MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State wrestling celebrates senior night on Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. at Taylor Center. The Mavericks will recognize Head Coach Jim Makovsky, who announced his retirement at the end of the season. Makovsky will coach his final home meet against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs to bookend his esteemed 33-year tenure at the helm.
 
The Mavericks (14-4, 7-2 NSIC) are tied for third in the Northern Sun standings with three nationally ranked wrestlers. Friday marks the final tune-up for MSU before the NCAA Super Region V Championships on February 28. The Mustangs (3-11, 2-7 NSIC) are looking for momentum before they host the NCAA Super Region V Championships at R/A Facility in Marshall.
 
The match will be streamed on NSIC Network.
 
MAKOVSKY'S LEGACY
Makovsky, who has amassed a 327-149-3 record at Minnesota State, is just the third head coach in the 75-year history of the program. Including four seasons at his alma mater, Valley City State, he holds a career record of 350-169-4. His 350 career wins is eighth all-time in NCAA Division II and among active coaches, he has the second most dual victories in Division II.
 
During his career, Makovsky has mentored 12 national champions and 97 NCAA Division II All-Americans. He is a three-time conference coach of the year (2007–09) and guided two conference championship teams — the 2007 North Central Conference champions and 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champions. In 2019, he was named NCAA Division II Region Coach of the Year.

Makovsky's teams have produced 19 top ten national finishes and won three straight NCAA Division II Super Region Three championships from 2007 to 2009. Minnesota State notched national runner-up finishes in 1992-93 and 2007-08.
 
Makovsky was inducted into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2013 and received the North Central Conference Legacy Award in 2008. He has served on the National Wrestling Coaches Association board of directors, including a term as president. In 2009, he was selected as the honorary coach for the NCAA Division I All-Star Meet at Ohio State University.
 
SENIOR NIGHT
Hailing from Portage, Wis., Chase Beckett joined the Maverick wrestling team in the 2023-24 season and has won 49 matches during his three seasons, including 25 this season. Beckett has been named an NWCA Scholar All-American twice and was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence last season. Last season at 133 lbs., Chase finished fourth at the NCAA Super Region V Tournament.
 
A native of Neenah, Wis., Drake Hayward joined the Mavericks wrestling team during the 2021-22 season and amassed more than 100 wins with the Purple and Gold. Last season at 174 lbs., Hayward won 32 matches, finishing third at the NCAA Super Region V Tournament to advance to the NCAA Championships. At nationals, he posted a 6-1 record and claimed All-American honors with a third place finish.
 
A native of St. Croix Falls, Wis., Kole Marko has wrestled four seasons with the Maverick wrestling team, dating back to the 2022-23 season. Kole has won more than 80 matches during his time with the Mavericks, wrestling at 165 lbs., and has finished in fourth place at the NCAA Super Region V Tournament twice and fifth place once.
 
Hailing from Winneconne, Wis., Caleb Meunier joined the Mavericks in the 2022-23 season and went on to win more than 100 matches with the Mavericks. As a sophomore wrestling at 157 lbs., Caleb finished fifth at the NCAA Super Region V Tournament. As a junior, Caleb led the team in wins with 32 and advanced to the NCAA Championships, where he finished in fifth place to claim All-American honors.
 
A native of Tecumsah, Okla., Elijah Reece joined the Mavericks during the 2024-25 season after wrestling two seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He has won 39 matches during his collegiate career, including eight this season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Minnesota State saw its seven dual winning streak come to an end Friday evening on the road as #13 St. Cloud State defeated the Mavericks 26-12. Minnesota State won three of the matches, including one via fall.

Senior #13 Drake Hayward (174 lbs.) notched his ninth win via fall of the season as he pinned Brody Hart at the 4:08 mark of their match.

Junior #13 Walker Bents (149 lbs.) picked up the first win of the night for the Mavericks as he notched a 6-2 decision win over Alyeus Craig. Bents recorded a pair of takedowns, including one in the third period to secure the 6-2 win.

Senior Kole Marko (165 lbs.) came away with the 4-1 win over Derek Johnson. Both wrestlers notched an escape as the match went into overtime tied 1-1. Ten seconds into overtime, Marko was able to record the takedown to claim the 4-1 decision.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Southwest Minnesota State is coming off a 47-0 defeat at No. 11 Augustana on Feb. 6. Augustana had two wins by fall, five tech falls, and one win by major decision, decision, and sudden victory.
 
"Tough loss to a top level team, but great fight from the guys. I loved to see the intensity and the aggression we showed tonight," said fifth-year head coach Chayse Jackson. "We went down looking to score, and gave ourselves the opportunity in several matches to take out a ranked kid. Looking forward to the next week of training as we prep for our last NSIC dual of the year."
 
Redshirt freshman Tate Condezo (157 lbs) holds a 22-14 overall record and is 4-4 in NSIC duals with eight wins by fall and 10 decisions.
 
The Mavericks are 34-10 all-time against SMSU and have won their last three duals head-to-head. Last season, MSU won 37-4 in Marshall on Jan. 31. Chase Beckett collected a win by fall at 133 for Minnesota State.