The nationally-ranked Johnnie wrestling team travels to Las Vegas for the Vegas Duals this Monday, Dec. 20. Fifth-ranked Saint John's is scheduled to face the University of Chicago, No. 1 Wartburg (Iowa), No. 27 Olivet (Mich.) and No. 3 Coe (Iowa). – Live Blog
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: SJU is currently ranked fifth in the nation and hold a 5-0 dual record on the season. Six Johnnies are ranked individually. The Johnnies upset No. 2 La Crosse 21-17 and defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater 29-9 to sweep the Duals at the Dells last Friday, Dec. 10. La Crosse jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first three matches but SJU earned six wins in the final seven matches to record the duals victory. Senior Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) gave the Johnnies their first points with a 10-5 win over the 2009 national champion. Senior Drew Larson (Willmar, Minn.) posted a 6-0 win at 157, while senior Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park), ranked fifth nationally, upset UWL's Cory Ferguson, ranked fourth nationally, 4-0. Junior Dustin Baxter (Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) recorded the win at 184 pounds with a pin, cutting SJU's deficit to two. Sophomore Mitch Hagen (Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) gave Saint John's its first lead of the night with a 14-10 win. The dual's decision came down to the final match when senior Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) clinched a 6-5 victory with a takedown.
A LOOK AT THE MAROONS: The University of Chicago is currently 0-3 in dual matches this year, including a 45-3 loss to fellow Great Lakes Region opponent Elmhurst (Ill.). The lone victory came from sophomore James Layton at 165 pounds. Layton leads the team with an 8-2 individual record on the season.
A LOOK AT THE KNIGHTS: Wartburg is currently 7-0 on the season and ranked No. 1 in the latest national rankings. The Knights recently defeated Coe (Iowa), Cornell (Iowa) and Trine (Ind.) at the Dick Walker Invitational Dec. 11. Wartburg crowned seven individual weight-class champions at the match. Four Knights hold individual unbeaten streaks: Dylan Azinger at 184 pounds (5-0), Tommy Mirocha at 141 pounds (2-0), Byron Tate at 197 pounds (11-0) and Landon Williams at 165 pounds (10-0).
A LOOK AT THE COMETS: Olivet is currently ranked No. 27 in the latest national polls and placed second, by only a 1.5 margin, at the North Central (Ill.) Invitational. Four wrestlers took second: senior Vince Tucker at 141 pounds, sophomore James Myers at 157 pounds, senior Jim Neal at 184 pounds and sophomore Logan Renas at heavyweight.
A LOOK AT THE KOHAWKS: Coe recently moved up to third in the latest rankings after being ranked fourth in the previous two polls. The Kohawks have seven individual wrestlers ranked: Clayton Rush, No. 1 at 125 pounds; Chris LeClere, No. 6 at 141 pounds; James Locke, No. 6 at 149 pounds; Dale Handley, No. 3 at 157 pounds; Nick LeClere, No. 2 at 165 pounds; Seth Rehn, No. 6 at 184 pounds; Alex Burkle, No. 7 at heavyweight. Coe recently fell to NCAA Division I Air Force 21-13, but defeated NCAA Division II Western State, 32-7.
