Welcome back for another year of Johnnie wrestling information and updates. I Would like to write a letter to all of you each month. It has been more like every other month. I will see if I can make that happen this year.
I have a request for the first item today. As we had another great golf outing this year with several individuals attending from the 70’s. It seems that we have old information on quite a few wrestlers from every era. I would like to find an individual from each decade that would put forth the effort to get this list updated to current information. I have a strong desire to keep guys united with johnnie teammates. Then to see those teammates at an event or two, together. The stories and the energy of these gathering are special. If you would like to be the head of any timeframe, please send me an email. I will be able to send you what I have to get you started. The reunions we had during the golf outing were great for the guys who came. Some alumni chose to just ride in the golf cart for the day with their teammate from years ago. Several hours of embellished stories of the past. Some just sound embellished today, with all the changes in how we operate the sport now. Some just come by the club house and wait for the teams to come in. At that time, the stories and memories start to fly around the club house. Steve Wolfe helped a bit this year with a few guys who were not listed as wrestlers in our alumni list. Many more like these guys might be out there.
Second request for help, If you would like to help grow this golf and reunion event, we could use your help. Adam Clemen stepped up to take over for Chris Gross this year. He is looking for 3-4 guys to take a small portion of assistance with this. If you have an interest in this, I will send you to Adam for details.
Now some wrestling updates. Our team is growing, and the talent is growing with returners experience, highly talented new commers. This year’s team will be right at that 40-wrestler mark. I am looking for steady improvement to the team’s results as the past few years have not lived up to the history of Saint John’s Wrestling. I hope to find a few former Johnnies at one or more of this year’s events. Please feel free to introduce yourself to me at the event. I also have an open room for alumni to come back to practice. Younger guys can bring their shoes and get on the mat. Older wrestlers might be ok with demonstration or just tell a few stories at the start of practice. Love to have YOU there some time.
Last Item, our annual “Go Johnnie Challenge” is right around the corner. This drive helps us supplement our budget. With this team growing and costs going up, this day is more important than ever to keep a strong schedule. We will need to take charter busses to all tournaments this year. 40 wrestlers, 4 team managers, and one coach won’t fit in our campus small busses very well.
September 7th is the date for the challenge. A donation to the wrestling team will go directly to the wrestling team. This event is driven on social media. You can log into the event from the site listed here (https://www.givecampus.com/schools/SaintJohnsUniversity/2023-go-johnnies-challenge). If you would like to donate another way, you can do that. I have received donations over the phone and by email. Let me know what amount you want to add to the drive, and I will enter it for you. You can mail in a check after the event is over. You can be anonymous or add your name. My goal this year is to beat last year. You can help this event grow by making a few calls to teammate's to boost the drive's outcome. You have the opportunity to set up a reoccurring donation to the team. I believe you can do a monthly or a yearly donation this way.
See you this winter at a Johnnie wrestling event.
Email me if you want to help with the alumni list or the golf outing. I can't do this without some help. this is my personal cell listed below. If you have any thoughts to help the Johnnie wrestling program. feel free to call me.
Kevin Schiltz
Head Wrestling Coach
Saint John’s University
2585 Abbey Road
Collegeville, MN 56321
O: (320) 363-2516
C: (320) 249-7219
Email: kschiltz@csbsju.edu
Web Site: gojohnnies.com