Wrestling Coaches
Steve Costanzo
Head Coach
Alma Mater: Nebraska-Omaha, 1996
Phone: 320-308-2996
E-mail: sscostanzo@stcloudstate.edu
Visit Coach Costanzo's page...
Matt Lowers
Assistant Coach
Matt Lowers enters his third season as an assistant coach for the Huskies. Lowers serves as the head assistant wrestling coach and also acts as the team's Academic Coordinator. In his first 2 seasons, Lowers has helped coach 15 National Qualifiers, 6 All-Americans and 9 Academic All-Americans.
In his second season, Coach Lowers helped guide the Huskies to an 8-5 dual meet record. The 2008-2009 Husky wrestling team set 4 program records. The Husky grapplers won an astounding 500 individual matches on the season with 111 of them coming by fall.
The post-season was equally impressive for the SCSU Wrestlers as they set team records for the most points scored in the regional tournament with 112. The Huskies qualified 8 out of 10 wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in the process of setting that record. The 8th Place finish at the NCAA’s was the highest finish for a SCSU Wrestling team since 1983. The 44 team points scored was another record for the Huskies. Of the 8 NCAA Qualifiers 3 earned All-American honors. Tad Merritt (165) and Brad Padgett (184) led the way with 3rd place finishes while Derek Skala also earned All-American honors placing 7th at 174 pounds.
In his first season, Lowers helped lead the Huskies to a 13-2 mark. This was the most wins produced by the Huskies in a season since 1972-73. The Huskies also advanced seven wrestlers to the NCCA Division II Championships and they saw three of those grapplers earn All-American status (Brad Padgett, Nick Wilkes and John Sundgren). At the NCAA Division II Championships, SCSU placed 12th as a team and it was ranked among the nation’s top 10 squads in the Division II polls in 2007-08.
Lowers came to St. Cloud State from the University of Minnesota, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach for two seasons. While at Minnesota, the Gophers' wrestling team captured the 2006 Division I National Dual Team Championship, Big Ten Championship and finished second at the NCAA’s. In 2007, the Minnesota Wrestling team repeated as National Dual and Big Ten Champions and also won the NCAA’s for the third time in school history.
While serving as an assistant with the Minnesota wrestling team, Lowers also worked as the Director of Wrestling Operations for J Robinson Intensive Camps. J Robinson Intensive Camps have set the standard for Intensive camps while training over 3000 athletes each summer.
Prior to his time with the Gophers and J Robinson Camps, Lowers spent 3 seasons as an assistant at his alma mater Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. His final two seasons at Concordia, Lowers was able to work with Minnesota and North Dakota Hall of Fame Coach Clay Nagel. During those two years with the Cobbers, Lowers played a significant role in helping Nagel double their roster size and equaling the school's highest ever dual meet win record. During this time, Lowers also served as the Director of the Cobber Wrestling Camp which in its first two years of operation averaged over 285 campers per year while bringing in a world class staff.
In high school, Lowers was an All-State athlete for Wadena-Deer Creek High School while competing in wrestling, football and track and field.
Lowers earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Concordia College in 2006 and his Master’s degree in Sports Management from St. Cloud State University in 2008.
“We are very fortunate to have Matt on our staff,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “He has done a great job with the Husky wrestling program over the past three years. The student-athlete is what motivates him each day on the job and I am very excited to work with him again this season.”
You can reach Lowers at (320)-308-2996, (320)-308-4194 or via E-mail at mllowers@stcloudstate.edu
Jeremy Lang
Volunteer Assistant Coach
Jeremy Lang enters his fourth season as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater SCSU.
Lang is a native of Springfield, MN and a 1993 graduate of Springfield High School. He was a five-year letter-winner in wrestling, three-time Minnesota High School state qualifier and a three-time All-State recipient in wrestling and placed fifth at state his senior year. He competed for the Huskies from 1993-99 where he was a three-year letter-winner for SCSU and a three-time All-Conference recipient in the tough North Central Conference. Lang earned his Bachelor’s degree in local and urban affairs from SCSU in 1999. Currently, he is employed by Edina Realty in St. Cloud. He resides in St. Cloud with his two children Piper and Larkin.
“We look forward to having Jeremy back on our coaching staff this season,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “He has helped us tremendously the past three seasons as a volunteer in our program.”
