Sports News
Lights Wrestling
by Coach David Ray
Winter 2003

The start of the second semester, the second half of the wrestling season has seen the Northern Wrestling Squad putting together a mixture of youth and experience. Leading the pack is NAIA National Champion Emmett Willson who has a team high of 38 wins following closely is 2X A.A. Caleb Schaeffer with 36 wins. Caleb Schaeffer in a dual on January 30th, against Western Wyoming College, recorded his 20th pin for the season and his 54th in college, making him the alltime leader in MSU Northern wrestling history. Caleb surpassed 2002 National Champion and Assistant Coach Tyson Thivierge and Marty Boday whom both had 53 pins each. Caleb has already added another to that total and is only a junior.

On January 9th, the University of Southern Oregon, 2001 National Champions visited Northern's gym. The crowd was voicetrious and Northern won 7 of 10 matches for a 27-10 win. On January 11th, Northern took to the mat at the Dickinson State Classic Invitational and placed 9 individuals in the top three, three better than last year. Northern was without the service's of Matt Carter whose mother passed away on January 6th; in fact Northern did not have Matt's services in the U. of Southern Oregon Dual, the DSU Invitational and North Idaho Dual. It has been a rough semester for Matt, two weeks after his mother passed away his grandfather died.

The team has lost two duals, the first against the University of Wyoming by a score of 21- 16. It was exciting and came down to the heavyweight where Matt Carter had only practiced three times in the last 14 days. Matt was leading 5-2 with only 52 seconds left in the match; sorry to say he was reversed, taken down, and lost 7-6.

On January 21st, the Northern squad suffered a disappointing blow when Dustyn Azure dislocated his elbow in practice. It is skeptical, but Dustyn may be back for Nationals on March 7 & 8. Dustyn was having one of his best year's in college, he has a record of 31 wins and 7 losses, he is 11-0 in duals for the year and presently ranked #2. Northern then traveled to Coeur d' Alene, ID for their dual against NJCAA power and # 2 ranked North Idaho College, without the services of Matt Carter and Dustyn Azure, Northern lost another close battle 21-24.

The team has held together very well and they are certain their season could be undefeated if not for a couple of misfortunes; but the 46th NAIA National Tournament, hosted by MSU Northern at Great Falls High, MT., March 7th and 8th, is where everything must come together and that is the common goal the team is working toward at this moment.
 

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