St. Cloud, Minn. – St. Cloud State University head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo and his staff of assistant coaches have announced the newest class of Husky student-wrestlers. A group of 10 student-wrestlers have indicated they will join the SCSU wrestling team for 2014-15: Austin Rake (Valdez, Alaska), Curt Zachmeier (Mandan, N.D.), Ryan Stottler (Glenwood), Tim Prescott (McPherson, Kan.), Vince Dietz (Homer Glen, Ill.), Wesley Schultz (Sun Prairie, Wisc.), Aaron Bates (Green Isle), Cody Linssen (Cottage Grove), Monty Holm (Preston) and Travis Swanson (Cambridge)
“I am really excited about the incoming class,” said Costanzo. “We have several solid wresters returning next season and we were looking to building upon that talent base. We were able to get some really good quality wrestlers who will challenge for starting positions right away.”
The addition of these student-athletes will join the crew of early Husky wrestling commitments from the fall: Brett Velasquez (Bennington, Neb.), Bryce Kirchner (St. Joseph), Garrett Miller (Kellogg), Larry Bomstad (Lake Lillian), Nick Osowski (Oshkosh, Wisc.), Noah Cuzzetto (Lake Stevens, Wash.) and V.J. Giulio (American Falls, Idaho).
“We are also very proud of the fact that 15 members of this class carry a 3.0 or higher GPA, while the class extends through 9 states,” said Assistant Coach Brady Wilson.
Bates, is a transfer from South Dakota State University. He hails from Green Isle and Sibley East High School where he was a four-time MSHSL state qualifier and a three-time MSHSL state place winner for coach Chad Johnson. Bates finished third in 2013, sixth in 2012 and sixth in 2010 respectfully. He accumulated a career mark of 158-48. Aaron is the son of Scott and Patty Bates.
Valdez High School senior and Valdez, Alaska native, Rake, will join the Huskies after winning back-to-back state titles in his junior and senior seasons. Rake, a four-time place winner, finished third in 2012 and fifth in 2011. He went 41-0 this past season en route to his second state championship. Rake finished fifth in the prestigious 2014 Reno Tournament of Champions and collected Wrestling USA Magazine’s All-American Honorable Mention honors. He had a career mark of 155-18. Austin is the son of Lon and Sandra Rake.
Linssen, hails from Cottage Grove and Park High School where he was a two-time MSHSL state qualifier and placed sixth at the 2012 MSHSL State Championships. In addition, he was a two-time place winner at the prestigious Intermat JJ Classic tournament. An exceptional student, Linssen amassed 110 wins for his career with the Wolfpacks. Cody is the son of John and Susanne Linssen.
Mandan High School senior and Mandan, N.D. resident Zachmeier, will join the Huskies in the fall. He captured back-to-back North Dakota high school state championships in 2013 and 2014. In addition, he was a runner-up in 2012 and placed third in 2011. For his accomplishments, Zachmeier earned Wrestling USA Magazine’s All-American Honorable Mention. In the classroom, he earned four Academic All-State honors. Zachmeier accumulated a career mark of 170-31 for the Braves. Curt is the son of Chuck and Lynn Zachmeier.
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Holm, a Fillmore High School graduate compiled an overall mark of 102-57 en route to qualifying to the 2014 MSHSL State Championships for the Wolves. He ended his senior campaign with a 32-1 record and a Section One Championship. He is slated to compete at 174/184-pounds for the Huskies. Monty is the son of Todd and Kim Holm.
Stottler, a standout for Minnewaska Area High School finished his senior campaign with a 33-2 record and a runner-up finish at the 2014 MSHSL State Championships. Also, he qualified for the 2012 MSHSL State Championships and earned four West Central All-Conference wrestling awards. In addition, Stottler, a stand-out in the classroom received the 2014 Guillotine Academic All-State Wrestler – First Team award and was named as an honor roll student 15-times during his high school career. He compiled a career mark of 104-64 including 49 pins. Ryan is the son of Shaun and Tammy Stottler.
Prescott, a McPherson, Kan. native and graduate of McPherson High School compiled an overall mark of 118-10 at the high school level. He was a four-time state place winner finishing second in 2012, third in 2011, third in 2010 and second in 2009 respectfully at the Kansas High School State Championships. A transfer from Neosho County Community College, Prescott was a two-time NJCAA All-American finishing fifth in 2014 and fifth in 2013 for the Panthers. In addition, he was named NWCA Academic All-American two-times. Tim is the son of Dave Prescott and Rosanna Guercio.
Cambridge-Isanti High School senior and Cambridge native, Swanson, will join the Huskies after finishing fourth in the 2014 MSHSL state tournament with a 36-11 mark. In addition, he placed sixth in the 2013 MSHSL state tournament with a record of 38-15. Swanson has placed third in the prestigious Rumble on the Red in 2013 and as high as fifth at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament. Travis is the son of Jon and Lori Swanson.
Dietz was a standout for Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Ill. The Porter senior claimed his first state medal after finishing in fifth place at 160-pounds in 3A at the IHSA state championships. He concluded with a 48-8 record this season after going just 34-34 during his first two years. He broke a new school record for pins in a season with 33. Dietz claimed SWSC, regional and sectional titles and was fourth at the prestigious Dvorak and Cheesehead tournaments. Vince is the son of Arthur and Peggy Dietz.
Schultz hails from Sun Prairie, WI, Sun Prairie High School where he captured the 2014 Division I 182-pound WIAA state championship. He finished his senior season with an unblemished 47-0 record. As a junior, Schultz finished third in the WIAA state championships. He placed fifth at the 2014 USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle Nationals earning All-American honors. Schultz ended his career with a 142-47 record and is currently ranked as the number twenty overall wrestler by Win Magazine in his respective weight class. Wesley is the son of Michael and Lisa Schultz.
The Huskies finished their 2013-14 season with a 19-1 overall record and won their third consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships with a perfect 8-0 record. The Huskies placed sixth as a team at the 2014 NCAA Division II championships and gained a third place finish at the 2014 NCAA Division II Super 3 Regional.
SCSU also charted a third place finish at the 2014 NWCA Division II National Duals tournament. The Huskies were consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams throughout the 2013-14 campaign and they finished the season ranked sixth in the final DII national polls.
The Huskies will resume 2014-15 competition at their annual Black/Red Classic, which will be held on Thursday, November 6 in Halenbeck Hall at 7 p.m.
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