Saint John's wrestling starts its 2025-26 season at Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Pointer Open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Skyward Fieldhouse. – Live Results

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: A blend of experienced upperclassmen and young talent.

That's the mix the Saint John's wrestling team hopes leads to a successful season in 2025-26.

The Johnnies return three wrestlers who reached the podium at the NCAA Regional meet a year ago on a roster that includes 24 freshmen and sophomores.

Here is a full look at that group:

One Win Away
A pair of Johnnies - junior Connor Krueger (Superior, Wis.) and sophomore Thomas Holmquist (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) - fell one win shy of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships with fourth-place finishes at the NCAA Regional. 

Krueger registered an impressive 22-11 record as a freshman in 2023-24 but suffered an injury in the Johnnies' 2024-25 season opener and missed two months. He finished with a 9-6 record at 133 pounds. 

Holmquist, meanwhile, won six of his last eight matches for a 15-8 season record at 125 pounds. He tied for the team lead with three technical falls.

The Right Wayne
Junior Aidan Wayne (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) bumped up from his freshman weight at 197 pounds and led the Johnnies in both wins (23-7 record) – the most for a Johnnie since 2018-19 – and pins (12-0) last season at heavyweight. 

He claimed seventh place at the NCAA Regional and touts a 37-18 career record.

Upperclassmen Leadership
Three returning upperclassmen tallied nine wins or more in 2024-25. 

Junior Kris Castro (Simi Valley, Calif./Chaminade) accrued an 18-14 record at 157 pounds, the second-most wins on the team behind Wayne, with five pins and an 11-5 mark against non-Division III competition. He begins his junior season with a 34-27 career record with 10 falls. 

Senior Marcus Hayes (Katy, Texas/Cypress Lakes) went 10-7 between 125 and 133 pounds, including five pins and an 8-3 record against Division III wrestlers. 

Two other seniors, Zachariah Hunter (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) and Andy Johnson (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech), just missed double-digit wins a year ago with nine. Hunter tied for second on the team with eight pins and finished 9-7 between 184 and 197 pounds. A late arrival to the wrestling room each season due to football, Hunter has a 27-22 career record with 21 pins. Johnson collected a 9-12 record at 174 pounds, the bulk of which came against Division III competition (8-8 record). He is 20-22 in his career.

Sophomore Breakouts
Two other SJU sophomores – Owen Carlson (Albany, Minn.) and Laiken Copeman (Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa) – joined Holmquist with double-digit wins as freshmen last season. 

Carlson went 10-9 at 157 pounds and tied for second on the team with eight pins. Copeman, meanwhile, posted an 11-15 record with six pins between 165 and 174 pounds.

The 2025-26 Schedule
SJU begins the 2025-26 campaign on the road Nov. 1 at Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Pointer Open before hosting Nebraska Wesleyan Nov. 7 and the Haws/Elton Rumble the following day (Nov. 8) in Sexton Arena. 

The Johnnies participate at Wisconsin-Eau Claire's 8-Man Battle Nov. 22 and welcome Minnesota North-Itasca to Sexton Arena on Nov. 30. 

The next five events are on the road during December and the first two weeks of January: Dec. 6 at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) Invitational, Dec. 20 at the Dubuque (Iowa) Duals, Jan. 2 at Simpson (Iowa), Jan. 3 at the Central (Iowa) Invitational and Jan. 9 at the Lakeland (Wis.) Quad. 

The Johnnies return home against Concordia-Moorhead Jan. 16 and host the North Country Invitational the next day (Jan. 17). SJU's final road trips of the regular season take place Jan. 22 at Buena Vista (Iowa) and Feb. 7 at Concordia's Cobber Last Shot Invitational. 

The NCAA Regional is scheduled for Feb. 27-28 at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 

REGIONALLY RANKED: Three Johnnies were listed in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Region 7 rankings released Oct. 27: Holmquist, No. 3 at 125 pounds; Krueger No. 3 at 133 pounds; and Wayne, No. 4 at heavyweight.

WHO WILL BE THERE: The Johnnies and Pointers are scheduled to be joined Saturday by Augustana (Ill.), Aurora (Ill.), Concordia-Moorhead, Luther (Iowa), Manchester (Ind.), Maryville (Mo.), Minnesota North-Itasca, Division II MSU-Mankato, North Central (Ill.), Division I Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Division II Wisconsin-Parkside and Wisconsin-Whitewater.