switching from ASP CHECK to INPUT CHECK and use find control

System.Web.UI.WebControls.CheckBox chkBox = item.FindControl("chkbxDelete") as System.Web.UI.WebControls.CheckBox;

finds the asp:CheckBox:

<asp:CheckBox ID = "chkbxDelete" runat="server" Text='<%# Eval("MapID") %>'/>

but I need to change it to an input type...is it possible to use item.findcontrol for a:

<input id="chkbxDelete" type="checkbox" value='<%#Eval("MapID") %>' class="chk" runat="server"/>