Mokena, Ill
Minneapolis, Minn
Frankfort, Ill. Waukesha, Wis
6-2 6-1 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-5 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-1 6-5 6-7
Plymouth, Wis
Elk River, Minn. Chetek, Wis
Chicago, Ill
Baraboo, Wis.
Colby, Wis
Naperville, Ill
Winona, Minn.
Osseo, Minn.
Patch Grove, Wis
Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Winona, Minn.
Waukesha, Wis
Nashotah, Wis
Menasha, Wis.
Hudson, Wis
Sun Prairie, Wis
Middleton, Wis.
Sartell, Minn
Woodbury, Minn
Lakeville, Minn.
Brooklyn Park, Minn
Mequon, Wis
Brookings, S.D.
Saint Paul, Minn.
Milwaukee, Wis
HIGH SCHOOL
Eagles Landing Christian
Martin Luther
Spring Lake Park
Catholic Memorial
Notre Dame College Prep
Kimberly
La Crescent
Dacula
Marcus
Lake City
Regis
Barrington
Dacula
Hillcrest
Rochester Mayo
Rosemount
Kaukauna
Aquinas
Mounds View
Mayville
Lincoln Way East
Kimberly
Kasson - Mantorville
Bolingbrook
Stockbridge
Bartlett
Catholic Memorial
Rogers
Kennedy
Waukon
Stewartville
Sartell
Richfield
Brookfield Central
Chaska
Marshall
Maple Grove
Wausau West
Regis
Lincoln Way East
John F Kennedy
Lincoln Way East
Waukesha West
Plymouth
Elk River
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser
Brother Rice
Baraboo
Colby
Neuqua Valley
Winona Senior High
Osseo
River Ridge
Chippewa Falls
Winona Senior High
Catholic Memorial
Arrowhead
Menasha
Hudson
Sun Prairie
Middleton
Sartell
Woodbury
Lakeville South
Park Center
Homestead Brookings
PREVIOUS
SCHOOL
Vanderbilt
Carthage College
Northern State
Upper Iowa
Cisco (Texas) JC
Minnesota Duluth
North Dakota State
Univ. of Minnesota
South Dakota
Eastern Kentucky
Albany State College of DuPage
South Dakota State
Air Force Academy
NAME
2024 WINONA STATE FOOTBALL ROSTER
Jake Ziemniarski
Jacob Leszczynski
Noah Pappas
Garit Wollan
Austin Zeeveld
Ty Johnson
Mason Kolling
AJ Scaife
Carter Todd
Nick Grande
Brandon Bell, Jr
Tyler Wilken
James Durst
Cole Lipper
John Berry
Kyjuan Vengrowsky
Luke Todd
Carson Thompson
Aidan Boehle
Conner Haggerty
Morgan McKnight
Travis Alvin
John Klinger
Joseph Demro
Branden Cole
LJ Dagen
Maurice Densmore
Jack Donovan
Santana English
Kade Frisby
Remington Gau
Javontae Gregory
Carter Holcomb
Caleb Jannsen
Anton Kadlec
Jayce Kiehne
Aiden Krause
Ashton Krause
Hayden McDaniel
Max Mengel
Matthew Miklosy
Tyler Nichols
Josh Oechsner
AJ Palicki
Charlie Renner
Logan Rogers
John Schwaab
Luke Speeding
Taiden Thomas
Jaylen West
Beau Wiersma
6-5 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-4 5-11 6-6 6-2 6-2 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-0 5-9 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-2 5-9 6-3 6-0 6-4 6-1 6-4 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-0 5-8
HOMETOWN
New Lenox, Ill
Muskego, Wis
Plymouth, Minn.
Minnesota City, Minn Cascade, Wis Waterford, Wis. Spring Valley, Minn Saint Paul, Minn La Crescent, Minn. Oronoco, Minn. Chicago, Ill
Cedar Rapids, Iowa Byron, Minn. Mediapolis, Iowa
San Antonio, Texas
De Pere, Wis.
