Claiming the individual championships were seniors Jason Rhoten (Mantorville, Minn.) and Andy Pickar (Brainerd, Minn.), becoming the first Mavericks to win the title since four-time All-American Matt Petsinger in 2001. It is also the first time the Mavericks have had two champions since 1967 when two-time champion Bob Soulek and Bob Wendel.
Rhoten met up with two-time and defending national champion Antonio Guerra of Findlay who won at 157-pounds in 2007 and at 149-pounds in 2006. Guerra also became his schools wins leader at 123 in his semifinals match. He came into the match with a record of 35-9.
The two started off the match trying to feel each other out and finished the first period scoreless. Rhoten chose to start the second period in the down position and worked himself free to score the first point of the match, 13-seconds into the period. Rhoten extended his lead in the period with a takedown at the 4:27 mark. Guerra got on the board with an escape point to start the third period while adding a point when Rhoten was penalized for stalling. Rhoten would hold on to claim the championship, 3-2.
Rhoten ends his careers at MSU as the career wins leader with a record of 136-23, as a national champion and a four-time All-American. He finishes his senior campaign with a record of 40-2 with both losses coming to Division I wrestlers.
Pickar was challenged by first-time All-American Hudson Harrison of Mercyhurst College. He is a four-time national qualifier. The two also wrestled to a scoreless first period before Pickar jumped out in front with an escape point two-seconds into the the second stanza.
Harrison escaped at 5:33 but Pick was quick to add to his lead adding another takedown two-seconds later which ended scoring in the second period. Having a bit more of a comfortable lead, Pickar tried to add to his lead to get to a major decision to help the Mavericks team score.
Pickar secured his riding time before releasing Harrison for the escape, attempting to go for the major decision to help the team with bonus points. Pickar would add a late takedown at the 6:57 mark and get Harrison in nearfall position as time expired not reaching the full two seconds needed for nearfall points.
In his second attempt in as many years, Pickar ends his Maverick career as a national champion and three-time All-American. Pickar finishes with a career record of 73-17 and a season campaign mark of 27-2.
Senior Nick Smith (Yankton, S.D.) matched up against top-ranked Cody Garcia of Nebraska-Omaha in the first match of the championship round at 125 pounds. Smith fell behind early as Garcia executed a takedown 27-seconds into the first period. Smith worked his way free to cut the lead in half at the 1:19 mark but Garcia shot in again for another takedown at 2:04.
Garcia would start the second period in the down position and shot out only four-seconds into the second period to extend his lead to 6-1 which would stick for the rest of the period. In the third period Smith would try to cut into the lead by starting in the neutral position but it was Garcia that got a hold of Smith's leg to work a takedown.
Smith would work out a final escape but with riding time Garcia would hold on to the 8-2 decision. Smith's season and career comes to an end for the Mavericks with a 23-6 season record and career record of 109-45.
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