NCAA600 (1)
2015 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
1. St. Cloud State 84.52
2. Nebraska-Kearney 76.53
3. Maryville University of St. Louis 61.04
4. Mercyhurst University 58.05
5. Ouachita Baptist University 55.56
6. Notre Dame College 50.07
7. McKendree University 44.58
8. Western State Colorado University 40.09
9. Tiffin University 37.510
10. Colorado Mesa University 34.0
View results for Prescott, Austin Goergen, Clint Poster, Gabe Fogarty, Mike Rhone and Larry Bomstad at scsuhuskies.com
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Saturday in St. Louis was a story of redemption for national champions Tim Prescott and St. Cloud State Huskies Wrestling.
The Huskies made school history by claiming their first NCAA Division II national team championship while Tim Prescott brought home St. Cloud State’s fifth NCAA Division II individual title.
Fans celebrated with the team March 17 in Atwood Memorial Center.
Coach Steve Costanzo, a program redeemer of national repute, three times brought St. Cloud State to the brink of national glory, with NCAA Division II team runner-up trophies in 2011-2013. He took tiny Dana College, Blair, Neb., from worst-to-first, earning four conference titles, four regional titles and a 2006 National Association of Intercollegiate Atheltics national trophy.
Now the Nebraska native, husband and father of five has brought St. Cloud State its first intercollegiate athletics national team title.
“I hope that this opens up a new era at St. Cloud State,” said Costanzo. “I knew coming into St. Cloud State nine years ago that we could win a national championship.”
Helping lead the team to its title was Prescott who lost twice this season to T. J. North, Augustana College’s undefeated hand-fighter. At Chaifetz Arena March 14, the 125-pounder junior redeemed himself and his team with a 3-2 decision over North.
Then Prescott leaped into the embracing arms of Coach Costanzo.
“You could see it in his eyes that he was confident,” Costanzo said of Prescott, a junior transfer student from McPherson, Kan. “His body language showed a lot of positive things. It’s pretty special.”
“I came up short in high school and in JUCOs,” Prescott told USA Wrestling. “I come here. Just give it my all and feel that heartbreak and keep pushing forward. It’s just unreal.”
All six of St. Cloud State’s tournament wrestlers gained All-America status for the Huskies.
Prescott is the second national champion for Huskies Wrestling since 2013 when Shamus O’Grady took first at 184-pounds.
Video by Joel Larsen, Athletics