Appleton, Wis
Rushford, Minn
Minnetonka, Minn. Onalaska, Wis
Waukesha, Wis
Randolph, Wis.
Oshkosh, Wis.
Plymouth, Minn
Minneapolis, Minn.
Kenosha, Wis.
Chicago, Ill
Carol Stream, Ill
Rockford, Ill.
Genoa City, Wis
Rochester, Minn
Esko, Minn.
Rochester, Minn
Stewartville, Minn
Hutchinson, Minn. Harmony, Minn
Wind Lake, Wis
Wind Lake, Wis.
Chanhassen, Minn. Fond Du Lac, Wis
Waukesha, Wis
Cicero, Ill. Muskego, Wis
Villa Park, Ill
Hutchinson, Minn. Mesa, Ariz
Waukesha, Wis
Minnetonka, Minn. Oswego, Ill
Chicago, Ill
Spring Valley, Minn.
HIGH SCHOOL
Lincoln Way West
Muskego
Robbinsdale Armstrong
Winona Senior High
Plymouth
Waterford Union
Kingsland
Roseville Area
La Crescent
Pine Island
Wheaton Warrenville South
Cedar Rapids Xavier
Byron
Mediapolis
Brainerd
De Pere
Kimberly
Rushford-Peterson
Minnetonka
Onalaska
Catholic Memorial
Randolph Oshkosh North Wayzata
Robbinsdale Armstrong
Indian Trail
Mount Carmel
Saint Francis
Boylan Catholic
Wilmot
Rochester Mayo Esko
Rochester Mayo
Stewartville
Hutchinson
Fillmore Central
Muskego
Muskego
Chanhassen
Fond Du Lac
Catholic Memorial
Morton West
Catholic Memorial
Willowbrook
Hutchinson
Desert Ridge
Catholic Memorial
Minnetonka
Oswego
Hoffman Estates
Kingsland
WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY
ABOUT WINONA STATE
Founded in 1858, Winona State University is a regional public university and the oldest member of the Minnesota State system.
WSU offers more than 200 majors and programs with campuses in Winona and Rochester, Minn WSU has a 16:1 student to faculty ratio with an average class size of 24 students
Winona State has the #1 student success rate in the Minnesota State system and is the #2 best public institution in all of Minnesota, according to the U S News & World Report
Widely known for its stunning natural setting, the WSU Winona campus is nestled between picturesque bluffs and the Mississippi River meaning rock climbing, paddle-boarding, hiking, kayaking, and more are within a mile of campus.
HEAD COACH • BRIAN BERGSTROM COACHING RESUME
CAREER RECORD
Brian Bergstrom was hired as the head football coach at Winona State University in December 2021. Bergstrom made an immediate impact on the Warrior program, leading the team to the NCAA postseason following an 8-3 regular season finish which included an undefeated 5-0 mark at home in Altra Federal Credit Union StadiumBergstrom and WSU earned a share of the 2022 NSIC South Division title, the first for the program since 2012 Following a stellar regular season, Winona State advanced to the 2022 NCAA Division II Football playoffs, bowing out to league-rival Bemidji State in the first round. For Bergstrom, the successful first year saw him become one of a handful of football coaches across all NCAA levels to lead a team to the NCAA postseason in their first season.
The 2022 campaign saw Winona State football student-athletes earn several impressive individual accolades, including the NSIC Britton Award (Mitch Snitker), Don Hansen All-Americans (Payton Dachel, Jaylen Schleicher, Clay Schueffer), the NSIC Glen Galligan Award (Carter Duxbury), among others In addition, Clay Scheuffner was one of just 48 NCAA Division II players nominated for the Harlon Hill Award.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2022-Present (Winona State) Head Football Coach
2017-2021 (South Dakota State) Co-Defensive Coordinator
2013-2017 (Augustana University) Defensive Coordinator
2011-2013 (Minnetonka High School) Defensive Backs / Safeties Coach
2006-2010 (Gustavus Adolphus) Defensive Coordinator
2005-2006 (Crown College) Defensive Coordinator
2003-2005 (St. Cloud State) Graduate Asst. - Linebackers
2002-2003 (Shakopee High School) Linebackers Coach
Bergstrom came to Winona State having most recently served as the defensive coordinator for South Dakota State University Hired in March 2017 at NCAA Division I FCS member SDSU, Bergstrom also coached the program's safeties.
