#5 Saint John's (Minn.) 21, #2 UW-La Crosse 17

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling team fell 21-17 to Saint John's University (Minn.) Friday night in the Wisconsin Dells Center at Chula Vista Resort. The Eagles entered the dual ranked second in NCAA Division III while the Johnnies were ranked fifth. 

UW-L took a 6-0 lead as Albie McKinney opened the dual with a win by fall (:56) over Saint John's Donovan Sullivan at 125-pounds. McKinney is currently ranked fourth in the country at 125-pounds. The Eagles made it 10-0 with a major decision (11-2) win by Adam Sheley over Chad Henle at 133-pounds. Sheley entered the dual ranked seventh while Henle was fifth in NCAA Division III. 

Top-ranked Bebeto Yewah followed with a major decision (13-3) victory over eighth-ranked Chris Sandy at 141-pounds and UW-L led 14-0.

Saint John's then won the next three matches to cut the lead to 14-9. Third-ranked Minga Batsukh defeated fourth-ranked Matt Mauseth by decision (10-5) at 149-pounds; Drew Larson then earned a victory by decision (6-0) over Ryan Farwell at 157-pounds and fifth-ranked Matt Baarson won by decision (4-0) against fourth-ranked Cory Ferguson at 165-pounds.

UW-L's Mike Schmitz, the top-ranked wrestler at 174-pounds, gave the Eagles a 17-9 lead with a win by decision (3-2) over Matt Pfarr, but the Johnnies came back to win the last three duals.

Dustin Baxter won by fall (4:18) over Mitch Artist at 184 to make it 17-15 and Saint John's took an 18-17 lead after Mitch Hagen won by decision (14-10) over John Poppie at 197. 

The dual came down to the final match and Tony Willaert won by decision (6-5) over UW-L's Billy Mayer at 285-pounds. Mayer led 2-1 after the first period and 4-3 after the second. He led 5-3 in the third period, but was called for stalling for the second time and Willaert scored the winning two-point takedown with less :30 remaining for the win. Willaert is ranked 10th in NCAA Division III at 197-pounds.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, Jan. 8 at the NWCA/Cliff Keen Division III Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.