---

Johnnies Ranked No. 17 in Latest NWCA Rankings

February 12, 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 Feb. 10. 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. 27). 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 Matt Baarson (22-7 record; Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) climbed from  No. 8  to No. 6 at 157 pounds. Sophomore Dustin Baxter (20-6 record; Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) is ranked No. 8 at 184 pounds, while junior Mogi Baatar (21-7 record; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's, N.J.) is ranked No. 9 at 133 pounds. Baatar and Baarson were both champions at the North Country Open last Saturday, Feb. 7, while Baxter claimed second place.

The Johnnies travel to compete at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional starting at 9 a.m. next Saturday, Feb. 21 in Mequon, Wis.