ST. CLOUD, Minn. – A forfeit at 125 pounds proved to be the difference as No. 9 (NCAA Division II) St. Cloud State defeated No. 9 (NCAA Division III) Saint John's 22-17 on Thursday, Feb. 11, in St. Cloud.

Junior Drew Larson (Willmar, Minn.) started the dual at 149 pounds with a 13-5 major decision to give SJU an early 4-0 lead. The Huskies took their first lead at 6-4 with a pin from John Sundgren, who is ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, at 157 pounds.

Junior Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park), ranked No. 6 nationally, improved to 21-2 on the season with an 11-4 decision at 165. Baarson was two seconds away from a major decision as the referee began to count back points as the match ended. SCSU regained the lead with a decision at 174 before the evening's lone upset occurred.

Freshman Mitch Hagen (Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) upset Derek Skala, the third-ranked 184-pounder in NCAA Division II, by a 6-4 decision. The victory gave SJU its last lead of the dual at 10-9.

The Huskies took a 22-10 lead via a major decision, decision and forfeit at 197, 285 and 125, respectively.

The Johnnies fought back, literally, to win the dual's final two matches. Senior Mogi Baatar (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) was down 9-2 early in the third period before outscoring his opponent 13-5 to claim a 15-14 victory at 133. Baatar is ranked No. 6 nationally.

Junior Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) improved to 10-2 on the season with a 13-3 major decision to end the dual. The defending NCAA Division III national champion is currently ranked No. 2 nationally.

Sophomore Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson), who is ranked No. 5 at 174 pounds, did not compete for the Johnnies due to injury.

SJU returns to action next Saturday, Feb. 20, at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional. The meet is set to begin at 9 a.m. on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

125 – Trent Herold (SCSU) wins by forfeit [10-22]
133 – Mogi Baatar (No. 6, SJU) dec. Shane McQuade, 15-14 [13-22]
141 – Minga Batsukh (No. 2, SJU) major dec. Gabe Suarez, 13-3 [17-22]
149 – Drew Larson (SJU) major dec. Jacob Horn, 13-5 [4-0]
157 – John Sundgren (No. 8, SCSU) pinned John Vaith, 1:22 [4-6]
165 – Matt Baarson (No. 6, SJU) dec. Joe Andersen, 11-4 [7-6]
174 – Shamus O'Grady (SCSU) dec. Dustin Raygor, 7-2 [7-9]
184 – Mitch Hagen (SJU) dec. Derek Skala (No. 3), 6-4 [10-9]
197 – Luke Munkelwitz (No. 6, SCSU) major dec. James Carlson, 19-5 [10-13]
Hwt – Jake Kahkne (No. 6, SCSU) dec. Tony Willaert, 11-6 [10-16]