1/15/08

MSU wins National Duals

by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 1/15/08
Section: Mens Sports

Jim Makovsky knew that after the Minnesota State wrestling team's disappointing tie with No. 8 Western State last week, the No. 4 Mavericks would follow one of two paths.

"When you have a big disappointment like (tying Western State), you can either fold or you can turn it around and get refocused," said MSU coach Jim Makovsky, whose team tied the Mountaineers 19-19 last Wednesday at the Taylor Center.

Let's say the Mavericks chose the latter path when they competed at the NWCA National Duals this weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

MSU knocked off No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 25-15 in the semifinals before edging North Central Conference opponent No. 2 Nebraska-Omaha 19-17 Sunday as the Mavericks won their first-ever National Duals championship.

"We had a really good talk (after the Western State dual) and got our minds in the right spot," Makovsky said. "(Tying Western State) could've been the best thing that happened to us."

With MSU trailing UNO 17-16 going into the 285-pound match, MSU's fate rested on the broad shoulders of sophomore heavyweight No. 2 Brady Wilson as he prepared to face UNO's Tony Lewis.

In MSU's semifinal dual against UNK in the 2007 National Duals, MSU needed a win from Wilson to advance to the championship, but Wilson fell to top-ranked Tervel Dlagnev. Later that day, the third-place dual came down to the heavyweight match again, which Wilson also lost.

"Last year he was pretty hard on himself because he thought he let the team down," Makovsky said. "I wanted to make sure he was relaxed as possible and wrestle the way he normally does."

Sunday, Wilson not only left the mat a winner, but MSU's hero after he took down Lewis in overtime to give MSU the win and the championship.

The Mavericks defeated No. 12 Chadron State 34-9 and No. 6 Pittsburgh-Johnstown 24-13 in the opening rounds Saturday.

MSU's Travis Elg managed to turn Wednesday night's frustration into triumph this weekend on an individual scale. The 141-pounder was pinned by Western State's unranked Kyle Francis in a key match last Wednesday.

"I could tell warming up that I wasn't going to have my best stuff that night and I let it get to my head," Elg said.

"I'm proud of Travis because he bounced back," Makovsky said. "He was a big difference in the championship match."

Elg got things turned around and went 3-1 at the National Duals, beating UPJ's No. 6 Shane Valko 9-7 and pinned UNO's No. 5 Yasjim Bribieseca. Elg pinned Bribieseca last season when the teams faced off at the Taylor Center.

"I knew it was going to be another tough match," said Elg, who competed this weekend with a collarbone injury. " I just drove him and did what I do best and eventually I came out on top.:

Senior No. 1 Jason Rhoten (157 pounds) and No. 7 Nick Smith (125 pounds) went 4-0 on the weekend for MSU.

"Although it was a big accomplishment and there was a lot of excitement, we walked out of there knowing we could've wrestled better," Makovsky said.

The Mavericks return to action Friday at home when they face Mary, MSU will open its NCC schedule with Augustana Saturday. Both duals are slated for 7 p.m. starts at the Taylor Center.

Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter sports editor