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Minnesota State University, Mankato update

February 14, 2007

#4 MSU travels to St. Cloud State and hosts Southwest Minnesota State to Conclude 06-07 dual meet season
The Mavericks will continue NCC conference action when they travel to St. Cloud State to compete against the Huskies on Thursday, February 15th. The meet begins at 7:00 pm in Halenbeck Hall gymnasium. The Mavericks return to the Taylor Center for a match-up against Northern Regional opponent Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday Febraury 16th. The match has a 7:00 pm start. The Mavericks will be honoring four seniors prior to the dual meet:

Jeff Pfaffinger:
Travis Krinkie:
Brandon Girtz:
Ben Janike:
MSU Probable Lineup (14-3, 2-0 North Central Conference)
*Number before each name indicates national ranking.
125: #5 Nick Smith, Jr. , 10-8, Yankton, SD
133: #3 Jeff Pfaffinger, Sr., 26-9, Blue Earth, MN
141: #3 Travis Elg, Fr. , 20-6, Mountain Lake, MN
149: #2 Jason Rhoten, Jr. , 27-8, Mantorville, MN
157: #6 Brandon Girtz, Sr., 30-8, Forest Lake, MN
165: #3 Andy Pickar, Jr. , 15-1, Brainerd, MN
174: Tim Matheson, So. , 22-15, Circle Pines, MN
184: #6 Travis Krinkie, Sr., 19-8, Blue Earth, MN
197: Ben Janike, Sr., 19-8, Waseca, MN
Hwt: #3 Brady Wilson, 35-8, Faribault, MN

Streaking Mavs
The Mavericks have been on a roll as of late thanks in part to some long winning streaks. Senior, Jeff Pfaffinger has a current win streak of 11 matches in tact. Junior, Jason Rhoten went unbeaten in 17 consecutive matches covering a span from December 9 – February 6. Brandon Girtz has pitched in by winning 12 of his last 14 matches. Andy Pickar has just one loss in his last 16 matches. Freshmen, Brady Wilson has done his best to hold down the back end of the Maverick lineup, winning his last ten matches.

Honorable Mavericks
Individuals of the Maverick wrestling squad have been honored in recent weeks. Jason Rhoten and Travis Elg have both been named the MSU Reporter Athlete of the Week. Rhoten also picked up the honor of being NCC Wrestler of the Week for the week of January 16. Andy Pickar has been named the most recent NCC Wrestler of the Week. This marks the third time this year Pickar has been honored with this distinction. Pickar was also picked as the NCC Wrestler of the Week for the week of January 23 and February 6.

Head Wrestling Coach Jim Makovsky is in his 14th season at the helm of the Minnesota State wrestling team. As the head coach of the Mavericks, Makovsky has a record of 169-65-2. He recorded his 150th win with over West Liberty State on January 11, 2006 in Shippensburg, PA. His overall record in seventeen seasons as a head coach stands 195-84-4. His MSU career win-loss percentage (71%) ranks him third among active NCAA II wrestling coaches.

In the 2005-2006 season, Makovsky guided the Mavericks to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA II National Championships, second at the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships and compiled a 14-2 dual meet record with both losses coming from three-time NCAA II national champions Nebraska-Omaha. Nine team members qualified for the championships and six wrestlers came home placing in the top eight, earning NCAA II All-American status. The past three seasons, the Mavericks have compiled a 43-8 dual meet record with four losses to three-time defending NCAA II Champion Nebraska-Omaha.

Makovsky has coached fifty-three All-Americans and seven National Champions. Makovsky recently served a two-year term as the President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association for Division II and serves as a board member on the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

Makovsky is assisted by Brandon Reichel (5th season), Ty Eustice (1st season), Mathias Bitz (1st season), Cory Beckman (1st season), Zach Stevens (1st season), Andy Schmalzriedt (1st season) and Mike Neimczyck (2nd season).