“It feels all right,” the two-time All-American said. “I think I could’ve done a lot better. I would’ve rather been at the top of the podium.”

Maynard (20-14) defeated Griff Powell of Illinois 5-1 to become an All-American at 157 pounds for the second year in a row. MSU has had at least one All-American for 10 consecutive years.

The MSU team finished in 34th place with 15.5 points.

Maynard was the only wrestler out of five Spartans to compete on the final day of the tournament.

Junior John Wechter (21-21) finished his first appearance at the NCAA Championships with a 3-2 record. Wechter was one match away from becoming an All-American at 197 pounds. He lost to Northern Iowa’s Jason Payne 5-3 on Friday.

Fellow first-timer, junior Rashad Evans (22-15) was not as successful. Evans was eliminated from action Friday after losing to Northern Iowa’s Eric Hauan 6-1.

Senior Chris Williams (23-18) lost to Nebraska’s Jason Powell 11-4 on Friday. Williams finishes his MSU career with 102 victories, which ranks 12th all-time.

Junior Karl Nadolsky (26-14) lost to Jerrod Sanders of Oklahoma State 5-2 to end his season. Nadolsky’s 26 wins was a team-high.

Gymnasts place fifth

The women’s gymnastics team finished in fifth place at the 2002 Big Ten Championships.

MSU’s score of 194.625 not only clinched fifth place, but it qualified the Spartans (15-6) to compete in the 2002 NCAA Regionals on April 6 at West Virginia.

Senior Jane McIntosh earned a spot on the 2002 All-Big Ten Team with an average score of 9.925 on the balance beam. Junior Christy Linder finished fifth in the all-around competition with a score of 39.075.

MSU is one of six teams in the Southeast Region. A top-two finish in Morgantown, W.Va., would send the Spartans to the NCAA Championships on April 18-20 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

This is MSU’s fifth appearance in the last seven years at the NCAA Regionals. The Spartans never have advanced to the NCAA Championships, but have finished third five times. In 2000, the Spartans finished sixth.

‘U’ wins invitational

The men’s golf team claimed its first championship of the season Sunday.

The Spartans claimed the Pepsi-Cola Invitational in Pottsboro, Texas, with a commanding 23-stroke lead. MSU finished the tournament with a score of 873, while Minnesota placed second with a score of 896.

Junior co-captain Eric Jorgensen took home the individual championship for MSU with a score of 212. Jorgensen captured the title with a career-best 68 in the final round.