John Peterson
Volunteer Assistant Coach
John Peterson, an Olympic champion, two-time Olympic medalist, three-time World Cup champion and a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, will be assisting the St. Cloud State University wrestlers this season with personal development.
Peterson earned a silver medal as a freestyle wrestler at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, then won the 180.5-pound freestyle gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada. He earned World Cup championships in 1973, 1975 and 1980. As a collegiate wrestler at Wisconsin-Stout, he was an NAIA All-American (fifth place) in 1971 and earned three conference titles. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986.
He has shared his faith with people around the world, working with Athletes In Action and Campus Crusade for Christ. Along with his brother, fellow Olympic wrestling champion Ben Peterson, the duo founded Camp of Champs in 1977. The Wisconsin-based camp combines intense training and competition with recreation and character training from a biblical perspective.
“We are very fortunate to have John work with our student-athletes on a personal basis,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “John is a great role model and I believe our men will learn a lot from him.”
Chris Heilman
Graduate Assistant Coach
Chris Heilman enters his second season as a graduate assistant coach for the Huskies.
Heilman helped guide the Huskies to an 8-5 dual meet record in his first season. The Huskies qualified 8 out of 10 wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and finished 8th at the NCAA Championships. Of the 8 NCAA Qualifiers, 3 earned All-American honors. Tad Merritt (165) and Brad Padgett (184) led the way with 3rd place finishes while Derek Skala also earned All-American honors placing 7th at 174 pounds.
A native of Colorado Springs, Heilman was the 2004 Colorado High School State Champion for St. Mary’s High School. He was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American and an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion for Cornell College. Heilman placed seventh in 2006, fourth in 2007 and third in 2008 at the NCAA Championships. He is the fifth wrestler in school history to earn All-American accolades in at least three years.
Heilman earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Cornell College in 2008 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports management at SCSU.
“Chris has been an excellent addition to our program,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “He has done an outstanding job with our lighter weights and is an extremely hard worker. We are very fortunate to have him on board.”
Cy Wainwright
Graduate Assistant Coach
Cy Wainwright enters his first season as a graduate assistant coach for the Huskies.
A native of Green Cove Springs, Florida, Wainwright was a national champion and two-time NCAA Division II All-American for Newberry College. He led his team to a runner-up finish at the 2009 NCAA DII Championships. Wainwright holds school records with longest win streak (38), wins in a season (42) and wins in a career (124). He finished his 2008-09 campaign with an unblemished 36-0 record and an overall record of 124-22.
Wainwright earned his bachelor’s degree in Education from Newberry College in 2009 and is pursuing a master’s degree in sports management from SCSU.
“Cy is a fantastic addition to the Husky wrestling program,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “Our upper weights are so fortunate to have someone of his caliber to work with. I believe he will benefit our team immediately with his mentality and drive in the sport of wrestling.”
Brad Padgett
Student Assistant Coach
Brad Padgett enters his first season as a student assistant coach for the Huskies.
A native of Buckley, Washington, Padgett was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American and two-time North Region champion for the SCSU Huskies. Padgett placed fourth in 2008 and third in 2009 at the NCAA Championships. He was named Dean Weisman wrestler of the Year in 2008 and 2009. He amassed a two-year mark of 60-15 for the Huskies. In addition, Padgett was a two-time NJCAA All-American for Highline Community College.
In May, Padgett will be completing his bachelor’s degree in physical education from SCSU.
“I am looking forward to working with Brad this year as a member of our coaching staff,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “Brad is a great communicator and is an excellent technician. We will continue to look to him for his leadership.”
Josh Williams
Student Assistant Coach
Josh Williams enters his first season as a student assistant coach for the Huskies.
A native of Banks, Oregon, Williams was a two-time NCAA Division II national qualifier and a two-time North Region runner-up for the SCSU Huskies. In addition, Williams claimed NSIC All-Conference honors during the 2008-09 campaign. He had a two-year career mark of 37-12 for the Huskies while wrestling 133-pounds.
Williams is a two-time NJCAA All-American for Southwestern Oregon Community College.
In May, Williams will be completing his bachelor’s degree in business from SCSU.
“I am excited to have Josh on our staff this year,” said Coach Steve Costanzo. “Josh is an excellent technician and a veteran of the sport. He will be working the majority of the time with our lighter weights.”
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