LA CROSSE, Wis. – Saint John's, ranked No. 5 nationally, went 2-1 at the Wis.-La Crosse Duals on Saturday, Dec. 5, in La Crosse, Wis.
The Johnnies suffered a 19-16 defeat to No. 9 North Central (Ill.) before defeating Wis.-Eau Claire (40-4) and No. 10 Cornell, Iowa (22-18). North Central received six points due to an injury default of senior Jake Evenson (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) at heavyweight.
SJU bounced back with nine match wins in a 40-4 victory over Wis.-Eau Claire. Junior Dustin Baxter (Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) bumped up to 197 and won his 2009-10 debut with a one-minute pin.
The Johnnies then defeated No. 10 Cornell thanks to four consecutive wins in the upper weights. Sophomore Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) improved to 2-0 on the day with a 2-1 win at 174, followed by a 10-8 decision by freshman Mitch Hagen (Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) at 184. Junior Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) then posted a 21-9 major decision at 197 and sophomore Cody Socher (Delano, Minn.) pinned his opponent in 4:09.
SJU was again without defending national champion Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), who is ranked No. 1 at 141 pounds.
The Johnnies return home to host St. Olaf this Tuesday, Dec. 8. The dual is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville.
No. 9 North Central College, Ill. (NC) 19, No. 5 Saint John's University (SJU) 16
125 - Joe Norton (NC) dec. Chad Henle, 7-5
133 - Nathan Fitzenreider (NC) dec. Mogi Baatar (No. 3), 3-2
141 - Andrew Zobac (NC) major dec. Jay Woiwor, 15-5
149 - Charlie Kirscht (SJU) dec. Trent Reinoehl, 5-2
157 - Drew Larson (SJU) major dec. Tim Gingerich, 14-6
165 - Matt Baarson (No. 6 at 157, SJU) dec. Danny Deufel, 8-2
174 - Matt Pfarr (SJU) dec. Cowan Brown, 10-6
184 - Gabe Youel (No. 2, NC) dec. Mitch Hagen, 4-0
197 - Tony Willaert (SJU) dec. Vinnie Sapienza, 4-1
285 - Rodney Knowlton (NC) won by injury default over Jake Evenson
No. 5 Saint John's University (SJU) 40, Wisconsin-Eau Claire (EC) 4
125 - Scott Padrnos (SJU) pinned J.T. Bernstein, 1:52
133 - Chad Henle (SJU) won by forfeit
141 - Derik Gertken (SJU) dec. Zach Weisenberger, 8-3
149 - Andy Johnston (EC) major dec. Cody Goldschmidt (SJU), 9-1
157 - John Vaith (SJU) major dec. Jon Ames, 16-3
165 - Drew Larson (SJU) dec. Levi Polus, 9-2
174 - Dustin Raygor (SJU) dec. Keith Dawson, 3-2
184 - Mitch Hagen (SJU) pinned Will Christ, 5:30
197 - Dustin Baxter (No. 5 at 184, SJU) pinned Andy Meyer, 1:00
285 - Cody Socher (SJU) dec. Joe Pitsch, 8-4
No. 5 Saint John's University (SJU) 22, No. 10 Cornell College, Iowa (COR) 18
125 - Chad Henle (SJU) dec. Tim Hood (No. 9), 3-0
133 - Mogi Baatar (SJU) dec. Tigue Snider, 12-7
141 - Kevin Donahue (No. 3, COR) pinned Derik Gertken, 1:39
149 - Jacob Schwebke (COR) dec. Cody Goldschmidt, 3-1
157 - Nicholas Loughlin (COR) pinned John Vaith, 5:34
165 - Joe Hambleton (COR) dec. Matt Baarson (No. 6 at 157), 5-2
174 - Matt Pfarr (SJU) dec. Cliff Robertson, 2-1
184 - Mitch Hagen (SJU) dec. Andrew Roberts, 10-8
197 - Tony Willaert (SJU) major dec. Andrew Anderson, 21-9
285 - Cody Socher (SJU) pinned Wyatt Bauman, 4:09
