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Johnnie Wrestling Stays at No. 17 in Latest NWCA Rankings

January 29, 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 Jan. 27. Other teams ranked from the NCAA Great Lakes Region include Augsburg (No. 1), North Central (Ill.; No. 6), Concordia-Moorhead (No. 8), Elmhurst (Ill.; No. 13) 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. 11 Heidelberg, Ohio (22-10, Jan. 10), No. 15 Cornell, Iowa (18-15, Dec. 6) and No. 19 Luther, Iowa (19-18, Nov. 15) earlier this season.

Individually, sophomore Dustin Baxter (17-4 record; Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) is ranked No. 7 at 184 pounds, while junior Mogi Baatar (17-7 record; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's, N.J.) and sophomore Matt Baarson (17-7 record; Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) and are ranked No. 8 at 133 and 157 pounds, respectively. Baatar won the Jamestown (N.D.) Open last Saturday, Jan. 24, while Baxter claimed third. Baarson did not compete.

The Johnnies host No. 8 Concordia-Moorhead for a 7:30 p.m. dual this Friday, Jan. 30 at Sexton Arena in Collegeville.