St. Cloud State University head coach Steve Costanzo has announced the addition of nine student-wrestlers for the 2020-21 class, which includes Jared Head (Washington, Ill.), Cade Linn (Elysburg, Penn.), Corbin Okeson (Minot, N.D.), Gavin Osterhaus (Burnsville, Minn.), Jimmy Pierandozzi (Plainfield, Ill.), Tommy Russell (Brookfield, Ill.), Samuel Spencer (Huntley, Ill), Nolan Throne (Milan, Ill) and Holton Truax (Bertha, Minn.).
This past November, the Huskies had previously announced the additions of: Owen Bjerga (Staples, Minn.), Paxton Creese (Shakopee, Minn.), Bryce Fitzpatrick (Mahtomedi, Minn.), Caleb Haase (Morton, Minn.), Cody Minor (Green Bay, Wisc.), Shaeden Scheidt (Canton, S.D.), Blake Thomsen (Underwood, Iowa), and Daniel Valeria (Crystal Lake, Ill.).
SCSU was recently recognized by the The Open Mat has having the top rated recruit class among NCAA Division II programs for the upcoming 2020-21 season. The Huskies finished ahead of #2 West Liberty, #3 Central Oklahoma, #4 Fort Hays State and #5 Indianapolis in the poll. No other NSIC schools were ranked among the TOM’s top 10 poll this season. Complete TOM Recruit Poll Story
“We worked really hard this year to bring in a class who we thought could represent the best of Huskies wrestling, both on the mat and off,” said head coach Steve Costanzo. “We are very happy and excited to get these young men on the mat. There is a lot of potential in this group.”
One of the nation’s premier NCAA Division II wrestling programs, St. Cloud State has won NCAA DII national titles in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. SCSU finished the year with a 16-0, 8-0 NSIC record. The Huskies won the 2020 NCAA DII Super 5 Regional, the 2020 NWCA DII National Duals championship, and claimed their ninth consecutive NSIC championship under the direction of head coach Steve Costanzo. SCSU was the nation’s top-ranked team heading into the 2020 NCAA DII championships and had qualified nine wrestlers for nationals before the season was ended early due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
2020-21 St. Cloud State Recruits:
Jared Head
Washington, Ill.
Washington H.S. (transfer from Old Dominion University)
- 140-29 high school record
- IHSA 2A state place winner: (2nd) 2019, (2nd) 2018
- IHSA 2A Regional Champion: 2019, 2018
- 2018 USAW Preseason National Champion
- Intended Major: Criminal Justice
- Parents: Rhonda & Scott Head
SCSU Head Coach, Steve Costanzo on Jared Head:
“Jared is a tough hard-nosed individual. He is solid on his feet, but very strong in the top position. He will look to add depth and competition to the 149/157 pound weight classes.”
Cade Linn
Elysburg, Penn.
Southern Columbia Area H.S.
- 135-41 high school record
- PIAA 2A state place winner: (5th) 2020, 7th (2019), 7th (2018)
- PIAA 2A Section Champion: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
- PIAA 2A District Champion: 2019, 2018
- 2017 NHSCA All-American: (6th)
- Intended Major: Education
- Parents: Carrie & Sean Linn
SCSU Head Coach, Steve Costanzo on Cade Linn:
“I am really excited to get Cade on board. He comes from one heck of a program in Pennsylvania and was an outstanding student-athlete for his high school in both football and wrestling. Cade is projected to wrestle at 174/184 pounds for the Huskies.”
Corbin Okeson
Minot, N.D.
Bishop Ryan H.S.
- 160-24 high school record
- ND Class B state place winner: (2nd) 2020, (2nd) 2019, 3rd (2018), 8th (2017)
- ND Region 3 Champion: 2020, 2019, 2018
- 2019 USAW Preseason All-American: (8th)
- 2019 Rumble on the Red: (2nd)
- Intended Major: Undecided
- Parents: Heidi & Larry Okeson
SCSU Head Coach, Steve Costanzo on Corbin Okeson:
“Corbin is an outstanding addition to our program. He was a multiple sport athlete in high school and is an extreme competitor. His length and leverage is going to cause fits for all those he competes against. Corbin is projected to compete at 197-pounds for the Huskies.”
Gavin Osterhaus
Burnsville, Minn.
Burnsville H.S.
