COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Much fanfare accompanied the arrival of basketball as a varsity sport at Saint John's University in the early years of the 20th century.

The program's origins date back to the opening of a new gymnasium on campus. The interior of the building - now known as Guild Hall - was completed in 1901, though the gymnasium floor was not ready until October of 1902, according to "Scoreboard: A History of Athletics at Saint John's University."

"For years past, the authorities of St. John's were contemplating the erection of a spacious gymnasium, in which they recognized an indispensable adjunct to a first-class educational institution, one which they thought doubly necessary in our severe northern climate,"  read a story in a November 1901 edition of The Record. "Various causes, however, combined to make the erection of a suitable gymnasium building impracticable for the time being.

"With the opening of the twentieth century, however, it was decided to put off the matter no longer."

"The new gymnasium presents a castle-like appearance of great symmetry and beauty," the story continued. "It is constructed of the best quality of Menomonee-pressed brick upon massive granite foundations. The extreme length and breadth of the building are 120 and 93 feet respectively. The total height from the ground to the top of the 16-ft. flagstaff is 67 ft."

The building opened just in time for the Johnnies to play two games in the program's first season in 1902-03. Both ended in losses - 25-17 to Sauk Centre High School and 16-15 to St. Cloud High School.

The 1903-04 season (left), however, brought not only the first wins in school history, but the first games against an intercollegiate opponent.

Led by head coach Frank Tewes, SJU finished 4-0 that season - which kicked off 120 years ago this month with a 20-11 home victory over St. Cloud Normal School (now St. Cloud State) on Feb. 13, 1904.

"Much interest was aroused, as the Normals have a pretty strong team, with quite a reputation, whereas the locals had as yet no opportunity to show their abilities and they realized that in this, their first contest, they were 'up against the real thing,'" reported The Record in its March 1904 edition. "This, however, served to put 'ginger' into them and such things as 'horse play' were conspicuous by their absence. 

"Every man on the 'U' team played the game with such snap and determination as to cover the whole team with honor."

Leading the way for the Johnnies in that first win was captain Peter Tierney, a North Dakota native, who finished with two field goals and a free throw.

SJU then followed with a 68-15 drubbing of Sauk Centre High School in Collegeville on Feb. 20 in which James Mienes led the way with 14 field goals and Frank Hughes - a Wisconsin native - added seven.

"At no stage of the game did the visitors have the faintest chance to win," The Record reported.

Next up was a matchup against Melrose High School on Feb. 27 that was similarly absent of drama. Mienes finished with 11 field goals.

"The game was devoid of interest," wrote The Record. "St. John's having their opponents completely at their mercy from start to finish."

But a season-closing rematch against St. Cloud Normal School - this time in St. Cloud on March 12 - did generate quite a bit of pre-game buzz.

"Tonight the players of St. John's 'U,' who about three weeks ago administered defeat to the locals, will attempt to turn the trick again," read an article in the March 12 edition of the St. Cloud Daily Times. "But the candid belief of most people is that they will get a beating tonight that will more than even the defeat of last month."

That did not turn out to be the case as SJU held on for a 21-11 win, allowing Tewes to conclude his only season as head coach unbeaten.

"The winners earned their victory without a doubt, and are entitled to play with the best teams in the state," reported The Record in its April 1904 edition. 

10 years ago (2014)
Mitchell Kuck scored 21 points to lead the Johnnies past Gustavus Adolphus 68-63 in MIAC men's basketball action in St. Peter, then added 16 more as SJU defeated Augsburg 83-71 two nights later in Collegeville.

20 years ago (2004)
Junior Nate Lefebvre won the 133-pound weight class to lead the SJU wrestling team in action at the Al Janke Invitational on Jan. 31 in Elmhurst, Ill.

90 years ago (1934)
Eddie Maus scored the lone goal of the game as the Johnnie hockey team edged Macalester 1-0 on Jan. 31.