---

SJU Wrestling Ranked No. 17 in Latest NWCA Rankings

January 15, 2009

Brute-Adidas/NWCA Team Rankings | Brute-Adidas/NWCA Individual Rankings

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - The Saint John’s University wrestling team was ranked No. 17 in the latest Brute-Adidas National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) Division III team rankings released Dec. 13. Other teams ranked from the NCAA Great Lakes Region include Augsburg (No. 1), North Central (Ill.; No. 6), Concordia-Moorhead (No. 9), Elmhurst (Ill.; No. 14) and Lakeland (Wis.; No. 30). The Johnnies defeated both Augsburg (18-13, Nov. 26) and North Central (19-18, Nov. 15), as well as No. 10 Cornell, Iowa (18-15, Dec. 6), No. 12 Heidelberg, Ohio (22-10, Jan. 10) and No. 15 Luther, Iowa (19-18, Nov. 15) earlier this season.

Individually, sophomores Matt Baarson (16-7 record; Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) and Dustin Baxter (12-3 record; Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) are ranked No. 8 at 157 and 184 pounds, respectively, while junior Mogi Baatar (14-6 record; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's, N.J.) is ranked No. 10 at 133 pounds. All three Johnnies went 2-1 at the NWCA/Cliff Keen Division III National Duals last Saturday, Jan. 10 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The Johnnies host No. 9 Ridgewater (NJCAA Division III) for a 7:30 p.m. dual this Thursday, Jan. 15 at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. SJU then hosts No. 12 St. Cloud State (NCAA Division II) on Friday, Jan. 16. The dual is also scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Collegeville.