11/4/05

Makovsky's Grapplers Look to Continue Winning Tradition

Wrestling Preview

by Garret Felder
November 03, 2005

Coach Jim Makovsky lies on the black leather Mavericks couch in his office, completely relaxed, while answering questions. He's a coach with few worries about his ability to continue Minnesota State's wrestling legacy of 18 individual national champions and 113 All-Americans since 1963. But most of all, he is a coach who is very confident in his talented group of wrestlers who will be top contenders for a national championship this year.

With six returning national tournament qualifiers, including two national runners-up and a third-place winner, and coming off a third-place team finish, Makovsky and the wrestling squad have lots to be excited about this season.

"Our goal is to be national champions and we have the talent to do so," Makovsky said. "This is the most talented group I have coached and I wouldn't be surprised to have a bunch of All-Americans this year."

Yet behind the team's confidence in contending for a national title, a worry lies in the status of junior tri-captain Jason Rhoten. A two-time All-American and last year's national runner up at the 149 weight class, Rhoten is recovering from a broken leg that was a result of an off-season accident. Alongside junior tri-captain Travis Krinkie (also a two-time All-American and national runner up) and new tri-captain, senior Math Bitz (an All-American and third place winner), Rhoten's status is very important to the squad.

"[Rhoten] is our anchor and we are not risking anything until he is cleared by a physician," Makovsky said.

Besides the possibility of competing without a captain at the beginning of the season, MSU wrestling will also be competing without national tournament qualifier Brandon Girtz. Makovsky is redshirting the talented sophomore for the season in hopes of increased development out of the Forest Lake native. Girtz wrestled as a freshman and sophomore at the 141-lb. weight class, producing a 10-win season and followed that with a 29-win season last year.

"Girtz has matured physically and mentally and with Rhoten and Bitz at 149 and 157, there is no need for him to wrestle," Makovsky said. "Redshirting him after his sophomore season is a decent time to do so because it is a season for him to get better and we'll keep evaluating him thoughout the year."

As for the rest of the squad, the main desire is getting back into the routine of things, preparing for the season and actually competing.

"Just getting started and getting on the mat is a big challenge," Krinkie said. "I just want to see how good we really are and get everyone healthy for the year."

Rhoten agrees that he is optimistic about the talent returning in the Maverick's 10 starting wrestlers.

"We have a lot of experience coming back and not much has changed with our lineup," Rhoten said. "I just hope everyone steps it up this year."

Adding to the team's experience are three transfers from North Dakota State. NDSU just became a Division I school and seniors Tim Kraemer, Andy Pickar and Zach Stevens decided to follow the road paved by Bitz ? a former NDSU athlete ? in hopes of adding more competition, intensity and humor to the wrestling room.

"These guys are good buddies of mine and I came in the same year to NDSU with two of them," Bitz said. "Kraemer and Stevens are real jokers but they saw the success I've had here and they wanted one last chance to compete for a title."

As for Bitz, he's just honored to be a tri-captain and hopes to help lead the team in his last shot at a national championship.

"It's my last year and we are in a spot to contend for a title," Bitz said. "We've got a strong 10 guys and it would be great to get all of them to the national tournament in my final season."

Could this be the year the Mavericks raise up a national title? Could they unseat long-time rival Nebraska-Omaha from their throne atop Division II Wrestling? And could a MSU wrestling dynasty be in the making with this group? Based on a relaxed coach and a hard-working squad of student athletes, these questions may not be answered until the Mavericks hold up a gold championship trophy at the national tournament in Finley, Ohio.

Seven Minutes on the Mat

Garret Felder: How important is junior Jason Rhoten to this team?

Jim Makovsky: He is the straw that stirs the drink.

GF: What does this team need to win a national title?

JM: We need to stay healthy, get some luck and everything needs to be as close to perfect as possible.

GF: What have you learned in 17 years of coaching?

JM: The coaching never ends. Sometimes laying off or leaving athletes alone is good coaching too because overcoaching can get your athletes thinking too much.

GF: What has been your favorite part of coaching this team?

JM: I love assisting them with reaching their goals. If you love coaching, you'll be better. And other than my family, there's nothing I love more.

GF: What is the toughest part of the season?

JM: Pre-Christmas is a real grind with all the open tournaments like Reno and the UNO Open.

GF: Which weight class has the biggest battle for a starting spot?

JM: We have three or four guys fighting for 141, a bunch of freshmen. At 165, we also have three guys fighting for the starting spot.

GF: Who will step up for the team who wasn't in the lineup last year?

JM: Ben Janike will have a good year because he is one of the hardest workers on our team. But I think everybody in the lineup needs to step up too.

Eyeing the Prize: Minnesota State head wrestling coach Jim Makovsky has exuded confidence as the 2005-06 season approaches. MSU returns six wrestlers who qualified for the national tournament last season.