Football announces freshman class for 2012

May 01, 2012

Tommie football coach Glenn Caruso has announced the high-school seniors who plan to attend the University of St. Thomas this fall and join the football team.

The group includes players from seven states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illiniois, California, Iowa, Michigan and Colorado. This class has a record 15 players that have been invited to play in an all-star game in their respective state.

“I couldn’t be more excited with the class that our coaching staff was able to put together this year," said Coach Caruso. "Our assistant coaches continue to work tirelessly to identify, recruit and land the highest level of student-athlete. Competition for these highly coveted student-athletes is at an all-time high, and I think it is a testament to the staff’s work ethic that we were able to land another talented and deep class.”

"In listening to the recruits, the on-the-field success, the back-to-back MIAC championships and undefeated seasons, the big wins over rival schools, tremendous media coverage and the new facilities were some of the attractors. However, once again, overwhelming consensus was the fact that they wanted to be a part of a tremendous group of young men who work tirelessly and always place the goodness of the team above individual success."

Coach Caruso led the Tommies to a 7-3 record in his first season and a record-setting 11-2 record, including a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals, in 2009. Prior to Coach Caruso's arrival, UST finished 2-8 in 2007.  The two-year turnaround ranked as the biggest turnaround in Division III football over that time period. 

The Tommies have won back-to-back conference championships in 2010 and 2011 making them the first team in league history to complete consecutive 10-0 regular-season records. The 2012 senior class will bring a career regular-season record of 29-1 into their final campaign next fall. 

“On paper, the class speaks for itself, but what makes me truly excited about these young men, are their attributes that you can't see on paper -- work ethic, leadership, selflessness, pride in the team and passion for our great sport," Caruso said. "These have been and will continue to be prerequisites for us in our recruiting process, and I'm proud to say that these young men embody and exude those attributes.”

Since his 2008 hiring as St. Thomas head coach, Caruso has guided the Tommies to three straight national playoff appearances including a semifinal appearance last December. In his four seasons as head coach he’s led UST to a 43-7 won-loss record, including a 19-game conference winning streak and 24 regular- season victories in a row. 

For the second consecutive year, Coach Caruso was voted the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year for Division III.

“We are asked quite often" 'What's the secret to turning and maintaining the program?’," Caruso said. "The answer is always the same: ‘People and hard work.’ There is nothing that we are more passionate about than populating our community with the right people. We’ve done that again this year…..now it’s time to get to work.”

Coach Glenn Caruso's Tommies will open their 2012 season on the road at UW-Eau Claire on Sept. 1. 

 

2012 UST Football -- Incoming Freshmen

Minnesotans

Teddy Andrews, St. Thomas Academy

Blake Andruss, Bloomington Jefferson HS

Jon Best, St. Thomas Academy

Cole Boughner, Anoka HS

Brett Bremer, Hopkins HS

Kendrik Brewster, Cretin-Derham Hall

Taylor Case, Prior Lake HS

Rois Coolidge, De LaSalle HS

Trokon Doeyou, Minneapolis Henry HS

Richie Donovan, Totino-Grace HS

Wofgang Dvorak, Waseca HS

Matt Dysthe, Prior Lake HS

Nicholas Elsenpeter, St. Thomas Academy

Antonio Erskin, Cretin-Derham Hall

Alex Fenske, Marshall HS

Patrick Flaherty, Grand Rapids HS

Alex Fredrich, Tartan HS

Michael Fritz, Holy Family Catholic HS

John Gould, St. Thomas Academy

Paul Graupner, Benilde-St. Margaret's

Evan Guggenberger, Rocori HS

Tony Harlander, Albany HS

Hootie Hubbell, St. Thomas Academy

Mozus Ikuenobe, Eden Prairie HS

Tommy Johnson, Cretin-Derham Hall

Jack Kaiser, Prior Lake HS

Jesse Krull, Eden Prairie HS

Nick Lefebvre, Foley HS

Connor Longhenry, Glencoe-Siver Lake HS

Tim McClanahan, Cretin-Derham Hall

Luke Molus, Becker HS

Sean Murphy, Nicollet HS

Mack Nelson, Eagan HS

T.J. Patrias, Holy Angels HS

Ryan Reger, Eastview HS

Jake Remes, Edina HS

Tyler San Agustin, Apple Valley HS

Stefan Sauer, Rosemount HS

Moses Saygbe, Elk River HS

Tom Selz, Cambridge-Isanti HS

David Simmet, Hill-Murray HS

Bryan Sinkel, Delano HS

Kit Snyder, Wayzata HS

Leo Spott, Duluth East HS

Esten Weber, Dawson-Boyd HS 

 

Wisconsin

Sam Enea, Homestead HS

Brady Goska, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln HS

Joe Greif, Marquette University HS

Dan Herriges, Hamilton Sussex HS

Ryan Himes, Somerset HS

Cody Jaeger, Marquette University HS

Zak Kujawa, Waukesha West HS

Calvin Leszczynski, Milwaukee Piux XI HS

Matt Misiewicz, Marquette University HS

Eric Sutton, Saint Mary's Springs HS

 

Illinois

Eric Bielinski, Loyola Academy

Charlie Dowdle, Loyola Academy

Jack Kellner, St. Viator HS

Jim Lynch, Benet Academy

Matt Marciano, St. Rita HS

 

Iowa

Zach Brennan, Iowa City Regina HS

John Foley, Des Moines Roosevelt HS

Conner Frederick, Alburnett HS

 

California

Jack Gilliland, Grace Brethren HS

Dominic Truoccolo, St. Ignatius HS

Matt Wagner, Marina HS (Arizona State University)

 

Michigan

Ryan Bradley, Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS

Trent Wismer, Detroit Catholic Central HS

 

Colorado

Eric Herringer, Regis Jesuit HS

Kiel Osterman, Palmer Ridge HS