2012-2013 St. John’s Preview

Saint John’s University (Minn.) Johnnies (West Region)
Head Coach: Brandon Novak
Years at School as head coach: Ninth
Career Record at school: 65-57
Assistant Coaches: Scott Fernholz, Kevin Schiltz, Tony Willaert

2011-12 Dual Meet Record: 8-7
2011-12 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Dustin Baxter (2nd, 197 lbs.), Mitch Hagen (184 lbs.), Chad Henle (133 lbs.), Chris Stevermer (157 lbs.), Matt Pfarr (4th, 174 lbs.)
Returning Qualifiers and All-Americans: Mitch Hagen (2012, 184 lbs.) and Chris Stevermer (2012, 157)

Top returning starters:
-Mitch Hagen: National Qualifier (2012), 23-8 record last year
-Nick Schuler: 27-8 record last year, including 20 bonus-point wins
-Chris Stevermer: National Qualifier (2012), 25-12 record last year

Top incoming wrestlers: Josh Wells, Andy Poster, Josh Willaert, Matt Kadrlik

Season outlook:
St. John’s finished 11th last year and took five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Two of those return in Chris Stevermer and Mitch Hagen, and each will be looking for his first All-American award. Those two could also be the only seniors in the lineup for what promises to be a talented but fairly young lineup. Another top wrestler coming back in Nick Schuler at 165. Schuler had put together a 27 win season before a late injury slowed him in the postseason. Behind those three, a young group will use the Johnnies’ tough schedule to get ready for the end of the year as head coach Brandon Novak looks to keep the team high in the NCAA rankings.