Dustin Baxter
Sophomore Dustin Baxter

St. Cloud State Escapes With 17-16 Win Over SJU

1/16/2009 10:41:14 PM

Photos (John Biasi) | Photos (Dawid Chabowski)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – St. Cloud State redshirt-freshman Luke Munkelwitz recorded a takedown in the first overtime to defeat Saint John's sophomore Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) 6-4 and give the No. 12 Huskies (NCAA Division II) a 17-16 come-from-behind win over the No. 17 Johnnies (NCAA Division III) Friday, Jan. 16 in Collegeville.

SJU (10-4 dual record) opened the dual with a 6-0 lead courtesy two wins from freshmen Cody Socher (Delano, Minn.) at heavyweight (6-1 over Erik Rogness) and Chad Henle (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) at 125 (4-0 over Pat LeVasseur).

The Huskies answered with a decision from Josh Williams at 133 (3-0 over Mogi Baatar) and a technical fall from Gabe Suarez at 141 (19-4 over Jon Shellenberger) to take an 8-6 lead. SJU was without sophomore Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), ranked No. 5 in the Jan. 7 Division III poll, at 141 due to injury.

The lead didn't last long, however. Sophomore John Vaith (Hastings, Minn.) recorded a 10-2 major decision over SCSU's Jacob Roberts at 149 and fellow sophomore Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) tallied the first of SJU's two upsets on the night to take a 13-8 lead. Baarson, ranked No. 8 in Division III, defeated the Huskies' John Sundgren, ranked No. 5 in Division II, 10-4.

SCSU retaliated with two wins of its own to regain the lead, 14-13. Tad Merritt, No. 8 in Division II, and Derek Skala each earned wins at 165 (12-6 over Matt Schrupp) and 174 (9-2 over Grant Eustice), respectively.

Sophomore Dustin Baxter (Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) scored a takedown with 11 seconds remaining in the match to edge SCSU's Brad Padgett (ranked No. 3 in Division II) 3-2 and regain the lead for the Johnnies, 16-14, heading into the dual's final match at 197. Baxter is now 3-0 in his career against Padgett.

The Johnnies return to action at the Jamestown Open next Saturday, Jan. 24. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in Jamestown. N.D.

No. 12 (NCAA Division II) St. Cloud State University (SCSU) 17, No. 17 (NCAA Division III) Saint John's University (SJU) 16
125 - Freshman Chad Henle (SJU) dec. freshman Pat LeVasseur (SCSU), 4-0
133 - Senior Josh Williams (SCSU) dec. junior Mogi Baatar (No. 10, SJU), 3-0
141 - Sophomore Gabe Suarez (SCSU) tech. fall senior Jon Shellenberger (SJU), 7:00 (19-4)
149 - Sophomore John Vaith (SJU) major dec. junior Jacob Roberts (SCSU), 10-2
157 - Sophomore Matt Baarson (No. 8, SJU) dec. sophomore John Sundgren (No. 5, SCSU), 10-4
165 - Redshirt-freshman Tad Merritt (No. 8, SCSU) dec. senior Matt Schrupp (SJU), 12-6
174 - Sophomore Derek Skala (SCSU) dec. senior Grant Eustice (SJU), 9-2
184 - Sophomore Dustin Baxter (No. 8, SJU) dec. senior Brad Padgett (No. 3, SCSU), 3-2
197 - Redshirt-freshman Luke Munkelwitz (SCSU) dec. sophomore Tony Willaert (SJU), 6-4 (OT)
Hwt - Freshman Cody Socher (SJU) dec. sophomore Erik Rogness (SCSU), 6-1
*dual started at heavyweight

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