3/20/07

Wrestlers Finish Fourth at Nationals

by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 3/20/07
Section: Mens Sports

For many wrestling teams, a fourth-place national finish would be a satisfying way to end its season. For some, it's a letdown.

A first place finish at the Division II National Championships last weekend in Kearney, Neb. was what the Minnesota State wrestling team had in mind. Instead, it settled for fourth with 60 points, only half as many points as national champion Central Oklahoma scored.

The Bronchos took a commanding lead after day one and never looked back. Host team Nebraska-Kearney took second followed by Nebraska-Omaha in third.

"We just didn't get good performances that we needed as a team," said MSU coach Jim Makovsky. "Some guys got their job done and some guys didn't. Tiny little things separate guys from not placing."

Out of the ten Mavericks that qualified for nationals, five of them - Jason Rhoten, Brandon Girtz, Andy Pickar, Trvais Krinkie and Brady Wilson - earned All-American honors.

"We had five All-Americans and we placed fourth in the nation," Makovsky said. "Everyone's extremely disappointed in that, but that just shows that our expectations are high because other teams would die to be in our position."

Of those five, Pickar, a two-time All-American, placed the highest at second. He cruised through the 165-pound bracket before he was pinned by Brett Hunter in the championship match. Hunter was Pickar's only opponent that beat him this season.

Rhoten took home the bronze, dominating Shea Timothy with an 11-1 major decision in the third-place match at 149 pounds to make himself a three-time All-American.

"I don't think anybody on our team shoots for a goal to get third because there's always a loss," Rhoten said. "It was definitely not my goal. In wrestling there's one move or one throw that can send you packing home."

It was senior Girtz's and freshman Wilson's first time to earn the honor. For Krinkie, it was his fourth All-American finish to conclude a stellar collegiate career.

MSU's goal remains the same for next season, and that's to win a national title.

"As long as I'm coaching, our goal is going to be to win [the championship]," Makovsky said. "To me it's better to aim high and miss than aim low and hit. My goal as a coach isn't to look for a top-ten finish - it's to win it.

"We look back on this season. Don't live in it, but learn from it and move on. We're not going to let the disappointment leave our system. It's going to be a motivating factor."

Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter Assistant Sports Editor