LA CROSSE, Wis. – Saint John's posted a 2-1 record at the Wisconsin-La Crosse Duals on Saturday, Dec. 3. The sixth-ranked Johnnies started the morning with a 28-12 win over No. 25 Wisconsin-Stevens Point before falling to No. 5 Cornell (Iowa), 21-15. SJU ended the day with a 26-12 win over Loras (Iowa).

SJU claimed six wins against Stevens Point, including four major decisions and a pin. The tide turned, however, as fifth-ranked Cornell (Iowa) won five of its first six matches against the Johnnies. SJU lost three matches by two points or less. Senior Chad Henle (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer), ranked as high as No. 3 by the NWCA, bounced back from an early-morning loss to earn a 5-3 overtime victory. Junior Chris Stevermer (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) suffered a tough 6-5 loss to No. 2 Nicholas Loughlin 157 pounds and sophomore Brandon Seppelt (Foley, Minn.) dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 4 Joe Hambleton at 165.

Down 18-3, head coach Brandon Novak decided to bump his upper weights up a class. Junior Nick Schuler (Roseville, Minn./Totino-Grace), ranked sixth at 165 pounds, posted a 10-2 major decision at 174. Senior Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson), ranked second at 174, followed suit with a 12-4 major decision at 184. Junior Mitch Hagen (Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) lost a tough 4-3 decision at 197. He is ranked ninth nationally at 184. Senior Dustin Baxter (Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) ended the dual with a 14-4 major decision at heavyweight.

Baxter ended the day 3-0 with three major decisions, while Pfarr posted a 2-0 mark at 184 pounds. Henle and Stevermer each went 2-1 with narrow losses to ranked wrestlers. Stevermer registered a pair of pins aside from his one-point loss to the second-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds.

The Johnnies return to Wisconsin for the Duals at the Dells this Friday, Dec. 9. SJU is scheduled to face No. 15 Wisconsin-Whitewater at 6 p.m., followed by second-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse at 7:45 p.m. at Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

No. 6 Saint John's (SJU) 28, No. 25 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) 12
125 – Lance Fabry (UWSP) dec. sophomore Matt Hickerson (SJU), 3-0 [0-3]
133 – Joe Mileski (No. 3/4, UWSP) dec. senior Chad Henle (No. 3/5, SJU), 3-0 [0-6]
141 – Sophomore Alex Peck (SJU) won by forfeit [6-6]
149 – Sophomore Ryan Arne (SJU) major dec. Shane Sweeney (UWSP), 12-4 [10-6]
157 – Junior Chris Stevermer (SJU) pinned Ben Strobel (UWSP), 0:43 [16-6]
165 – Junior Nick Schuler (No. 6, SJU) major dec. Jordan Schulte (UWSP), 11-2 [20-6]
174 – Ryan Conat (UWSP) dec. sophomore David Rademacher (SJU), 4-1 [20-9]
184 – Junior Mitch Hagen (No. 9, SJU) major dec. Dan Diebitz (UWSP), 10-2 [24-9]
197 – Senior Dustin Baxter (No. 2, SJU) major dec. Andy Borchardt (UWSP), 13-5 [28-9]
Hwt – Matt Cuadra (UWSP) dec. sophomore John Scepaniak (SJU), 10-3 [28-12]

No. 5 Cornell, Iowa (COR) 21; No. 6 Saint John's (SJU) 15
125 – Tim Hood (No. 10, COR) pinned sophomore Matt Hickerson (SJU), 2:54 [0-6]
133 – Senior Chad Henle (No. 3/5, SJU) dec. Tigue Snider (COR), 5-3 OT [3-6]
141 – Michael Buhr (COR) dec. sophomore Alex Peck (SJU), 7-0 [3-9]
149 – Jacob Schwebke (COR) dec. sophomore Joe Hessing (SJU), 10-5 [3-12]
157 – Nicholas Loughlin (No. 2/5, COR) dec. junior Chris Stevermer (SJU), 6-5 [3-15]
165 – Joe Hambleton (No. 4, COR) dec. sophomore Brandon Seppelt (SJU), 4-2 [3-18]
174 – Junior Nick Schuler (No. 6 @ 165, SJU) major dec. Patrick Loughlin (COR), 10-2 [7-18]
184 – Senior Matt Pfarr (No. 2 @ 174, SJU) major dec. Andrew Roberts (COR), 12-4 [11-18]
197 – Alex Coolidge (COR) dec. junior Mitch Hagen (No. 9 @ 184, SJU), 4-3 [11-21]
Hwt – Senior Dustin Baxter (No. 2 @ 197, SJU) major dec. Carl Gaul (COR), 14-4 [15-21]

No. 6 Saint John's (SJU) 26; Loras, Iowa (LOR) 12
125 – Pat Pfantz (LOR) dec. sophomore Matt Hickerson (SJU), 7-2 [0-3]
133 – Senior Chad Henle (No. 3/5, SJU) dec. Matt Holmes (LOR), 6-1 [3-3]
141 – Drew Salzman (LOR) dec. sophomore Aaron Padrnos (SJU), 7-4 [3-6]
149 – Sophomore Ryan Arne (SJU) dec. Joe Wood (LOR), 5-2 [6-6]
157 – Sophomore Brandon Seppelt (SJU) major dec. Mike Gossen (LOR), 12-2 [10-6]
165 – Junior Chris Stevermer (SJU) pinned Mitch Gansen (LOR), 2:40 [16-6]
174 – Sophomore David Rademacher (SJU) dec. Tom Gross (LOR), 10-9 [19-6]
184 – Senior Matt Pfarr (No. 2 @ 174, SJU) dec. Josh Kirkland (LOR), 7-4 [22-6]
197 – Senior Dustin Baxter (No. 2, SJU) major dec. Ryan Ward (LOR), 16-4 [26-6]
Hwt – Kyle Henry (LOR) pinned sophomore John Scepaniak (SJU), 2:41 [26-12]