MSU Celebrates Senior Night With
52-0 Shutout Over Mustangs
February 16, 2007
Mankato, Minn. -- The MSU wrestling
squad (16-3 overall, 3-0 NCC) celebrated its last home dual of the
season and senior-night in dominating fashion as the Mavericks got the
shutout over Southwest Minnesota State 52-0. With the win the Mavericks
tied the school record for dual wins in a season with 16 which was also
done in 2005, 1998 and 1975.
The night started with the four MSU seniors in three-time All-American
Travis Krinkie, All-American Jeff Pfaffinger, Brandon Girtz and Ben
Janike getting a round of applause from the audience entering their
last night wrestling at the Taylor Center.
The match started at 125-pounds with No. 5 junior Nick Smith (Yankton,
S.D.) outscoring Kurt Smith 7-1 in the third period with a riding time
point to pull a 13-3 major decision. No. 3 senior Jeff Pfaffinger (Blue
Earth, Minn.) followed at 133-pounds with another major decision as he
out-dualed Michel Barrie 13-4.
No. 3 freshman Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) fell behind early at
141-pounds 2-0 in the first period but was a able to get three
three-point near falls in the second period on his way to a 19-4
technical fall over Luke Giese at 5:28 to put the Mavericks up 13-0.
Junior Willy Mekeel (Sterling, Ill.) came right back with a second
technical fall win in a row for the Mavericks as he defeated Luke Giese
19-4 at 6:12.
No. 6 senior Brandon Girtz (Forest Lake, Minn.) started a streak of
pinfall wins for the Mavericks as he stuck Chris Fast in the first
period at 1:15. No. 3 junior Andy Pickar (Brainerd, Minn.) got the
second consecutive pinfall win with only one second left in the first
period over Justin Crouch. The third consecutive pinfall for the
Mavericks came from Sophomore Tim Matheson over Tyler Johnson at 4:57
and No. 6 senior Travis Krinkie added to the streak of pins as he stuck
Cody Chamblin at 3:31.
Senior Ben Janike (Waseca, Minn.) tried to continue the streak of pins
as he got an early takedown in the first period only five seconds into
the match and went for the pin unsuccessfully, but gained 2:55 seconds
worth of riding time in attempt. Janike added to his point total from
the first period to grab a 10-2 major decision.
Freshman Brady Wilson (Faribault, Minn.) ended the evening with the
fifth pinfall of the night as he got an early takedown over David
Marshall only 18-seconds into the match and got the pin 45-seconds into
the first period.
The next action for the Mavericks will be Feb. 25 when it travels to
Moorhead, Minn. for the NCAA Division II North Regional.
February 16, 2007 at Mankato, MN
MSU-Mankato 52, Southwest Minnesota
State 0
125: Nick Smith (MSU) maj. dec. Kurt Smith 13-3
133: Jeff Pfaffinger (MSU) maj. dec. Michel Barrie 13-4
141: Travis Elg (MSU) tech. fall Ryan Reed 19-4
149: Willy Mekeel (MSU) tech. fall Luke Giese 19-4
157: Brandon Girtz (MSU) pinned Chris Fast 1:15
165: Andy Pickar (MSU) pinned Justin Crouch 2:59
174: Tim Matheson (MSU) pinned Tyler Johnson 4:57
184: Travis Krinkie (MSU) pinned Cody Chamblin 3:31
197: Ben Janike (MSU) maj. dec. C.D. Johnson 10-2
Hwt: Brady Wilson (MSU) pinned David Marshall :45