Mankato, MN -- The #2 Minnesota State wrestling
squad celebrated its senior night before the match honoring its four
seniors Jason Rhoten (Mantorville, Minn.), Andy Pickar (Brainerd,
Minn.), Nick Smith (Yankton, S.D.) and Willy Mekeel (Sterling, Ill.).
while adding to its record breaking year as the Mavericks conclude
their regular season with 20 dual victories dominating Truman State,
39-10. The Mavericks finish off the year with a dual record of 20-1-1
scoring 740 points on the season breaking the hold Maverick mark of 634
set by last years squad.
Truman State got on the scoreboard first as Rob Nahlik was able to
defeat freshman Andy Forstner (Madelia, Minn.) by a major decision. In
the next match, junior 133-pound John Putman (Oak Lawn, Ill.) put the
Mavericks back up on top with a 19-3 technical-fall at the 6:46 mark to
put the Mavericks up 5-4.
The Mavericks pulled away in the next couple matches as fourth-ranked
sophomore Travis Elg and senior Willy Mekeel ended their matches with
pinfall victories at 141 and 149 pounds. Top-ranked senior Jason Rhoten
locked up in a close match but was able to hold on to a 8-5 decision at
157 pounds and fellow senior Andy Pickar added six more points for the
Mavericks as he pinned Blake Peterson at the 3:27 mark.
Truman State was awarded six points at 197 pounds as junior Tom Block
(Waseca, Minn.) had a 4-1 lead in the second period but was
disqualified for an illegal-move. Second-ranked sophomore Brady Wilson
added a fourth pinfall victory to finish out the night as he pinned
John Horman at 4:41 of the second stanza.
#2 Minnesota State 39, Truman State 10
125: Rob Nahlik (TSU) wins by 15-6 major decision over Andy Forstner
133: John Putman (MSU) wins by 19-3 technical-fall over Dan Keller
141: #4 Travis Elg (MSU) wins by pinfall over Mitchell Bainbridge (4:21)
149: Willy Mekeel (MSU) wins by pinfall over Kaz Hastimoto (4:41)
157: #1 Jason Rhoten (MSU) wins by 8-5 decision over Andy Bader
165: #3 Andy Pickar (MSU) wins by pinfall over Dean Schultz (3:27)
174: #7 Tim Matheson (MSU) wins by 3-2 decision over Dean Schultz
184: Ben Becker (MSU) wins by 10-2 decision over Bryan Isbell
197: Thomas Redmon (TSU) wins by default over Tom Block (Illegal Move Disqualification)
Hwt: #2 Brady Wilson (MSU) wins by pinfall over John Horman (4:41)