The nationally-ranked SJU wrestling team returns to action this Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Wis.-Eau Claire Invitational. The meet is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Eau Claire, Wis. – Live Results

Preview Video:
-Head Coach Brandon Novak (1:12)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's juniors Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) and Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) each posted 4-0 records to win their respective weight classes at the 2010 North Country Open on Saturday, Jan. 30, in Collegeville. Over 200 wrestlers from 17 different schools participated in the tournament. Baarson, who entered the weekend ranked No. 10 nationally at 165 pounds, tallied 7-1 and 5-4 decisions to begin the meet before recording a 16-0 technical fall in the semifinals. He then defeated Augsburg's Orlando Ponce, ranked No. 6, 2-1 in the championship match. The victory was Baarson's second over Ponce in a two-week span. Willaert cruised through the 197-pound bracket with major decisions in all four of his matches to take the title. Junior John Vaith (Hastings, Minn.) went 4-2 to finish third at 157 pounds, while sophomore Chad Henle (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) posted a 5-2 mark to claim fourth place in his first action at 133 pounds.  Senior Mogi Baatar (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), ranked No. 5, went 3-2 to finish fifth at 133 pounds. The Johnnies' other two nationally-ranked wrestlers, junior Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) and sophomore Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson), did not compete.

2010 WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE INVITATIONAL: A total of 14 teams, including SJU, will be competing at the 2010 Wis.-Eau Claire Invitational: Augsburg, Itasca C.C., Jamestown (N.D.), Luther (Iowa), North Central (Ill.), Ridgewater, St. Cloud State, Wartburg (Iowa), Winona State, Wis.-La Crosse, Wis.-Parkside, Wis.-Oshkosh, Wis.-Whitewater.

THE LAST TIME: The last time that SJU participated at the Wis.-Eau Claire Invitational was on Feb. 2, 2008, where it took first place out of nine teams.  The Johnnies finished with 120.5 pts, followed by Wis.-Stevens Point 113) and Augsburg (99.5). Baatar went 4-0 with three pins and a major decision to win the 125-pound title as a sophomore and Vaith went 3-1 to claim second at 157 pounds. Baarson finished third at 157 pounds by forfeit and junior Dustin Raygor (St. Croix Falls, Wis.) took third at 197 pounds.