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2/6/07

Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/takedownclub/news/html/2007/wrestlers_use_bench.html

Wrestlers Use Bench in Dual Victory Over No. 7 Upper Iowa

by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 2/6/07
Section: Mens Sports

Going into last Thursday's dual with No. 7 Upper Iowa, the Minnesota State wrestlers had to overcome what Mavericks coach Jim Makovsky called 'instant adversity' on their way to a 27-9 win over the Peacocks.

With a couple of starters injured, MSU looked to its deep bench to fill in. Efrain Ayala and Willy Mekeel stepped up for Travis Elg and Brandon Girtz, respectively. In addition, Jason Rhoten had to move up a weight class from 149 pounds to 157.

"Last night we thought for the first time all year we were going to have our 'Murderer's Row' lineup in," Makovsky said. "Then [Travis] Elg gets his ankle stepped on and tweaks his knee. This morning [Brandon] Girtz comes in and doesn't feel good. He hadn't practiced all week."

This dual had the makings of being more interesting than most people thought.

Upper Iowa jumped out to a 3-0 lead after No. 6 Tyler Mumbulu beat No. 2 Nick Smith 6-0. It was Smith's first match since Jan. 20.

"We knew Smith wasn't going to be 100 percent, but it was going to be good to get him back in there," Makovsky said.

Jeff Pfaffinger put the Mavericks ahead 4-3 with a 12-4 major decision over Nate Naumann but the Peacocks regained the lead when John Gamble defeated Ayala 7-3.

After that, it was all MSU. Mekeel tied the dual up with a 13-10 decision over Andy Norton and Rhoten gave MSU the lead for good with a 4-3 win against Travis Eggers.

"Efrain hasn't wrestled live since December and we called him today to see if he could go and he said 'Yeah'," Makovsky said. "Then bumping [Jason] up and having Willy [Mekeel] go at 149, they both got the job done.

"Rhoten bumping up was huge. The kid's a rock. Whatever he's called upon to do, on the mat or off the mat, he finds a way to get it done. If he gets taken down, he doesn't panic. Selfishly, a guy would rather wrestle his own weight but he didn't even question it. That's a sign of a kid who's mentally and physically tough, but also cares about the team."

No. 2 Andy Pickar put the Mavericks up 14-7 with a major decision over No. 4 Mitch Norton, but the match that broke the dual open was at 174 pounds where MSU sophomore Tim Matheson pinned No. 8 Brady Hakeman.

"It's just excitement. He's ranked eighth in the nation and I had to wrestle a good match and I had to get him on his back," Matheson said. "It was a big match. It's going to give me a good spot in the region so beating him was big. I got two more kids in the region next week that are really good, too."

"It was a twelve-point swing because Tim was on his back and it didn't look good and he ended up getting a pin," Makovsky said. "Business-wise, that's twelve points opportunity cost. Fans, coaches and wrestlers all love to see the pin."

In addition, the Peacocks were deducted one point for unsportsmanlike conduct after the match on Hakeman.

The Mavericks won two more matches to finish out the dual. No. 6 Travis Krinkie earned a major decision at 184 pounds while Ben Janike dropped an 8-5 decision to No. 5 Ryan Phillips. Brady Wilson won the heavyweight match 4-0 to cap another dual win for MSU (11-3 in duals).

"It was really good to see [Travis] Krinkie get his groove on. He had that confident swagger and he needs that against all the guys he wrestles," Makovsky said.

The Mavericks' win came five days after an upset loss at No. 9 Western State.

"It's a really big win after losing to Western [State] last week, so it's a good win for us to come back here and get us back on a roll again," Matheson said. "It felt good to be back here wrestling in front of people we know."

"It was in the front of their minds during practice this week and we really focused on getting back to the basic stuff," Makovsky said. "If our guys can stay in good position for seven minutes, I like our chances. Just staying in that good fundamental position that you were taught as a first-grader."

MSU will hit the road for its first North Central Conference dual of the season, when it takes on No. 14 Augustana at 7p.m. on Tuesday in Sioux Falls, S.D.

"We're focusing on ourselves a lot," Makovsky said. "Every time we dual, it's a snapshot of where we're at."

Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter Assistant Sports Editor