The nationally-ranked Saint John's wrestling team returns to dual competition against Concordia-Moorhead with a 5 p.m. bout Saturday, Feb. 16, in Sexton Arena. - Live Results/Blog
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (8-4 dual record) placed four wrestlers at the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Open on Feb. 9.SJU sent 14 wrestlers to the tournament, including its starters at 141 pounds and heavyweight. Sophomore Ochirbat Bayanjargal (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) went 3-1 to claim fifth at 157 pounds. He tallied two pins and a major decision on the day, with his lone loss produced from a 2-1 decision to St. Cloud State's Damien Luchterhand. Freshman Matt Kadrlik (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) battled back from a loss to top-ranked Chad Johnson of Augsburg in his first match to post two pins and claim the consolation title at heavyweight. Junior John Scepaniak (Avon, Minn./Holdingford) went 1-2 to finish sixth in the same bracket. Freshman Mike Pleski (Stacy, Minn./Forest Lake) went 1-2 to finish fourth in the eight-man, 133-pound bracket.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Johnnies moved up three spots to No. 18 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) national rankings released Feb. 13. Concordia also climbed three spots to No. 21. Individually, the Johnnies have six wrestlers mentioned on D3wrestle.com's most recent rankings released Feb. 5. Senior Mitch Hagen (11-5 record, Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) is ranked third at 184 pounds (No. 4 by the NWCA). Junior Nick Schuler (13-1 record; Roseville, Minn./Totino-Grace), sophomore Ryan Michaelis (7-2 record; Monticello, Minn.) and freshman Josh Willaert (16-3 record; Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) were listed as “contenders,” just outside of the top 10, at 165, 197 and 174, respectively. Senior Chris Stevermer (12-5 record; Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) and freshman John Wells (8-5 record; Janesville, Wis./Miltona) were honorable mention at 149 and 125.
A LOOK AT THE COBBERS: Concordia (7-5 dual record) has two individuals ranked in the latest NWCA rankings: junior Jacob Long (14-7 record), No. 10 at 157 and senior Tom Bouressa (20-3 record), No. 4 at heavyweight. Senior Nate Schmitz (11-3 record) was listed as a contender at 197 by D3wrestle.com, while sophomore Jacoby Bergeron (8-2 record at 133) and Chris Harrison (15-11 record 1t 184) were honorable mention. The Cobbers won nine of the 10 matches in a 37-3 win over St. Olaf their last time out on Feb. 8.
LAST YEAR'S DUAL: Then-No. 8 Saint John's started the Minnesota Duals with a 23-18 win over then-No. 18 Concordia last Jan. 28 (2012). Down 6-0 early, junior Alex Peck (Edina, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) put SJU on the scoreboard with a 14-8 decision at 141 pounds. Stevermer followed a Cobber pin at 149 pounds with a tight 3-1 decision at 157. The win led to four straight SJU wins, including three in bonus-point fashion. Schuler tied the dual at 12-12 with a pin of Josten Coleman at 165. Matt Pfarr '12 ranked as high as eighth according to the NWCA, tallied a 13-5 major decision at 174. Hagen followed suit with a major decision of his own, 15-5, at 184. Dustin Baxter '12, ranked second at 197 pounds, earned an 8-3 win over Schmitz, who was ranked as high as fourth according to D3wrestle.com. Cody Kasprick ended the dual with a pin at heavyweight for Concordia.
SERIES HISTORY: SJU is 15-5 against the Cobbers in the last 20 meetings, but just 2-5 in the last seven duals. Saturday's dual is the first against Concordia at home since 2009.
