Lights host Maroon-Gold intrasquad dual
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
It may be an intrasquad dual, but any time you take to the mat for the Montana
State University-Northern wrestling team, certain things are expected,
specifically wrestling to win.
It doesn't matter if you're wrestling your teammate, your brother or even your
mother
The defending NAIA national champions will face some solid competition, when
they take on, well, the Lights in the annual Maroon-Gold dual tonight at 7 at
the MSU-Northern gymnasium.
While Northern is basically having what amounts to public wrestle-offs for
several weight classes, there is still high interest and competition. After
all, with the depth of this year's Lights' squad, these may be some of the
toughest matches the wrestlers will face this early in the season.
"Last year's Maroon-Gold was one of our most exciting duals," said
head coach David Ray. "It should be exciting again this year. We weren't
this deep last year. For varsity matches, we'll be a little thin in the first
semester, but we'll get much deeper in the second semester."
Ray has 32 kids working out right now, and plans to redshirt probably 14
wrestlers. However, some of the wrestlers who won't be eligible this semester
will still compete tonight to make every match solid.
The varsity spot at 125 is up for grabs for the
first set of duals on Nov. 5 in Cody, Wyo. Sophomore Jason Harrington and
freshman Zach Morgan will square off.
The 133-pound division won't have lineup implications as freshman Mike McPeak
will take the varsity spot. He will face senior transfer Brian Luna, who only
has one semester of eligibility left, rendering him ineligible this semester.
Both Luna and McPeak looked solid in last weekend's duals.
The match at 141 pounds could have serious varsity implications. Freshman
Steven Boger and senior Dan Shaw will meet with a possible spot on the line.
Boger was very impressive last weekend and defeated All-American Chris Smith in
wrestle-offs last week. If he defeats Shaw, Ray is definitely considering not
redshirting him this year.
Smith, who finished second at the national tourney at 133, didn't look
comfortable at 141 and will go back down to 133.
It will be a preview of future matches at 149, as defending national champion
junior Anthony Haukenberry will take on senior All-American Dustyn Azure, who
returns after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Like Luna, Azure only has one semester of eligibility and will compete in the
spring. However, the match should be very competitive with both having
championship aspirations this year.
"Those two are going to be seeing a lot of each other next semester,"
Ray said.
At 157, defending national champ senior Stryder Davis, who has a varsity spot
locked up, will take on freshman Frank Jachetta.
That doesn't mean
Ray had hoped to wrestle talented true freshman Casey Kelly of Helena Capital
in the dual at 157, but Kelly has been battling knee problems.
"He's really exciting and has adapted to the college level very
quickly," Ray said. "I wanted people to see him wrestle because we
are going to redshirt him this year."
The match at 174 pounds will feature freshman Emory Willson taking on junior
transfer Ryan Mattingly. Willson should make the varsity for the early meets,
since Mattingly won't be eligible until spring and normal 174-pounder David
Waters has moved up to 184 for the time being.
Waters will take on returning national tournament qualifier Jesse Juarez, who
also won't be eligible until spring. Waters will take
At 197, national tourney qualifier junior Mazi Burke will take on freshman
Brian Fritchman. Burke, who spent time at heavyweight last year, may see some
time there again early on.
Northern's two heavyweights, junior Chase Gormley and freshman Josh Robinson,
will go at it. Gormley won't be eligible till spring, while Ray plans to
redshirt Robinson.
"I'm looking for more intensity from our upper weights, starting at
174," Ray said. "I want to see more intensity and desire. I want them
to be excited to be on the mat."
Excitement shouldn't be a problem for most of the wrestlers, particularly the
ones who are redshirting.
"It's a chance for us to showcase some of the wrestlers that the fans
won't see this season," Ray said. "And they get excited to wrestle in
front of the home crowd. For some of them, it will be their only chance."
With the official competition a week away, Ray wants to see his wrestlers raise
their level of intensity.
"I want to see them open up and come out intense," Ray said.
"They have nothing to lose. I told them that fans don't want to see a
boring match. I want them to go after each other like they were wrestling
someone else, not their teammate. I want them to wrestle to win."
WT Maroon Gold
125 Zach Morgan, Fr vs. Jason Harrington, So
133 Michael McPeak, Fr vs. Brian Luna Sr
141 Steven Boger, Fr vs. Dan Shaw, Sr
149 A. Haukenberry, Jr vs. Dustyn Azure, Sr
157 Stryder Davis, Sr vs. Frank Jachetta, Fr
165 Dale Seley, Fr vs. Aaron Jensen, Jr
174 Emory Willson, Fr vs. Ryan Mattingly, Jr
184 Jesse Juarez, Sr vs. David Waters, So
197 Brian Fritchman, Fr vs. Mazi Burke , Jr
HWT Chase Gormley, Jr vs. Josh Robinson, Fr