The nationally-ranked Saint John's wrestling team travels to Augsburg for the 2010 NCAA Great Lakes Regional this Saturday, Feb. 20. The tournament is scheduled for 9 a.m. at Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis. The first- and second-place finishers from each weight class, as well as eight at-large entries, will advance to the NCAA Division III Championships held March 5-6 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. - Regional Website

Preview Video:
-Head Coach Brandon Novak (2:59)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Three Johnnies hope to repeat their performances at last year's NCAA Great Lakes Regional, while seven others aim to take the next step. Two defending Great Lakes champions return in senior Mogi Baatar (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) at 133 and junior Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.) at 141. Baatar is currently ranked No. 6 in the nation with an 18-7 record and is looking to earn his fourth consecutive trip to nationals. Batsukh, meanwhile, is ranked No. 2 nationally with a 10-1 record and will attempt to make his third trip to nationals; a berth that will allow him to defend his national title.

Junior Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) will try to earn his second consecutive bid to nationals following his third-place performance in the 157-pound weight class at the regional last year. He leads SJU with a 21-2 record and is ranked No. 6 nationally.
Sophomore Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson), who is ranked No. 5 at 174, will make his Great Lakes Regional debut. He is currently 11-5 on the year.

Junior Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) finished fourth in the 197-pound weight class at last year's regional, but will be at heavyweight in 2010. He posted a 15-4 major decision over then-No. 1 Dan Laurent (Wis.-La Crosse) at heavyweight earlier this season.
SJU has qualified two or more wrestlers to the NCAA Championships 19 of the last 20 seasons.

The Johnnies' 2010 Great Lakes Regional lineup:
125 – Scott Padrnos: 6-8
133 – Mogi Baatar (No. 6): 18-7
141 – Minga Batsukh (No. 2): 10-1
149 – Drew Larson: 13-7
157 – John Vaith: 13-13
165 – Matt Baarson (No. 6): 21-2
174 – Matt Pfarr (No. 5): 11-5
184 – Mitch Hagen: 14-12
197 – James Carlson: 12-10
285 – Tony Willaert: 18-6