Pickar and Rhoten Named Minnesota State University, Mankato Top Athletes of 2007-08
May 4, 2008
Mankato, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University
Department of Intercollegiate Athletics hosted the 22nd Maverick
Achievement Awards and Senior Honors Dinner Sunday, and senior
wrestlers Andy Pickar (Brainerd, Minn.) and Jason Rhoten
(Mantorville, Minn.) were awarded the Male Athletics Medal of Honor and
Don Buchanan Award, respectively. The event was held in the Centennial
Student Union Ballroom.
The Male Athletics Medal of Honor is presented annually to one
student-athlete and is based solely on athletic achievements. The award
has been presented since 1992-92. A team co-captain who went 23-3
during the course of his senior season which culminated with an
18-match winning streak, on his way to a National Championship at
165-pounds. The Brainerd, Minn., native helped the Mavericks earn a
second-place finish at the NCAA National Championships. He is a
two-time NCAA national finalist, a three-time All-American and a
three-time NCC champion. He was named the 2006 North Region Outstanding
Wrestler and racked up a career record of 74-14.
The Don Buchanan Award (or Outstanding Male Student-Athlete Award) is
presented annually to the student-athlete who best combines academic
and athletic achievements. The award as been presented since 1996-97
and was re-named the Don Buchanan Award last year to honor the former
dean of Health and Human Performance at MSU. This year’s recipient is a
graduate student majoring in Biology/Ecology and carries a cumulative
grade point average of 3.29. A four-time wrestling All-American and the
national 157-pound champion this year, this Mantorville, Minn., native
completed 2007-08 with a record of 40-2 and his 40 wins this year ranks
third on MSU’s single-season list. He established a school record for
career wins with 136 and this past year helped lead Minnesota State to
the National Duals title, the NCAA Division II Central Region
championship and a second-place finish at the NCAA Division II national
wrestling championship. Named the 2008 North Central Region Wrestler of
the Year, he directed activities at Science Camp at Gustavus Adophus,
assisted with Jump Rope for Heart at Kennedy Elementary, served as a
guest speaker at Kasson-Mantorville High School, volunteered at the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries, officiated at
numerous youth wrestling tournaments and assisted as a youth coach at
several area youth wrestling clubs.