The St. Cloud State University wrestling team (20-0, 8-0 NSIC) made a clean sweep of the 2018-19 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference awards with SCSU’s Vince Dietz being named the NSIC Wrestler of the Year, Garrett Vos earning NSIC Rookie of the Year honors and Steve Costanzo being named the NSIC Coach of the Year for 2018-19.
The Huskies recently captured their fourth NCAA Division II national championship on March 8-9 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Huskies have won NCAA team titles in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 under the leadership of Costanzo.
SCSU also had six athletes named to the All-NSIC First Team and three wrestlers named to the All-NSIC Second Team in 2018-19. First team selections for the Huskies included senior Travis Swanson at 141-pounds, junior James Pleski at 149-pounds, junior Kolton Eischens at 174-pounds, senior Chance Helmick at 184-pounds, Dietz at 197-pounds and Zach Muller at 285-pounds. Second Team award winners were Brett Velasquez at 125-pounds, Jake Barzowski at 157-pounds and Devin FitzPatrick at 165-pounds.
Dietz (2nd place), Vos (6th place), Velasquez (4th place), Pleski (4th place), Barzowski (3rd place), FitzPatrick (6th place) and Eischens (4th place) all gained All-America honors for the Huskies at the NCAA DII championships in 2018-19.
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Dietz finished with a 31-1 record and is a two-time All-American for the Huskies. Velasquez earned his fourth All-America award in 2018-19 and was 23-5 on the season, while Vos was 22-5. Pleski earned his third NCAA All-America award and was 29-3 and Barzowski was 25-3. FitzPatrick went 26-6 this year for the Huskies and Eischens was 25-4. The group was completed by Helmick with a 16-2 record and Muller with a 19-4 record.
Of note, FitzPatrick (165), Dietz (197), Velasquez (125), Pleski (149), Vos (133), Swanson (141), Eischens (174) and Helmick (184) all placed first at this year’s NCAA DII Super V Regional tournament to earn a ticket to the NCAA championships.
The Huskies will need to add another shelf to its trophy case as SCSU captured its eighth consecutive NSIC title in 2018-19 and also won the 2019 NWCA DII National Duals tournament and the 2019 NCAA Division II Super V regional crown.
The Huskies have not lost a dual meet since Jan. 14, 2017 (48 consecutive dual victories). SCSU has also won the NCAA DII Regional title in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013, 2012 and 2011. At the NCAA championships, St. Cloud State has been impressive (see chart below) and the Huskies have also won NWCA DII National Duals championships in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013 and 2012.
NSIC Wrestler of the Year
Vince Dietz
(R-Sr., 197, Homer Glen, Ill. / Lockport Township HS)
St. Cloud State
- National Finalist at NCAA DII Championships
- Won NCAA Super Regional V Championship at 197 pounds
- Finished with a 31-1 record on the season
- Was 18-0 in dual matches and had 11 wins by fall this season
- Named All-NSIC First Team at 197 pounds
- Helped SCSU to its fourth national title in the past five years
NSIC Rookie of the Year
Garrett Vos
(R-Fr., 133, St. Bonifacius, Minn. / Waconia HS)
St. Cloud State
- Placed sixth at NCAA Championships at 133 pounds
- Won NCAA Super Regional V Championship at 133 pounds
- Held a 22-5 overall record during his red-shirt freshman campaign
- Was 11-2 in dual meets with five wins by fall
- Helped SCSU to its fourth national title in the past five years
NSIC Coach of the Year
Steve Costanzo (13th Season)
St. Cloud State
- Led SCSU to its fourth national title in the past five years
- SCSU went 8-0 in NSIC duals this season
- Is now 79-5 in NSIC duals since joining the NSIC in 2008-09
- Coached nine All-NSIC wrestlers, including six first team members
NSIC Wrestling All-Conference teams were announced back on February 21 following the NSIC regular season schedule.
2018-19 NSIC All-Conference
First Team All-Conference WTYRSchoolHometownCole Jones125So.MSUMGrand Rapids, Minn.Tate Barnhardt133Sr.UMaryBismarck, N.D.Travis Swanson141R-Sr.SCSUCambridge, Minn.James Pleski149R-Jr.SCSUStacy, Minn.Cortez Arredondo157Sr.SMSUWest St. Paul, Minn. Brock Benitz165So.UIUMosinee, Wis.Kolton Eischens174Jr.SCSUPierz, Minn.Chance Helmick184R-Sr.SCSUBeatrice, Neb.Vince Dietz197R-Sr.SCSUHomer Glen, Ill.Zach Muller285R-Fr.SCSUWoodridge, Ill.Second Team All-ConferenceWTYRSchoolHometownBrett Velasquez125R-Sr.SCSUBennington, Neb.Justin Folley133Jr.UIUMatteson, Ill.Louis Sanders141Jr.MSUMadelia, Minn.Kyle Rathman149So.MSUApple Valley, Minn.Jake Barzowski157R-So.SCSUPark Ridge, Ill.Devin Fitzpatrick165R-So.SCSUMahtomedi, Minn.Lukas Poloncic174Sr.AUGIEGillette, Wyo.Dalton Hahn184So.UIU Loganville, Wis.Clayton Wahlstrom197Sr.AUGIECuster, S.D.Triston Westerlund285Jr.UIUAlbert Lea, Minn.
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