St. Cloud, Minn. – St. Cloud State head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo and his staff of assistant coaches have announced the newest class of Husky wrestlers. Seven talented wrestlers have signed Letters of Intent and are set to join the 2012 NCAA DII Runner-Up Huskies for 2012-13. In addition, SCSU received notice that 12 additional student-athletes plan to continue their academic and athletic careers at SCSU.
“We are very excited about the group we have coming in this fall,” said head coach Steve Costanzo. “I feel good that this group of young men will not only be successful on the mat, but in the classroom and in society. One of the goals this year was to get good people, young men who will be doing the right things not only on the mat, but off the mat. When you get to college and you are on your own, that’s when people get to see your true character.”
Austin Goergen (Caledonia, Minn.), Clayton Jennissen (Cambridge, Minn.), Jack Pearce (Ashland, Wisc.), Jorge Barajas (Fremont, Calif.), Kaden Spurgeon (Nikiski, Alaska), Taylor Lewandowski (Foley, Minn.) and Uthman Rabiu (St. Paul, Minn.) all signed Letters of Intent for 2012-13.
Chevy Goble (Foley, Minn.), Damien Luchterhand (Neilsville, Wisc.), Daniel Polanco (San Jose, CA), Gabe Fogarty (Jordan, Minn.), Gabe Tudor (Peoria, IL), Jordan Chouanard (Aitkin, Minn.), Josh Berg (Pewaukee, Wisc.), Julian Calderon (Palo Alto, Calif.), Luke Belich (Mukonago, Wis.), Mike Jarnot (Avon, Minn.), Paul Norgren (Lake Crystal, Minn.) and Tyler Pasvogel (Arlington, Minn.) all signed acceptance of admission letters to attend St. Cloud State University in the fall.
Goergen, a 285-pound grappler from Caledonia Area High School, comes to SCSU as the #4 ranked Heavyweight in the country according to Wrestling USA Magazine, Win Magazine and InterMat Wrestling.
He is a two-time MSHSL Class AA state champion and one-time runner-up. Goergen, who recorded an overall career record of 138-15 on the mat while at Caledonia Area High School, recently finished second at the 2012 NHSCA wrestling championships. His finished earned him NHSCA All-America honors. Goergen recently earned a spot on the Dream Team, a high school all-star dual pitting the best wrestlers in the U.S. against the top wrestlers from the state of Iowa. He is the son of Dan and Melisa Goergen and he plans to major in criminal justice at SCSU.
Jennissen, a 184-pound wrestler from Cambridge-Isanti High School, posted a record of 44-4 last year as a senior at 182-pounds. He is three-time MSHSL Class AAA state medal winner. He placed fourth in 2010 at 152-pounds, second in 2011 at 171-pounds and third this past year at 182-pounds. In 2009, he placed seventh at the NHSCA Championships to earn All-America honors. In his last three years of high school, he earned a mark of 118-20. He is the son of Neil and Amy Jennissen.
Pearce, who hails from Ashland High School in Ashland, Wisconsin, posted a record of 49-1 last year during his senior season. Pearce won the WIAA Division 2 state title at 120-pounds this past season while accumulating 32 wins by fall. He placed second in 2011 and third in 2010 at the WIAA Division 2 state championships. He ended his career with a mark of 161-19. He is the all-time wins leader at Ashland High School and was named the team MVP in 2011 and 2012. He is the son of Jim and Jeanne Pearce.
Barajas, who comes to SCSU from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California, posted a 41-5 record and finished fourth in the CIF state championships at 152-pounds last year as a senior. He became only the 7th wrestler in history to win four consecutive Central Coast Section Championships. Barajas is a four-time CIF state qualifier and four-time WCAL League Champion. He compiled a career record of 131-24. He is the son of Juan and Sandra Barajas and plans on studying kinesiology at SCSU.
Spurgeon, a 149/157-pound grappler from Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska, posted a perfect 32-0 during his senior campaign last season. He was crowned ASAA 123A 152-pound state champion in 2012 and 145-pound state champion in 2011. Spurgeon finished third at the state championships in 2009 and 2010. For his accomplishments, he was voted Most Outstanding wrestler in both his junior and senior season. Spurgeon is #2 in his class academically. He is the son of Jimmy and Kristina and plans on pursuing pre-dentistry at SCSU.
Lewandowski, a 165-pound grappler from Foley High School posted 43-2 record during his senior campaign. He finished third in the state at 160-pounds last year as a senior. Lewandowski, a four-time MSHSL state qualifier was crowned state champion as a junior and finished fifth as a sophomore. His four-year career mark was 132-32. On the national stage, he was the USA Wrestling national champion in 2010 and finished second place at the 2012 NHSCA wrestling championships. Both performances earned him high school All-America honors. According to USA Wrestling Magazine, he is the #19 recruit in the country at 160-pounds. Lewandowski is the son of Tim and Joan Lewandowski.
Rabiu, who hails from Henry Sibley High School, posted a 35-10 record last year during his senior season. He finished fourth at the MSHSL state championships at 182-pounds during his senior year. An excellent student, Rabiu will be studying pre-pharmacy at SCSU. He is the son of Dare and Earnestine Rabiu.
