The nationally-ranked Saint John's wrestling team is set for its first dual competition of the 2010-11 season at the Wisconsin-La Crosse Duals this Saturday, Dec. 4. The No. 9 Johnnies are scheduled to face Wisconsin-Eau Claire (9 a.m.), No. 14 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (11 a.m.) and Waldorf of Iowa (1 p.m.).

Preview Video:
-Head Coach Brandon Novak (1:49)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Five Johnnies finished in the top three at the annual Augsburg Open held two weeks ago (Nov. 20) in Minneapolis. Junior Chad Henle (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) won the gold bracket at 133 pounds with a 4-0 record on the day. He defeated St. Cloud State's Eric Ellington 5-3 in the championship match. Senior Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) claimed second at 197 pounds. He dropped a 10-6 decision to Buena Vista's (Iowa) Brian Broll, ranked sixth nationally, in the championship match. Seniors Chris Sandy (Spirit Lake, Iowa) and Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) took third at 141 and 165 pounds, respectively. Sandy's lone loss was to eventual champion Bebeto Yewah, the nation's top-ranked wrestler from Wisconsin-La Crosse, in the semifinals. Baarson also went 3-1 and dropped a close 5-4 decision to the eventual champion, St. Cloud State's Tad Merritt, in the semifinal round. Junior Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) bumped up to 184 pounds and finished third overall with a 3-1 record. He also lost to the eventual champion, Concordia-Moorhead's Phil Moenkedick, by fall in the semifinals. Freshmen Joe Hessing (Loretto, Minn./Delano) and Ryan Arne (Orono, Minn.) claimed third (silver) and first (bronze-1) at 149 pounds, while Matt Conahan (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) finished second in the second bronze bracket. Sophomore Charlie Kirscht (Garfield, Minn./Alexandria) won the second bronze bracket at 165. At 174, sophomore Nick Schuler (Roseville, Minn./Totino-Grace) finished second in the silver bracket, while freshmen David Rademacher (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Aaron Brasket (Independence, Minn./Delano) ended third in the bronze and C-1 brackets, respectively. Freshman Dino Saracco (Wilmington, Ill.) was the lone Johnnie to place in the heavyweight division (third in the C-2 bracket).

LAST YEAR'S DUALS: Saint John's, ranked No. 5 nationally, went 2-1 at last year's Wis.-La Crosse Duals. 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 Jake Evenson 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. Pfarr improved to 2-0 on the day with a 2-1 win at 174, followed by a 10-8 decision by sophomore Mitch Hagen (Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) at 184. Willaert then posted a 21-9 major decision at 197. SJU without defending national champion Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), who was ranked No. 1 at 141 pounds. Batsukh did not wrestle at the Augsburg Open two weeks ago.

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