After reigning as the 1972 State Champion at 119 lbs.. for Iowa Valley, Marengo he went on to an illustrious career at the University of Iowa. As a Hawkeye, he was a two-time runner-up at the Big Ten Conference Championships and an NCAA All-American with a fourth place finish in 1977. He was a four year letter winner and a member of four Big 10 Conference Championship teams and three squads that wore gold at the NCAA Championships. In 1977, he was the first winner of the, the University's prestigious 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 his collegiate career and undergraduate degree he spent two years at Iowa Valley followed by 27 years at Des Moines, Abraham Lincoln as a teacher and head wrestling coach. He posted a career coaching record of 250-230-5 in dual meets before retiring in 2013. In spite of dwindling competitor numbers in the inner city, he mentored 87 state place winners including four champions. His Railsplitters' squads had four top ten finishes including a high of fourth in 2001 Traditional State Tournament. That same year he directed the school to its only State Dual Team appearance.