Good weekend for MSU wrestlers

Happy Martin Luther King Day, everyone.

Following a disapointing dual that ended in a draw with Western State Jan. 9, the MSU Wrestling team rebounded in the best possible way, winning the National Duals Jan. 13.

It was easily the Mavericks' highest accomplishment this season, coming from an emotional and a competitive standpoint.

But how would MSU wrestle in the wake of such a high? This weekend's scores can answer that. The Mavericks pounded future NSIC foe Mary 40-10 Friday, then opened the NCC schedule with a convincing 33-6 win over Augustana.

MSU got a couple of impressive wins at 133 pounds from freshman Tim Haneberg this weekend. Haneberg enetered the weekend with a 5-10 record, but got a pin Friday, and then earned a 3-2 decision Saturday.

Haneberg was filling in for junior John Putman who was ill all weekend. After the kind of weekend that Haneberg had, I wonder who will be MSU's man at 133 -- Putman (9-8 overall) or Haneberg (7-10) -- with the dual season now in full swing.

It was also nice to see a couple of ranked wrestlers, struggling due to injuries, get wins this weekend. No. 2 Andy Pickar -- battling a knee injury -- went 1-2 at the National Duals but improved to 7-3 with two wins over the weekend.

No. 3 Tim Matheson lost three matches at the National Duals while nursing an injured rib. Matheson (9-7) rebounded with a pair of wins this weekend.

Pickar and Matheson were injured on the first day of the season Nov. 10 at the Pointer Open at Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Both wrestlers earned a major decison and a pin this weekend.

Finally, senior No. 6 Nick Smith continued his hot streak this weekend with a 11-8 win over Augie's Al Meger at 125 pounds. It was Smith's 14th win this season.

The last time Smith lost? Nov. 16 at the Kaufman-Brand Open at Nebraska-Omaha. It was the first day Smith wreslted this season. He's been on fire ever since.

The Mavericks take their 12-0-1 record to Warrensburg, Mo. to compete in the Central Missouri Duals Saturday.

Roller Coaster week for MSU

What a difference half a week makes.

Last Wednesday, Minnesota State tied Western State 19-19 at the Taylor Center and though the dual ended in a draw, the mood in the building made it seem as though the Mavericks had just lost.

Four days later,  MSU turned around and won the toughest dual tournament in the country — the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Mavericks knocked off the top two teams in the country — Nebraska-Kearney and Nebraska-Omaha — in the process.

Still, the question remains: Is MSU the best D-II team in America, worthy of a No. 1 ranking? 

Point: 

— The Mavericks are undefeated at 10-0-1.

— They beat the No. 1 and 2 teams in D-II back-to-back Sunday

— No. 3 Central Oklahoma also lost that day

— MSU is unbeaten in its last 18 duals dating back to last season

Counterpoint: 

— There are holes in the lineup with less-experienced wrestlers at 133, 184, and 197 pounds.

— The 2006-07 team was more solid up and down the lineup with fewer holes but still only finished fourth.

The said 'holes' in the lineup are filled by John Putman (133 pounds), Ben Becker (184), and Tom Block (197). They don't have it easy. All three are in their first seasons as regulars in the lineup and all three are filling in for national qualifiers.

Though Becker and Block haven't enjoyed a ton of success so far this season, they showed they can come up big when needed. Against No. 1 UNK Sunday, MSU led 15-12 with Becker and Block on deck. The pair each won their matches, picking up 11 points for the Mavericks to put the dual away for MSU.

11 points. So key. I don't know if MSU coach Jim Makovsky expected six points from those weights, but hey, it's a Makovsky-coached team. Anything can happen.

Only time will tell if MSU is deserving of that top spot. The next ranking won't be released for a couple of weeks. Until then, the Mavericks face a fairly easy schedule: home duals vs. unranked Mary and Augustana this weekend and a trip to the Central Missouri Duals where the highest-ranking team participating besides MSU is No. 12 Chadron State, which MSU dismantled 34-9 Saturday.

Makovsky told me Monday evening that he's less concerned with the ranking in Febuaury, but that his teams strive to be No. 1 at the end of March.

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Hello, this is BuckenBlog. I'm going to try and keep this page updated with Minnesota State sports -- mostly my beats, including soccer, wrestling and baseball -- as well as other things along the way. Check back soon...