Three Mavericks in Championships; Team in Contention for Title Heading Into Championship Round
3/15/08
Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- Three Mavericks are in contention for individual
championships in their respective weight classes as they hope to bring
home the Mavericks wrestling squad
a team title as well. The Mavericks fell out of first place after the
third session of the NCAA Division II National Championships, hosted by
Upper Iowa University, but only trail by a half point to
Nebraska-Kearney.
In order to do so they will rely on the three seniors they sent to the
championships in MSU career wins leader and four-time All-American
Jason Rhoten (Mantorville, Minn.), three-time All-American Andy Pickar
(Brainerd, Minn.) and two-time All-American Nick Smith.
Rhoten will meet up with two-time national champion Antonio Guerra of
Findlay who won at 157 pounds in 2007 and at 149 pounds in 2006 who
also became his schools wins leader at 123 in his semifinals match. He
has a record of 35-9.
Pickar will attempt for his championship against first-time
All-American Hudson Harrison of Mercyhurst College. He is a four-time
national qualifier.
Smith will be facing off against a familiar foe in North Regional
outstanding wrestler, 125-pound champion and 2006 national champion
Cody Garcia of Nebraska-Omaha.
Nebraska-Kearney has two wrestlers in the championships with
heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev who has taken first, second and third in
national competition in past three years along with 133-pound Brett
Algood who was the 2006 national champion.
Smith started off action for the Mavericks at 125-pounds in his
quarterfinals match against no stranger in Tyler Mumbulo of Upper Iowa.
Smith had faced Mumbolo twice this season alone already and suffered
6-4 and 9-6 closely contested matches. Smith came out aggressively in
the beginning of the match as he worked is way to a 9-2 lead at the end
of the first period while Mumbolo would battle back to make it close
but Smith would on for a 12-9 decision to move into the championship
match.
First-time 133-pound All-American junior John Putman (Oak Lawn, Ill.)
suffered the first setback of the day as he lost a 3-1 decision to
Brett Algood (UNK) cutting into the Mavericks team lead. In the
wrestle-back quarterfinals Putman fell behind 2-0 going into the second
period to Raymond Dunning (ASC). Putman grabbed the lead in the second
period as he started in the bottom position and worked his way for a
reversal and a pair of two-point near-falls grabbing a 6-2 lead.
Dunning scored on with his own reversal to end scoring in the second
period. Dunning tied the match with two near-fall points in the third
and held on for the riding-time point to earn the win. Putman's junior
season came to an end as he finished in sixth place with a 9-0 major
decision loss to Tim Elliott (UCO).
At 141 pounds, Travis Elg (Mountain Lake, Minn.) started the day in the
wrestle-back semifinals against Doug Surra (WLSC). Elg earned a bonus
point for the Mavericks with a 16-5 major decision. In the
quarterfinals Elg would meet up with Shane Valko (UPJ) who sent Elg to
the wrestlebacks yesterday in a decision loss. Elg scored the first
point of the match as Valko was called for clasping but grabbed the
lead in the second period with a reversal. Adding a riding time point,
Valko would hold on for a 3-1 decision. The first-time All-American’s
season would come to an end in sixth place as James Annon held on to a
close 6-4 decision.
Tommy Abbott (Wilmington, Del.) moved on to the wrestle-back
quarterfinals at 149 pounds as he held on to a 5-4 decision over Zack
McKendree (GU). In his next match, Joseph Deaguero was able to catch
Abbott and finish him off at the 52-second mark of the first period.
Abbott claimed fifth place in his true-freshman season as he pulled a
6-1 decision over Colby Robinson of Central Oklahoma.
Senior Jason Rhoten (Mantorville, Minn.)wrestled his way into the
second national finals of his career as he defeated true-freshman
Muhammad Abdur-Rahman of Ashland. Rhoten fell behind early as he
suffered a takedown but was able to get the escape and then was awarded
two stalling penalties with a takedown to earn a 6-2 decision.
Senior Andy Pickar (Brainerd, Minn.) has his second chance in two years
at a individual national championship as he defeated Kyle Keane (UPJ)
by a 8-3 decision in the championship semifinals.
Heavyweight Brady Wilson finished his sophomore campaign in fourth
place as he suffered two one-point losses during the final day. In his
opening match, Wilson faced off against Dustin Finn of Central Oklahoma
and suffered an overtime loss, 4-3. Wilson was able to hold off Jesse
Laber (UM) to work his way into the third-place match but fell behind
early to Cy Wainwright of Newberry. Wilson tried to fight his way back
but couldn’t make up for the riding time as his season came to an end
in a 4-3 decision.
The trio of Maverick seniors will vie for individual and team
championships beginning at 7:00 p.m. Central time at the U.S. Cellular
Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.