LA CROSSE, Wis. - Nationally-ranked Saint John's went 3-0 at the Wisconsin-La Crosse Duals held Saturday, Dec. 4. The Johnnies defeated Wisconsin-Eau Claire (44-3), No. 14 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (22-18) and Waldorf of Iowa (39-12).

SJU opened the day with a 44-3 drubbing of the Blugolds thanks to five pins and two major decisions.

The Johnnies then set their sights on No. 14 Wisconsin-Stevens Point. SJU answered a 6-0 deficit with a pair of decisions to tie the match before senior Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), the two-time defending national champion, posted a major decision at 149. A decision at 157 cut the Johnnies' lead to a point before senior Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park), ranked No. 5 at 165, recorded a pin over No. 8 Jordan Schulte. Fellow senior John Vaith (Hastings, Minn.) bumped up to 174 pounds and tallied a decision. Junior Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) jumped a weight class to 184 and lost a hard-fought 4-0 decision to Ben Engelland, the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the nation. Senior Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) sealed the win for SJU with a 12-5 decision at 197.

SJU went to its depth in the 39-13 win over Waldorf (Iowa), thanks to two forfeits.

Baarson went a perfect 3-0 with three pins, while Batsukh and junior Dustin Baxter (184; Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) tallied a pin and major decision each. Vaith, senior Chris Sandy (141; Spirit Lake, Iowa) and junior Chad Henle (133; Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer)  all went 2-0 on the day.

The Johnnies return to action this Friday, Dec. 10, at the Wisconsin-Whitewater Duals at the Dells. SJU is scheduled to face No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse (6:30 p.m.) and No. 30 Wisconsin-Whitewater (8 p.m.) in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

No. 9 Saint John's (SJU) 44, Wisconsin-Eau Claire (EC) 3
125 - Freshman Donovan Sullivan (SJU) dec. Neil Manns (EC), 12-6
133 - Junior Chad Henle (SJU) pinned Steve Fisher (EC), 2:14
141 - Senior Chris Sandy (SJU) pinned over Brian Reier (EC), 1:08
149 - Senior Minga Batsukh (No. 1 at 141, SJU) pinned Ryan Seidler (EC), 3:34
157 - Sophomore Chris Stevermer (SJU) major dec. Levi Polus (EC), 14-1
165 - Senior Matt Baarson (No. 5, SJU) pinned Ricky Gonzales (EC), 2:41
174 - Senior John Vaith (SJU) pinned Nathan Bowe (EC), 0:43
184 - Junior Dustin Baxter (SJU) major dec. Matthew Rieckhoff (EC), 16-5
197 - Sophomore Mitch Hagen (SJU) dec. Luke Ortscheid (EC), 7-2
285 - Joe Pitsch (EC) dec. junior John Linn (SJU), 2-1

No. 9 Saint John's (SJU) 22, No. 14 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (SP) 18
125 - Joe Mileski (No. 9, SP) pinned freshman Donovan Sullivan (SJU), 4:03
133 - Junior Chad Henle (SJU) dec.  Jordan Kust (SP), 3-1
141 - Senior Chris Sandy (SJU) dec. Shane Sweeney (SP), 6-2
149 - Senior Minga Batsukh (No. 1 at 141, SJU) major dec. Kris Magruder (SP), 11-3
157 - Ben Strobel (SP) dec. sophomore Chris Stevermer (SJU), 8-5
165 - Senior Matt Baarson (No. 5, SJU) pinned Jordan Schulte (No. 8, SP), 2:08
174 - Senior John Vaith (SJU) dec. Ryan Conat (SP), 7-3
184 - Ben Engelland (No. 2, SP) dec. junior Matt Pfarr (SJU), 4-0
197 - Senior Tony Willaert (SJU) dec. Brandon Jochem (SP), 12-5
285 - Steve Wozniak (SP) pinned junior John Linn (SJU), 4:18

No. 9 Saint John's (SJU) 39, Waldorf of Iowa (WC) 12
125 - Venel Rene (WC) pinned freshman Donovan Sullivan (SJU), 1:18
133 - Junior Scott Padrnos (SJU) pinned Jeff Ohnemus (WC), 1:51
141 - Sophomore Alex Boosalis (SJU) won by forfeit
149 - Freshman Joe Hessing (SJU) pinned Bryce Robbins (WC), 2:31
157 - Freshman Brandon Seppelt (SJU) dec. Jeremy Padilla (WC), 5-3
165 - Senior Matt Baarson (No. 5, SJU) pinned Rashad Moss (WC), 4:25
174 - Josh Ellingwood (WC) dec. senior Dustin Raygor (SJU), 3-2
184 - Junior Dustin Baxter (SJU) pinned Brock Binversie (WC), 4:26
197 - Jeff Roman (WC) dec. Mitch Hagen (SJU), 11-9
285 - Freshman John Scepaniak (SJU) won by forfeit