COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John’s was ranked No. 26 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) poll released Nov. 18. In addition, four Johnnies received recognition by D3wrestle.com in its rankings posted Nov. 19.
Junior Ben Henle (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) fell from ninth out of the top 10 by the NWCA but is still ranked 10th by D3wrestle.com at 141 pounds. He is 6-4 on the mat so far this season, though seven matches (3-4 record) were against Division I and Division II opponents. Henle posted a 19-11 record and qualified for nationals last season as a sophomore.
Junior Josh Willaert (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) has yet to wrestle a match in 2014-15 but moved up to seventh in the NWCA rankings and is still 10th by D3wrestle.com at 174 pounds. He ended last season with a 15-10 record between 174 and 184 pounds with his second consecutive fourth-place finish at the NCAA West Regional. The regional’s top three at each weight class advance to the NCAA Division III Championships.
Senior Ryan Michaelis (Monticello, Minn.) was ranked 10th at 197 pounds by D3wrestle.com. He made his second consecutive appearance at nationals last spring and posted a 16-12 record on the year. Michaelis’ appearance on the mat, however, will be delayed due to his current role as a defensive end on the Johnnies’ football team.
Junior John Wells (Janesville, Wis./Milton), meanwhile, was listed as a “contender” by D3wrestle.com, just outside the top 10, at 125 pounds. He is 3-1 on the young season. Wells claimed fifth for the second straight year at the NCAA Regional and finished with a 12-13 record in 2013-14.
SJU travels to face Division II Southwest Minnesota State for its first wrestling dual of the season at 7 p.m. tonight in Marshall.
Division III College Rankings: NWCA Team | NWCA Individual | D3wrestle.com