This Week in Husky Wrestling – Nov. 12-18, 2012

Opponent: #2 SCSU at Concordia’s Finn Grinaker Open on Nov. 17 – 9 a.m.

Last Week: Huskies wrestled at 2012 Nichols Cyclone Open at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (no team scores were kept at this open tournament)

 

The SCSU Notebook:

Updated Team Stats

CYCLONE SUCCESS: The St. Cloud State wrestling team, ranked #2 in the nation, opened its 2012-13 season on Nov. 10 with a trip to the annual Harold Nichols Cyclone Open at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.  This tournament featured over 250 athletes from many of the nation’s top programs at the NCAA I, II, III and NAIA levels.  The Huskies sent a full contingent of wrestlers to the tournament, which was SCSU’s first official competition of the new season.  At the Cyclone Open, St. Cloud State brought home two weight class titles from the tournament that had no team scores.  Three-time All-American Shamus O’Gradywon the title at 184-pounds and redshirt freshman Clint Poster was the tournament champ at 157-pounds.

NSIC SPOTLIGHT: Redshirt senior Shamus O’Grady was named the NSIC’s Wrestler of the Week for his winning performance at the 2012 Cyclone Open.  O’Grady scored a perfect 4-0 record at the tournament, which opened the year for the Huskies.  A three-time All-American, O’Grady won the title with a 6-3 decision over Jeff Koepke of Division I rival University of Illinois.  On the way to the title, O’Grady started his day with an 18-3 tech fall win over unattached Jahusa Marsh.  In the quarterfinals, O’Grady charted a 10-2 major decision win over returning All-American Mark Fiala of #1 ranked Nebraska-Kearney.  In the semi’s, O’Grady scored a huge 11-6 victory over the University of Illinois’ Tony Dallago, who entered the meet ranked ninth in the nation at the NCAA Division I level.

POSTER PINS FOUR: Clint Poster made an impressive debt in 2012-13 with a first place finish in the 157-pound bracket at the Cyclone Open on Nov. 10.  Poster gained a 5-0 record in tournament action, which was highlighted by four pins on the way to the title.  In the championship bout, Poster gained a pin at 6:52 over Edwin Cooper, an unattached wrestler from Ellsworth.  To start the day, Poster pinned Bryce Robbins of Waldorf and then pinned Trent Weatherman of DI rival Iowa State.  In the quarters, Poster added a pin against Batchulu Zulkhuu of Lindenwood and also earned a 7-3 decision win over Nebraska-Kearney’s Chase White in the semi’s.

A FEW MORE NOTES FROM ISU:  SCSU’s Eric Forde placed fifth at 125 at the Cyclone Open and Jay Hildreth placed fourth at 141.  At 165-pounds, Jack Barnesplaced sixth and Mic Berg also placed sixth at 197-pounds at the Cyclone Open.

POLL POSITION: SCSU was ranked #2 in the 2012-13 Division II Coaches’ Preseason Poll…SCSU was ranked #2 in the 2012-13 NSIC Preseason Coaches’ poll…individually, SCSU has several nationally ranked wrestlers, including Andy Pokorny (2nd at 133-pounds), Jacob D. Horn (7th at 157-pounds), Shamus O’Grady(5th at 184-pounds) and Jake Kahnke (2nd at 285-pounds).

2012 – A YEAR TO REMEMBER:  The SCSU wrestling team set a school record by charting 21 dual wins in 2011-12.  The Huskies went undefeated in dual matches at 21-0, which included a first place finish at the 2012 NWCA Division II National Duals in Springfield, Ill.  The Huskies also brought home a first place finish in the NSIC (7-0) and were the 2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 Champions for the second consecutive season.  SCSU went on to finish as the runner-up at the 2012 NCAA Division II championships for the second consecutive season.  SCSU’s Derek Skala won the NCAA title at 184-pounds, while Jake Kahnke was 2nd at 285 and Andy Pokorny was 2nd at 133.  SCSU’s other 2012 All-Americans were Shamus O’Grady (4th at 174), Tad Merritt (3rd at 165) and Lucas Munkelwitz (4th at 197).

COBBER OPEN: Last year, the Huskies brought home three titles from the 2011 Finn Grinaker Cobber Open.  Brady Johnshoy won top honors at the Cobber Open as a redshirt, while Tad Merritt and Lucas Munkelwitz also brought home titles. Trey Griffin and Zach Stewart also brought back second place finishes from the 2011 Cobber Open.

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MAKE PLANS NOW:  The annual Holiday Inn/Husky Open is scheduled for Dec. 8, 2012.  Action in Halenbeck Hall will begin at 9 a.m. and this open format tournament features many of the nation’s top NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NJCAA collegiate wrestlers.  Tickets for this tournament can be purchased at the gate.

COACH COSTANZO:  Coach Steve Costanzo begins his seventh season with the Huskies in 2012-13.  He is also in his 14th season as a college wrestling coach.  His dual record at SCSU is 79-23 and his overall collegiate record stands at 140-53-2.  He was named the NCAA DII Coach of the Year in 2011 and has been selected as the NSIC Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.  He has guided SCSU to back-to-back NCAA Regional titlles in 2011 and 2012 and his squads have finished as the runner-up at the 2012 and 2011 NCAA Division II championships