MARSHALL, Minn. – Saint John's wrestling dropped its first dual of the season by a 35-9 score at Division II Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in Marshall.

The Johnnies, ranked No. 26 in Division III, surrendered 12 points by forfeiting two weights, 174 pounds and heavyweight.

Junior Ben Henle (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer), who is ranked 10th nationally at 141 pounds by D3wrestle.com, put the Johnnies on the scoreboard with a 3-0 win at 149 pounds. Scoreless after the first period, Henle rode the Mustangs' John Weeding the entire second period and chose the down position to start the third, where he tallied a reversal. Henle is now 7-4 on the young season, including a 4-4 record against Division I and Division II opponents.

Freshman Chase Monger (Eden Prairie, Minn.) made it two in a row for SJU with a 6-3 win at 157 pounds and senior Jesse Rogers (Dillingham, Alaska/Mt. Edgecumbe) cut the Johnnies' deficit to 13-9 with a 3-2 win at 165. Rogers started the third period down 1-0 but scored an escape and a takedown for the win.

Senior Evan Guffey (Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt) suffered a hard-luck pin at 141 pounds, which gave SMSU a 13-0 lead. Guffey battled back from a 3-0 deficit and looked to have tied it up with an escape in the third period, but slipped into an unfortunate hold and was pinned at the 5:27 mark.

The Johnnies return to action at the annual Augsburg Open this Saturday, Nov. 22. The tournament is scheduled for 9 a.m. at Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis.

Southwest Minnesota State (SMSU) 35, Saint John's (SJU) 9
125 – Taylor Curtis (SMSU) major dec. Ben Kollaja, 12-3 [0-4]
133 – Jordan Biehn (SMSU) dec. Austin Miley, 11-5 [0-7]
141 – Cody Reed (SMSU) pinned Evan Guffey, 5:27 [0-13]
149 – Ben Henle (No. 10 @ 141, SJU) dec. John Weeding, 3-0 [3-13]
157 – Chase Monger (SJU) dec. Patrick Kelley, 6-3 [6-13]
165 – Jesse Rogers (SJU) dec. Colton Vekved, 3-2 [[9-13]
174 – Jacob Begin (No. 3) won by forfeit [9-19]
184 – Brody Goens (SMSU) major dec. Glenn Castro, 19-6 [9-23]
197 – Tristan Ezell (SMSU) pinned Nick Pegelow, 0:31 [9-29]
285 – Cole Wilson (No. 4, SMSU) won by forfeit [9-35]