The St. Cloud State University wrestling team showed success on the mats this season with a runner-up finish at the 2011 NCAA Division II championships on March 11-12 in Kearney, Neb. The Huskies’ second place finish this season is the best-ever finish at the national level by the Huskies since they program began in 1949-50.
SCSU’s athletic excellence this winter was equaled by the Huskies’ academic prowess as the squad ranked 12th in the country in the listing of the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association top 20 NCAA Division II All-Academic wrestling teams. The Huskies posted a team grade point average of 3.154 this season.
The team grade point average is calculated by averaging the cumulative grade point average of 10 wrestlers from each team of which eight of those wrestlers must have competed in their team’s NCAA Division II national qualifying regional tournament.
On an individual basis, SCSU sophomore Jacob R. Horn (St. Michael-Albertville H.S.), sophomore Jacob Kahnke (Shakopee/Prior Lake H.S.) and senior John Sundgren (Blaine) were all selected to the 2010-11 Division II All-Academic Wrestling Team as first team selections.
SCSU redshirt freshman Chris Brassell (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South H.S.) earned All-Academic second team status, while All-Academic Honorable Mention accolades were presented to senior Westy Hanson (Crookston), sophomore Trent Herold (East Bethel/St. Francis H.S.), junior Jacob D. Horn (Ephrata, Wash./H.S.), sophomore Josh Joriman (Lino Lakes/Centennial H.S.), senior Erik Rogness (Buffalo/H.S.) and redshirt freshman Zach Stewart (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon H.S.).
In order for a student-athlete to be nominated for the DII All-Academic team, the student-athlete must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average, and he must also be in at least his second full year at his school.
Jacob R. Horn was 23-11 for the Huskies at 149-pounds this season. He is an electrical engineering major at SCSU. Kahnke placed second in the nation at 285-pounds this winter and chalked up a 29-1 record this season for the Huskies. A two-time Division II All-American, Kahnke is a sports management major at SCSU.
Sundgren captured first place in the 157-pound bracket at the 2011 NCAA Division II championships. A four-time national qualifier and two-time All-American at SCSU, Sundgren charted a 16-3 record for the Huskies in 2010-11. He is a marketing major at St. Cloud State.
Under the leadership of Coach Steve Costanzo, the 2011 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, St. Cloud State posted a 19-2 overall record – which set a new team record for dual wins in a season.