Mike McGivern became the first state champion for Marengo High School as a junior in 1972. He was unable to defend his title as a senior after breaking his arm right before sectionals.

McGivern went on to have an illustrious career at the University of Iowa, including helping the Hawkeyes capture four Big Ten Conference and three NCAA Division I team titles.

He earned All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in 1977 and was a two-time Big Ten Conference runner-up.

In 1977 he became the first winner of the Most Courageous Wrestler award, which bears the name of his father, Michael J. McGivern Sr., who passed away watching his son compete in the Midlands Tournament.

Following graduation he spent two years at Iowa Valley followed by 27 years as a teacher and the head wrestling coach at Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines.

McGivern had a career record of 250-230-5 in dual meets while coaching four state champions and 87 state place-winners. His Railsplitters squads had four Top 10 finishes at the traditional state tournament, including a high of fourth-place in 2001. He also led the school to its only state dual team tournament appearance in 2001.