- The Record Archives
- Volume CXVIII, No. XX - November 10, 2005 - sports
SJU wrestlers ready to focus on season
Senior squad returns with a load of talent
Staff writer
On Halloween night, two St. John's wrestlers decided to play a practical joke on their head coach Brandon Novak.
They stuck forks and spoons in his yard, hung toilet paper around a couple of trees and placed Post-it notes on various rocks in his front yard.
The culprits were later identified the next day in practice as sophomores Tim Thompson and Jason Finley.
"I don't know what Novak is going to do to us. I am kind of scared," Finley said. "I have a feeling we are going to be at a very nice restaurant and then [he will] make Tim and I pay."
The St. John's wrestling team, however, is ready to stop fooling around and begin the season.
The team enters the 2005 season with a 32-man roster, and is hoping for a finish in the top two at the Great Lakes Region.
St. John's will count on an experienced senior class to lead the way. The team lost only one wrestler, Nate Lefebvre, to graduation and is anchored by a cast of seven seniors: Dan Willaert, Dan Fiecke, Charlie Sadder, David Sadder, Jeff Snegosky, Nate Schraan and Jaime Compean.
The group will fill the majority of the 10 weight classes, along with junior Jake Malone, one of two wrestlers, Fiecke being the other, to make it to the national tournament last year.
"We have the perfect mix and balance," Novak said. "We have our team leaders, our athletic wrestlers and our hard workers."
The top returning wrestler is Fiecke, an All-American in 2004 and two-time Great Lakes Champion. He has his sight set on his first national title after a disappointing performance in last year's national tournament.
"It's going to be a fun year," Fiecke said. "We have a lot of freshmen and a quality senior class. We are going to have some tough battles in practice."
Willaert is seeking redemption as well. He lost two matches by one point each in the regional tournament.
"I think I am right there," Willaert said. "I know I can wrestle with the best of them."
Novak, an All-American wrestler at St. John's, enters his second year as head coach after posting a 5-10 record.
"He brings so much energy and excitement to the mat," Willaert said. "He is always looking to improve practice, make it harder and have us wrestle tougher teams."
Update
The No. 17 Johnnies lost to No. 2 Minnesota State-Mankato 33-7 Wednesday night at Sexton Arena. Sadder (major decision) and Willaert (dec.) both won.