THE OTHER MAVERICKS
Minnesota-State Mankato challenging UNO in Div. II
Minnesota State-Mankato was not a team mentioned among the national title contenders at the start of the season.
Nobody is looking past the Mavericks now.
Bolstered by the addition of three key transfers, Minnesota State now looks like a team that will contend for an NCAA Division II title March 11-12 in Omaha. Transfers Nick Smith (125), Efrain Ayala (133) and Matthias Bitz (157) have provided a huge boost for the Mavericks.
Ayala and Bitz picked up big wins when No. 5 Minnesota State won 20-14 at No. 2 Augustana on Jan. 28. Ayala beat Chris Trampe, 6-3 and the No. 7 Bitz downed No. 6 Austin Scarset, 5-4. The Vikings were missing three key starters while Minnesota State was without All-American Jason Rhoten (149), who was out with an ankle injury.
“A
nytime you beat a quality team like Augustana it gives you a boost,” Minnesota State coach Jim Makovsky said. “We have things rolling and we feel we are one of five teams who will be in the mix at nationals.” Smith, a true freshman who started the year at Division I Northern Illinois, made an immediate splash at the National Duals. He upset three wrestlers, including returning NCAA runner-up Dustin Tovar of Nebraska-Omaha.
“Smith came here with great credentials,” Makovsky said. “He is a four-time state champ from Yankton, S.D. He has made a seamless transition where he has fit right in. He has a lot of talent, he is really explosive and has great technique. His biggest strength is his competitiveness.”
Ayala is a transfer from Nebraska. Bitz was a national qualifier at 141 last year for North Dakota State, but transferred to Mankato with the Bison not eligible for nationals while in the transition phase in moving from Division II to Division I.
“Ayala is doing a great job,” Makovsky said. “And Bitz is a great team guy who moved all the way up to 157 from 141 to help us.”
The Mavericks nearly pulled off an upset in the quarterfinals of the National Duals, falling 18-15 to top-ranked and defending national champion Nebraska-Omaha. Each team won five bouts, but UNO won three matches by major decision.
Minnesota State was without Rhoten for that dual. Rhoten is back in the lineup now. The Mavericks finished fifth at the National Duals.
Minnesota State is very tough in the upper weights with No. 4 Travis Krinkie (174), No. 3 John Koons (184), No. 5 Josh Janousek (197) and No. 6 Mike Engelmann (heavyweight).
Minnesota State was scheduled to wrestle Nebraska-Omaha on Feb. 12 in Mankato.
“Our success is not a surprise, at least not to us,” Makovsky said. “We have a lot of quality kids in our program.”
Minnesota State has won three national titles, but those titles came in 1958, 1959 and 1965. The Mavericks were second in the nation in Division II in 1994.
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