Eric Ellington of Fairview Heights, ILL., Josh Howk of Blue Springs, MO, Matt Leibforth of Lemont, ILL., Dustin McKinney of Luck, Wis., Ben McPhail of Pine Island, Cullan Morrissey of Lena, Wis., Cody Paulsen of Brooklyn Center and Dylan Wright of Inver Grove Heights have all signed National Letters of Intent to wrestle for the Huskies.
In addition, Scott Hines of Fairmont, Charlie Janssen of Forest Lake, Michael Kairouz of Agoura Hills, CA, and Tyler Mathison of Fremont, Neb. have signed St. Cloud State University Acceptance of Admissions Letters, indicating they plan to join the team in the fall.
Ellington, a transfer from Rend Lake Community College, posted a two-year mark of 67-14 for the Warriors. He is a two-time NJCAA All-American where he placed second and third at the national tournament. In addition, Ellington earned two Midwest Region Championships and was honored as the “Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament” during his sophomore campaign. Ellington plans on pursuing a major in physical education at SCSU. Ellington is projected to compete at the 133-pound class.
Howk, out of Blue Springs High School, is a three-time Missouri High School state place winner and a 2010 Missouri state champion. He compiled a career mark of 159-32 with 77 wins by fall. In addition, Howk is a member of the National Honor Society and was a three-time Academic All-State selection. He plans on majoring in accounting at SCSU. Howk is projected to compete at the 149-pound class.
Leibforth, out of Lemont High School, is a two-time Illinois High School state place winner and 2010 Illinois state champion. He ended his senior campaign with an unblemished 45-0 record which included 21 wins by fall. Over his four years, Leibforth collected a 157-17 mark with 78 wins coming by a fall. In addition, he was a 2009 NHSCA High School All-American when he placed eighth at the prestigious junior nationals. He plans on studying athletic training at SCSU and enter physical therapy school at the completion of his undergraduate degree. Leibforth is projected to compete at the 141-pound class.
McKinney is a three-time Wisconsin state place winner from Unity High School. He ended his senior campaign with a record of 46-1 and a state championship. He is Unity High School’s only four-time WIAA state tournament qualifier and amassed a mark of 171-17 in his four year campaign. He plans on majoring in athletic training at SCSU and pursue physical therapy school at the completion of his degree. McKinney is projected to compete at the 141/149-pound class.
McPhail is a three-time Minnesota state place winner from Pine Island High School. He is a two-time Minnesota state finalist and amassed a career record of 170-64. In addition, he earned All-American honors as he placed fifth at the 2009 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. An excellent student-athlete, McPhail was selected as a first team member of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association All-State Academic Team. He plans on pursuing a degree in math education at SCSU. McPhail is projected to compete at the 174/184-pound class.
Morrissey, out of Oconto Falls High School, is a four-time Wisconsin state medal winner and a three-time WIAA state runner-up. He has amassed a career mark of 176-8 in the last four years. Morrissey is a four-time Greco Roman state champion, three-time Freestyle state champion, Northern Plains Freestyle and Greco Roman champion and Cadet Greco Roman All-American. In addition, he is a 2010 USA Wrestling Nationals All-American where he placed second. An excellent student, Morrissey is a member of the National Honor Society and plans on pursuing a degree in criminal justice at SCSU. Morrissey is projected to compete at the 133/141-pound class.
Paulsen is a two-time Minnesota state place winner from Totino-Grace High School. He finished his senior campaign with a runner-up finish at the Minnesota state tournament and ended his career with a mark of 141-32. Paulsen is a four-time Section Champion and a 2009 Minnesota Christmas Tournament Champion. He was selected as a first team member of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association All-State Academic Team. He will pursue a degree in electrical engineering at SCSU. Paulsen is expected to compete at the 125-pound class.
Wright, out of Simley High School, started his High School career in Poway, Calif. where he finished third in the prestigious Frosh/Soph. California State Tournament. After his sophomore year, the Wright family moved from California to Inver Grove Heights. He led the Spartans to back-to-back state titles in 2009 and 2010. He is a two-time Minnesota state place winner, 2009 Minnesota Christmas Tournament Champion and placed seventh at the 2009 USA Wrestling Nationals. He accumulated a two-year mark of 54-13 for Simley. He plans on pursuing a degree in education at SCSU. Wright is projected to compete at the 125-pound class.
Hines is a two-time Minnesota state qualifier from Fairmont High School. He is a two-time Section 3AA Champion and 2010 South Central Conference Champion. He accumulated a record of 73-14 over the past two seasons. While at SCSU, Scott plans to major in Elementary Education. He is also enlisted in the Army National Guard and intends to enroll in the ROTC program. Hines will compete at the 285-pound class.
Janssen hails from Forest Lake High School. He was a three-time Minnesota state place winner and amassed a career record of 192-46. His career wins (192) are a school record for the storied FLHS wrestling program. In addition, Janssen was a three-time Freestyle and Greco Roman state champion. He is planning on majoring in physical education at SCSU. Janssen is expected to compete in the 157-pound class.
Kairouz, out of Agoura High School, finished his senior season with a 54-6 overall record. He was the first Agoura wrestler in 20 years to win a CIF-Southern Section title, the meet before the Masters. He was a second team All-Marmonte League selection and his career record at AHS stands at 88-19. Kairouz plans on majoring in engineering at SCSU. Kairouz is projected to compete in the 157/165-pound class.
Mathison is a graduate of Oakland-Craig High School. He was a three-time state qualifier and capped off a perfect 23-0 record, a District Championship and a Nebraska state championship during his senior campaign. He amassed a career mark of 98-32 during his four years. Mathison is planning on majoring in education at SCSU. Mathison is projected to compete in the 133-pound class.
“First, I would like to say that I am extremely excited about this recruiting class,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “These individuals not only have demonstrated their ability as competitors in the sport of wrestling, but their ability to perform in the classroom as well. Also, I would like to commend my coaching staff for their persistence, time and effort in seeking individuals who will best fit in with our team philosophy. Exciting times will continue for Husky wrestling.”
The Huskies posted a 14-7 dual match record during the 2009-10 campaign. SCSU also placed second at the 2010 NCAA DII regional meet this season, and the Huskies' seventh place finish at the NCAA championships is the best national place for SCSU since 1983.
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