Short-handed Lights tangle with rival UGF tonight

(Created: Thursday, December 06, 2007)

George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com

Tonight at the McLaughlin Center in Great Falls, the rivalry between the No. 3 University of Great Falls Argos and No. 16 Montana State University- Northern Lights wrestling teams will have a new look. And on the sideline for the Argos will be a former a MSU-N national champion as the Lights square off against UGF for the first time with 2003 NAIA national champion Caleb Schaeffer as UGF's head coach. Schaeffer took over the program when veteran head coach Eric Van Kley left for a different job last spring. Schaeffer is the MSU-N record holder for career victories with 164 and pins wins with 86, and he captured the 133-pound NAIA national championship as a senior at MSU-N, and it happened in Great Falls. And as a first-year head coach Schaeffer is sitting pretty good heading into tonight's dual with the Lights. UGF boasts five nationally-ranked wrestlers led by 184-pounder Mike Kummer and 157-pounder Wayne French, both of whom are expected to compete for NAIA titles later this year. At 149 pounds, Ross Mosher is off to a great start, while sophomore Alex Calvi is looking to have a breakout year at 1197 pounds. UGF will also get former NAIA All-American Ryan Smith back form a knee injury tonight, giving Schaeffer a full-strength lineup. And that's something MSU-N doesn't have right now. Against Northwest College on Saturday, the Lights forfeited three weight classes and they are likely to do so again tonight. Still, MSU-N will send out a capable crew led by 141-pounder Mike Mc- Peak and 184-pounder Colter Dimas. Both wrestlers are off to good starts this season. J.D. Goodrich and heavyweight Robbie Shaw will also play key roles in how Northern fairs tonight. MSU-N is still without senior and team captain Brian Fritchman, who is recovering from a foot injury that has sidelined him all season. Fritchman is expected to return possibly later this month. Tonight's dual between UGF and MSU-N begins at 7 in Great Falls. Last year, the two teams split with UGF winning 28-13 in Great Falls and the Lights prevailing 19-16 in Havre.