Bergstrom has 17 years of collegiate coaching experience and owns a strong network of recruiting connections cultivated over stops at Augustana University and Gustavus Adolphus College, his alma mater. While at Augustana, Bergstrom was part of a Viking staff that won a share of the 2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division title That same year, Augustana earned a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs While on staff at South Dakota State, Bergstrom has been a part of five consecutive Jackrabbit playoff teams, earning three trips to the FCS national semifinals, including a runner-up finish.
Putting his stamp on strong defensive teams has been a trademark of Bergstrom at all levels While at South Dakota State, the Jackrabbits were the third-best FCS program in terms of total interceptions in 2020-21 with 12 and were ranked eighth in turnovers gained with 17 on the year.
Originally from Burnsville, Minnesota, Bergstrom earned both all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and honorable mention All-America selection as a linebacker. He was named team Most Valuable Player and was a team captain. In addition, Bergstrom was a CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree and was named the recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Bergstrom officially began his duties on January 6, 2022. Bergstrom, his wife Kate, and their three children, Krayton, Beckett, and Berkley, reside in Winona
WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY / WARRIORS / FOOTBALL GAME PROGRAM
2024 WINONA STATE FOOTBALL
The Winona State University football team was selected seventh in the 2024 NSIC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll. Sylvere Campbell and Kyjuan Vengrowsky were named Preseason Players to Watch for the Warriors.
WSU garnered 75 points in the 2024 NSIC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll, locking them in seventh behind MSU Moorhead (88 points) and ahead of Sioux Falls (62 points). Minnesota Duluth was selected first with 134 points and eight first place votes. MSU Moorhead quarterback, Jack Strand was selected as the Offensive Preseason Player of the Year. Bemidji State defensive end Marcus Hansen was tabbed as the Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.
Winona State finished 5-6 (5-5 NSIC) in 2023, including a 3-2 record in home contests Entering his third season with the Warriors, head coach Brian Bergstrom noted, "The 2024 Warrior Football family is hungry, bought in, and motivated by being their best and their love for each other Our culture has continued to grow, and we have a strong player-led football team We will continue to focus on the daily journey of the process by doing what is right, doing our job, and loving our team and teammates "
Campbell, a senior from Milwaukee, Wis , led the receivers for WSU last season and is back as the Offensive Player to Watch for the Warriors Campbell appeared in all 11 games in 2023 and led the team with 57 18 yards per game for a total of 629 receiving yards Campbell hauled in 33 catches and scored six touchdowns
Coach Bergstrom on Campbell: "Sylvere is an elite competitor with exceptional athleticism, ball skills, and playmaking ability. He has fought through tremendous adversity on and off the field, making him the resilient young man he is today. He has a contagious smile and positive attitude, and we will depend on him as a leader of this team."
Vengrowsky, a redshirt-junior from De Pere, Wis., was a staple for Winona State's defensive line a season ago and looks to build upon his dominance in 2024 after being named the Defensive Player to Watch for WSU. He led the team with 11.5 tackles for a loss, corralled 5.5 sacks, and forced three fumbles. Vengrowsky tallied 34 total tackles and 23 solo stops.
Coach Bergstrom on Vengrowsky: "Kyjuan has become one of our team's and the league's most dynamic playmakers. He has combined his natural gifts, a strong work ethic, a passion to refine his craft, and a coachable spirit to be the best player he can be. He will be a leader up front for our defense and for our team."
2024 WINONA STATE FOOTBALL STAFF
