2008 Woodie Awards
Rhoten looks to set school wins record
by Tyler Buckentine
Issue date: 2/14/08
Section: Mens Sports
Jason Rhoten could boast of the accomplishments he's made as a wrestler in his career at Minnesota State. He could focus only on his individual match and what is at stake Friday night.
He could, but that's not the type of person Jason Rhoten is.
The 157-pound senior will go for his 126th career win against No. 14 Minnesota State-Moorhead 7 p.m. Friday at the Taylor Center.
"It's a huge accomplishment," said Rhoten, who will likely face the Dragons' Tallen Wald in the 157-pound match. "There's been a lot of good wrestlers that have come through the doors and I'm glad I can hopefully be one of them."
Still, Rhoten is more concerned that the No. 1 Mavericks get on the winning track with a win over the Dragons.
MSU-Mankato came out flat against Nebraska-Omaha last Friday, losing 32-7 in a crucial North Region dual. Rhoten and Andy Pickar - the team's captains - were the only MSU-Mankato wrestlers to win that night.
"[I was] very disapointed" said Rhoten, who hasn't lost since Nov. 16, when he finished fourth at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha. "Sometimes I don't think guys took it as serious as they should have been, wrestling in such an elite matchup.
"I was proud to be wrestling for the No. 1 team and I wish every one else felt the exact same way I was."
"[Rhoten] doesn't understand why guys don't get excited to his level," said Mavericks coach Jim Makovsky. "He loves being out there."
No. 2 UNO dismantled MSU-Mankato even though the teams were well-matched for the most part. MSU lost its 141-and 149-pound wrestlers - Travis Elg and Tommy Abbott - to the flu.
Nick Smith (125 pounds), who was unstoppable for almost three months, is looking for a win after losing his last two matches.
As for the record, Rhoten currently shares it with Jack Eustice - a four-time All-American (1974-77) and Division II National Champion. Rhoten has chosen to remain humble in the matter.
"It came up on me fast because I never really paid attention to it much," Rhoten said. "Jim Makovsky said something about it early in the year."
"He would want to give the attention to someone else," Makovsky said. "He's very humble when he's talking about himself, but when he talks about the team, he gets excited and he's not afraid to talk about it."
Whenever Rhoten does take the reigns as the winningest wrestler in MSU history, he'll find himself striving for something else Eustice has--a national title.
Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter sports editor
He could, but that's not the type of person Jason Rhoten is.
The 157-pound senior will go for his 126th career win against No. 14 Minnesota State-Moorhead 7 p.m. Friday at the Taylor Center.
"It's a huge accomplishment," said Rhoten, who will likely face the Dragons' Tallen Wald in the 157-pound match. "There's been a lot of good wrestlers that have come through the doors and I'm glad I can hopefully be one of them."
Still, Rhoten is more concerned that the No. 1 Mavericks get on the winning track with a win over the Dragons.
MSU-Mankato came out flat against Nebraska-Omaha last Friday, losing 32-7 in a crucial North Region dual. Rhoten and Andy Pickar - the team's captains - were the only MSU-Mankato wrestlers to win that night.
"[I was] very disapointed" said Rhoten, who hasn't lost since Nov. 16, when he finished fourth at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha. "Sometimes I don't think guys took it as serious as they should have been, wrestling in such an elite matchup.
"I was proud to be wrestling for the No. 1 team and I wish every one else felt the exact same way I was."
"[Rhoten] doesn't understand why guys don't get excited to his level," said Mavericks coach Jim Makovsky. "He loves being out there."
No. 2 UNO dismantled MSU-Mankato even though the teams were well-matched for the most part. MSU lost its 141-and 149-pound wrestlers - Travis Elg and Tommy Abbott - to the flu.
Nick Smith (125 pounds), who was unstoppable for almost three months, is looking for a win after losing his last two matches.
As for the record, Rhoten currently shares it with Jack Eustice - a four-time All-American (1974-77) and Division II National Champion. Rhoten has chosen to remain humble in the matter.
"It came up on me fast because I never really paid attention to it much," Rhoten said. "Jim Makovsky said something about it early in the year."
"He would want to give the attention to someone else," Makovsky said. "He's very humble when he's talking about himself, but when he talks about the team, he gets excited and he's not afraid to talk about it."
Whenever Rhoten does take the reigns as the winningest wrestler in MSU history, he'll find himself striving for something else Eustice has--a national title.
Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter sports editor
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Cheryl Nelson
posted 2/16/08 @ 9:56 AM CST
Jason is my nephew, so I've known him all his life. To say he's humble in an understandment. He is just another common person, but has a drive within himself that to few really have. (Continued…)
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