Minnesota State senior Jason Rhoten has been named the North Central Conference Wrestler of the Year by a vote of league coaches. The coaches also selected Augustana's Ty Copsey as the Freshman of the Year and Minnesota State's Jim Makovsky as the Coach of the Year.

Rhoten, from Mantorville, Minn., captured the NCAA Division II championship at 157 pounds by defeating two-time champion Antonio Guerra of Findlay in the championship match. He finished his senior campaign with a record of 40-2 with his is only losses coming at the hands of nationally-ranked NCAA Division I wrestlers C.P. Schlatter of Minnesota and Chris Oliver of Nebraska. He finished his career with a mark of 136-23 and four All-America honors, finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in his career. Rhoten's 136 career victories established a new school record, besting the 126 victories of Jack Eustice (1972-76).

Copsey, a true freshman from Glenwood, Iowa, took home fourth place in the 197-pound bracket at the NCAA Division II championships after winning the NCAA Division II North Region championship. He finished his inaugural campaign with a 31-7 record, leading Augustana in wins. He had a 6-1 dual record. Copsey won the Daktronics Open and earned runner-up finishes at the Dakota Wesleyan Open, the UNK Loper Open and the Midwest Classic.

Makovsky, in his 15th year, led Minnesota State to the NCAA Division II North Region championship and a second-place finish at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, losing to champion Nebraska-Kearney by only 1/2 point. It was the fourth consecutive top-five finish for the Mavericks and the fifth time under Makovsky's tuteledge. The Mavericks qualified eight wrestlers out of the North Central Region meet and collected seven All-Americans (Nick Smith, John Putnam, Travis Elg, Tommy Abbott, Jason Rhoten, Andy Pickar, Brady Wilson).