- 87-43 high school record
- 2019 USAW Preseason All-American: (5th)
- 2019 InterMat Classic: (3rd)
- 2019 Northern Plains FS: (2nd)
- 2018 Northern Plains FS: (2nd)
- Intended Major: Business
- Parents: Stephanie & Greg Osterhaus
SCSU Head Wrestling Coach, Steve Costanzo on Gavin Osterhaus:
“Gavin is one of the most underrated kids in the state of Minnesota because he was unable to compete this season. He loves to compete and we think that his best years of wrestling are ahead of him. He is expected to wrestle at 165/174-pounds for the Huskies.”
Jimmy Pierandozzi
Plainfield, Ill.
Plainfield South H.S.
- 110-27 high school record
- IHSA Class 3A state place winner: (2nd) 2020, (6th) 2019
- IHSA Class 3A Section Champion: 2020, 2019
- IHSA Class 3A Region Champion: 2020, 2019, 2018
- 2016 USAW Preseason All-American: (4th)
- Intended Major: Undecided
- Parents: Noreen & Anthony Pierandozzi
SCSU Head Wrestling Coach, Steve Costanzo on Jimmy Pierandozzi:
“Jimmy is a tough hard-nosed competitor. He is an excellent scrambler and tough in the top position. He will be a force for the Huskies at 149/157-pounds.”
Tommy Russell
Brookfield, Ill.
St. Rita H.S. (Transfer from Triton C.C.)
- 2020 NJCAA All-American: (7th)
- 2020 & 2019 NJCAA National Qualifier
- 2019-20 season record: 30-10
- 2020 Al Hanke Invitational Champion
- 2019 Art Kraft Memorial Tournament: (2nd)
- IHSA Class 2A state place winner: (3rd) 2018, (6th) 2017
- Intended Major: Business/Sports Management
- Parents: Carole & Paul Russell
SCSU Head Wrestling Coach, Steve Costanzo on Tommy Russell:
“Tommy is a great addition to our 125-pound weight class. He processes collegiate wrestling experience and depth. He is very talented and capable of doing some good things for us.”
Samuel Spencer
Huntley, Ill.
Huntley H.S.
- 161-27 high school record
- IHSA Class 3A state place winner: (5th) 2020, (8th) 2019, (5th) 2017
- IHSA Class 3A Section Champion: 2020, 2018
- IHSA Class 3A Region Champion: 2020, 2019, 2018
- 2019 Illinois State FS Champion
- 2018 Northern Plains FS: (3rd)
- Intended Major: Business/Sports Management
- Parents: Carrie & Scott Spencer
SCSU Head Wrestling Coach, Steve Costanzo on Samuel Spencer:
“Sam is a physical and relentless competitor. He manages to stay in really good position and is hard to score on. He is a great addition to our lower weight classes and is projected to compete at 133-pounds for the Huskies.”
Nolan Throne
Milan, Ill.
Rockridge H.S.
- 169-15 high school record
- 2020 IHSA Class 1A State Champion
- IHSA Class 1A state place winner: (1st) 2020, (2nd) 2019, (3rd) 2018
- IHSA Class 1A Section Champion: 2020, 2019
- IHSA Class 1A Region Champion: 2020, 2019, 2018
- 2017 USAW Preseason All-American: (4th)
- Intended Major: Environmental Science
- Parents: Kimberly Broaddus & Brian Throne
SCSU Head Wrestling Coach, Steve Costanzo on Nolan Throne:
“Nolan is another physical and hard-nosed wrestler. He has great hips and does a great job of controlling tie-ups and getting himself into good positions to score. We are expecting big things to come from him and very excited to have him in our program. He is projected to compete at 149-pounds.”
Holton Truax
Bertha, Minn.
Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie H.S. (Transfer from NIACC)
- 2020 NJCAA All-American: (4th)
- 2020 NJCAA Central/Region XI District: (3rd)
- 2020 Under Armour Invite: (1st)
- 141-19 high school record
- MSHSL state place winner: (2nd) 2018, (5th) 2017
- MSHSL Section Champion: 2018, 2017, 2016
- Intended Major: Education
- Parents: Alecia & Lee Traux
SCSU Head Wrestling Coach, Steve Costanzo on Holton Truax:
“Holton is an individual that has been on our radar for the past three years. He is a strong and physical wrestler who has the talent to be a good wrestler for us. He displayed some of that talent while wrestling for North Iowa Area Community College. He is projected to wrestle at 197-pounds for the Huskies.”
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