The nationally-ranked Saint John’s wrestling team travels to face No. 20 Wis.-Stevens Point for a 7 p.m. dual tonight. – Watch Live
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Six of the 12 Saint John’s wrestlers placed at the Northwestern College Open on Saturday, Jan. 16. Freshman Alex Bach (Minnesota Lake, Minn./Maple River) tallied a perfect 4-0 record to win the 184-pound bracket to lead the Johnnies, who are ranked No. 11 nationally. Freshman Chris Stevermer (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) claimed second at 157 pounds, while junior Dustin Raygor (St. Croix Falls, Wis.) took third at 174 pounds. Freshman Mitch Hagen (Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) finished fourth at 184 pounds, and freshmen Jay Woiwor (Becker, Minn.) and Kyle Glynn (Shakopee, Minn.) each took sixth at 141 and 157, pounds, respectively. The Johnnies essentially wrestled their junior varsity Saturday, as just one wrestler (James Carlson) from the Augsburg dual competed. SJU, ranked No. 11 nationally, were scheduled for a dual meet with Concordia College in Moorhead on Jan. 21, but it was postponed to a later date. The Iowa Lakes Community College Open in Estherville, Iowa, scheduled for this past Saturday, Jan. 23, was cancelled.
A LOOK AT THE POINTERS: Wis.-Stevens Point ended its five-match losing streak with a pair of victories on Jan. 23 at the 2010 Border Brawl. The Pointers defeated No. 8 Elmhurst (Ill.), 18-16, and Harper (Ill.), 38-15, following their 20-15 loss to Trine (Ind.) in the opening dual. Junior Ben Engelland continued his perfect season, improving to 23-0 with three victories at 184 pounds. He is currently ranked second in the nation. Before the Border Brawl, the last win for the Pointers was on Dec. 20, where they earned victories over Simpson (Iowa) and Southern Maine at the Vegas Duals.
MATCH TO WATCH: The match at 165 pounds will feature a pair of wrestlers with a combined record of 32-5 this season: SJU junior Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) is 15-2, while freshman Jordan Schulte is 17-3 for the Pointers.