Goble, a 2012 138-pound MSHSL state runner-up, comes to the Huskies from Foley High School. He had a record of 29-12 during his senior campaign. Goble qualified for the MSHSL state tournament as a junior at 145 with a record of 31-11. Goble won the Minnesota state junior freestyle tournament at 152 pounds this past season. He is the son of Gerry and Maria Goble and plans to major in criminal justice at SCSU.
Luchterhand comes to St. Cloud State from Neilsville, Wisconsin. He is one of four incoming freshmen from Wisconsin that will be joining the Huskies this season. As a high school wrestler, he was a three-time state place winner. He placed second, fourth and fifth respectively at the WIAA state championships. He completed his senior year with an overall record of 41-4 at 152-pounds. Luchterhand is the son of Matt and Jennifer Luchterhand and will be majoring in biology.
Polanco is one of three incoming freshman joining the Huskies from California. Polanco hails from San Jose, California. As prep wrestler, Polanco competed for Saint Francis High School where he was a three-time CIF state qualifier competing at 103, 112 and 126 his senior year. He’s a two-time California League champion and two-time California Masters runner up. Polanco had a career mark of 105-31. He is the son of David and Cindy Polanco and plans on majoring in biology.
Fogarty comes to St. Cloud State from Scott West High School. He was a MSHSL state champion at 135-pounds as a junior and finished third place last year as a senior. Fogarty posted top three finishes at the prestigious Rumble on the Red and Minnesota Christmas Tournament last year. A three-time state qualifier for the panthers, he had a mark of 126-16 in his last three seasons. He is the son of Bob and Sarah Fogarty and plans to major in athletic training at SCSU.
Tudor comes to the Huskies from Peoria, Illinois. A member of the National Honor Society, he was a two-time IHSAA state qualifier in the heavyweight class. He amassed a career high school mark of 123-35 while wrestling for Notre Dame High School. In 2011, Tudor placed third at the junior Greco-Roman state tournament and fourth in the Freestyle state tournament. He is the son of Greg and Mary Tudor and plans on studying pre-med at SCSU.
Chouanard, a two-time MSHSL state place winner, finished third as a junior and fifth as a senior at 145 and 152 pounds respectively. He had a career mark of 153-42 while prepping at Aitkin High School. Chouanard, graduating with honors this spring, plans to major in mapping and land surveying at SCSU. He is the son of Tony and Jean Chouanard.
Berg of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is a two-time first team all-conference member, three-time state qualifier and a fifth place finisher at the WIAA state championships. He compiled a career mark of 119-40 for Pewaukee High School. A multi sport athlete, Berg was first team all conference and honorable mention in football. Academically, Berg was a three-time scholar-athlete in high school. He is the son of Daryl and Mary Berg.
Calderon comes to SCSU from Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California. He was a two-time place winner in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and Central Coast Sectional Championships. Calderon won the Lynne Dyche Classic his senior year at 152 pounds. He will be pursuing an entrepreneurial degree at St Cloud State and is the son of Julian Calderon Sr. and Rosa Rodrigues.
Belich hails from Mukwonago High School, Mukwonago, Wisconsin. He was a two-time WIAA state qualifier and state runner up at 220-pounds in his senior year. Belich compiled a career mark of 96-24. Academically, he was a scholar-athlete all four years of high school and a member of the National Honor Society in his junior and senior years. He is the son of Don and Jen Belich and plans to major in mechanical engineering at SCSU.
Jarnot, a local talent Holdingford High School is a two-time MSHSL state place winner finishing second as a junior and third as a senior. He combined for a record of 86-3 during his final two years of high school and his career record amassed a mark of 182-26. Jarnot is the career wins leader for the Huskers. He is the son of Jim and Mary Jarnot.
Norgren comes to St. Cloud State after spending his first two years of college at Minnesota State University in Mankato. Norgren was a four-time MSHSL state qualifier, placing second in his sophomore year. He accumulated a career mark of 139-29 while competing for Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial High School. While at MSU-Mankato, Norgren was a two year starter at 133 and 141 pounds. He is the son of Joe and Mary Norgren and plans to major in elementary education at SCSU.
Pasvogel is a 2012 graduate of Sibley East High School. He is a two time MSHSL state qualifier taking fourth as a freshman. Pasvogel had a career record of 162-75 and finished as pre-season All-America at the 2009 nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He is the son of Lisa Pasvogel and plans to major in Athletic Training at SCSU.
“I am very excited about this recruiting class,” said Assistant Coach Brady Wilson. “We have put in a great effort to recruit quality student-athletes that will carry on the Husky wrestling tradition. This class offers a sound academic base as well as outstanding accomplishments on the mat. The future of Husky wrestling looks bright.”
SCSU ended its 2011-12 season with a perfect 21-0 overall record, which included a first place finish in the always rugged Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, a first place finish at the 2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 tournament and a first place finish at the 2012 NWCA Division II National Duals tournament.
At the 2012 NCAA Division II championships, SCSU finished as the runner-up for the second consecutive season. Skala led the Huskies at the NCAA tournament with a first place finish at 184-pounds, while Merritt gained the tournament’s Most Dominant Wrestler Award.