#4 MSU travel to Moorhead for 2007
Northern Regional Championships The
Mavericks will travel to Moorhead, MN for the Northern Regional
that serves as the qualifier for the 2007 NCAA II National
Championships in Kearney, Nebraska. The tournament is scheduled
to start at noon with finals taking place at 6:00 pm. The
tournament will be held at Nemzek Hall on the campus of Minnesota State
University, Moorhead.
MSU Probable Lineup (16-3, 3-0 North
Central Conference) -NCAA II Northern Regionals
# indicates NCAA II national rankings.
125 - #5 Nick Smith, Jr., 12-8, Yankton, SD,
133 - #3 Jeff Pfaffinger, Sr., 28-9, Blue Earth, MN
141 - #3 Travis Elg, Fr., 21-6, Mountain Lake, MN
149 - #2 Jason Rhoten, Jr., 27-8, Mantorville, MN
157 - #6 Brandon Girtz, Sr., 32-8, Forest Lake, MN
165 - #3 Andy Pickar, Jr., 17-1, Brainerd, MN
174 - Tim Matheson, So., 24-15, Circle Pines, MN
184 - #6 Travis Krinkie, Sr., 21-8, Blue Earth, MN
197 - Ben Janike, Sr., 21-8, Waseca, MN
Hwt - #3 Brady Wilson, 37-8, Faribault, MN
Senior Impact
Four Mavericks wrestled their final regular season match last
Friday. Travis Krinkie (Blue Earth, MN), Jeff Pfaffinger (Blue
Earth, MN), Brandon Girtz (Forest Lake, MN), and Ben Janike (Waseca,
MN) have helped the Mavericks to a dual meet record of 46-8 over the
last three years. Krinkie has placed three times at the national
tournament including a runner-up finish at the 2005 National
Championships. Jeff Pfaffinger placed 7th last season gaining him
All-American status. Brandon Girtz has previously qualified twice
for the national tournament. Hopes are high for Girtz, currently
ranked 6th, to have a strong finish to his career and a high placing at
the national tournament. Ben Janike looks for a return trip to
the national tournament after qualifying last season.
Retiring Reichel
Brandon Reichel will be leaving the Mavericks upon the completion of
this season. A native of New Ulm, MN, Reichel has helped guide
the Mavs to back-to-back top five finishes the last two seasons.
Sixteen Mavericks have gained All-American status since Reichel’s
arrival. Reichel, known for his ability to motivate and his
legendary foot-sweep, will surely be missed. Reichel will be
spending his free time with his wife, Shannon, and their new baby
daughter, Finley.
Fall Guys
The Mavericks have had a knack for ending matches early this
year. Upon completion of last Friday’s match with Southwest
Minnesota State, the Mavericks have combined as a team for 104 falls
and technical falls. Leading the way for MSU are freshmen, Brady
Wilson with 12 falls and freshmen, Travis Elg with 10 falls and 1
technical fall.
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 thirteen matches in tact. Junior, Jason Rhoten went
unbeaten in seventeen consecutive matches covering a span from December
9 - February 6. Brandon Girtz has pitched in by winning fourteen
of his last sixteen matches. Andy Pickar has just one loss in his
last eighteen matches. Freshmen, Brady Wilson has done his best
to hold down the back end of the Maverick lineup, winning his last
twelve matches.
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
171-65-2. 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 197-84-4. 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).