SJU’s Backups Subdue Oles, 31-11
NORTHFIELD, Minn.: No. 6 Saint John’s sent its backups to Northfield Thursday, Jan. 20, and earned a 31-11 win over St. Olaf.
The Johnnies jumped out to a 12-0 lead via a forfeit at 125 pounds and a pin from freshman Alex Peck (Edina, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s) at 133. The Oles’ Ryan Timmerman put the home team on the scoreboard with a technical fall, but freshman Joe Hessing (Loretto, Minn./Delano) gave SJU six more points with a pin in the ensuing match.
St. Olaf rattled off two straight wins, its only other wins on the night, at 157 and 165 to cut the deficit to 18-12. Freshman Nick Schuler (Roseville, Minn./Totino-Grace) put the Johnnies back in the win column with an 8-3 decision at 174. The Oles were deducted a team point when Pesta shoved Schuler’s head to the mat at the end of the bout.
Senior Dustin Raygor (St. Croix Falls, Wis.) tallied a major decision, 15-7, over Andrew Rudd at 184, while sophomore Mitch Hagen (Sunburg, Minn./Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) posted an 8-5 decision. Freshman John Scepaniak (Avon, Minn./Holdingford) ended the dual with a 6-0 shutout win at heavyweight.
The Johnnies return to action with three duals on Friday, Jan. 28, in Perham. SJU is scheduled to face the Oles once again at 4 p.m., followed by showdowns with No. 7 Concordia-Moorhead and No. 3 Augsburg at 6 and 8 p.m., respectively.
No. 6 Saint John’s (SJU) 31, St. Olaf (STO) 11
125: Freshman Matt Hickerson (SJU) wins by forfeit [6-0]
133: Freshman Alex Peck (SJU) pinned Michael Pitts (STO), 2:06 [12-0]
141: Ryan Timmerman (STO) tech. fall sophomore Jay Woiwor (SJU), 18-1 [12-5]
149: Freshman Joe Hessing (SJU) pinned Thomas Mork (STO), 0:54 [18-5]
157: Michael Roth (STO) dec. freshman Brandon Seppelt (SJU), 6-3 [18-8]
165: Joey Waples (STO) major dec. freshman David Rademacher (SJU), 16-4 [18-12]
174: Freshman Nick Schuler (SJU) dec. Joseph Pesta (STO), 8-3 [21-11]*
184: Senior Dustin Raygor (SJU) major dec. Andrew Rudd (STO), 15-7 [25-11]
197: Sophomore Mitch Hagen (SJU) dec. Joseph Schlueter (STO), 8-5 [28-11]
Hwt: Freshman John Scepaniak (SJU) dec. Justin Luthey (STO), 6-0 [31-11]
*a team point was deducted from St. Olaf at the conclusion of the match