NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Five individual champs lead No. Lights to team title
Entering the second and final day of action at the NAIA National Championships, the picture as to which team was going to win the title was still considerably murky.
Host Montana State Northern, which came into the competition as the top-ranked squad, was just one-half point ahead of Menlo College. And to add to the intrigue, both MSU-Northern and Menlo had seven athletes wrestling in the all-important money round also known as the championship semifinals.
When the dust settled in Great Falls, Mont., the Northern Lights had six wrestlers in the finals and were in firm control. Menlo, meanwhile only advanced two athletes into the finals.
Northern won the 47th annual meet, held at the Bill Swarthout Fieldhouse, Feb. 27-28, with 169.5 points, followed by Menlo (133.5) and Missouri Valley with 116 points.
“I was nervous (after the first day) because anything can happen,” MSU-Northern head coach David Ray said. “I kn
ew that we could not have any major upsets in the semis and that if we did lose some in the semifinals, those individuals would have to come back and take third place.“Prior to the semifinals, we talked about the work that was put in this year and that it was time to reach their goals. They had to wrestle hard for seven minutes, and, when possible, pick up some bonus points. Winning the team title was more important than winning individual titles for this team. When a team has that mentality, great things happen.”
Winning top individual honors for the Northern Lights were Caleb Schaeffer (at 133 pounds), Anthony Hauckenberry (149), Stryder Davis (157), Kyle Fisher (184) and Emmett Willson (197).
Willson was named the Outstanding Wrestling for the second straight year and Ray earned the distinction of being named Coach of the Year.
Schaeffer, a senior, earned first place with a 7-5 triumph over freshman teammate Chris Smith in the finals. Jesse Juarez and David Waters, both 174 pounders, placed fifth and eighth, respectively, for the Northern Lights. In NAIA competition, a school may enter more than one individual per weight class.
“Caleb had one goal this year and that was to be a national champion,” Ray said. “He was able to win the title this year by keeping focused and not panicking. His physical strength was a particular advantage for him over his opponents.”
The 149-pound class proved be an exciting one as Hauckenberry, a sophomore, defeated Menlo senior Danny Castillo, 11-9, in the championship round. Junior Tyler Moran from Embry Riddle placed third with an 8-5 win over William Penn sophomore Darren Cotton. Moran lost, 3-0, to Hauckenberry in the semifinals.
“There were about 8 to 10 individuals at 149 who could have won the title this year on a good day,” Ray said. “Good shots and position, along with the will to become a champion helped Anthony win a national title.”
Among the other Northern Lights champions, Davis, a junior, stood atop the podium after a 7-5 victory over Lindenwood sophomore Rocky Vercher in his championship bout.
In the championship at 184, Fisher, a senior, topped Southern Oregon sophomore David O’Brien, 11-9.
“Stryder is a very hard worker and one of the most determined young men that I’ve ever coached,” Ray said. “He is so intense that it affects his wrestling. He sometimes gets frustrated when things do not work as they should, but he will keep at it until it does.
“Kyle gets very nervous before his matches and that sometimes hinders his performance,” Ray said. “This week he was able to overcome his nervousness and keep the focus on his life-long dream of becoming a collegiate national champion.”
The last champion for the Northern Lights is perhaps the best 197-pounder in the collegiate ranks. Willson, a senior, won his third straight NAIA crown with 21-6 technical fall over Bacone senior Niko Koliastasis in the finals.
“Willson is the most accomplished wrestler that I’ve ever coached,” Ray said. “He was first at the Las Vegas Invitational, first at the Midlands this year and was selected for the (Division I) All-Star meet and won. Emmett finished the season with a record of 50-0. He is a very tenacious wrestler, always looking to score from any position. Just his presence brought an added confidence to the team.”
Menlo didn’t win the team title, but they did get to celebrate an individual champion as senior James Guizar earned a 6-2 victory over Dana’s Jason Lozier in the championship bout at 141 pounds.
Besides MSU-Northern, the only program with more than one champion was Southern Oregon. The Raiders got first-place finishes from senior Brian Wilson (165) and senior heavyweight Wes Balensifer. Southern Oregon was fourth in the team race with 97.5 total points.
Wilson dealt Missouri Valley’s Jory Dick a 11-4 defeat in the finals. Drew Dickerson (MVC) toppled Dana’s Leister Bowling in the battle to determine third place. Wilson downed Dickerson in the quarters (15-5) and Bowling (12-5) in the semis.
“Wilson brought one thing to the mat that made all of the difference in the world and that was hard work,” Southern Oregon head coach Mike Ritchey said. “He spent the past year working toward this moment. He set out a plan and followed it to a ‘T.’ He was rewarded for his efforts.
“He just outworked everyone and is a great wrestling story; small on talent, but big on heart.”
Balensifer picked up a first-place medal with a 4-2 decision over Simon Fraser’s Mikhail Abdul-Latif. Lindenwood’s Roger Miller beat Brandon Lemer (Jamestown), 11-2, in the consolation finals. Balensifer defeated Miller in the quarters and Lemer in the semis.
“Wes was fighting an abdominal virus and his effort was courageous,” Ritchey said. “Wes used a style of aggressive wrestling up until his illness on Friday night. He was then forced to slow down and pick his times to score. He played a little cat and mouse to pick up the victories.
“Only five members of our team had seen the national tournament before this year. Our young guys made some mistakes that cost them close matches. But we competed well and wrestled well so I am pleased. Having two national champions is a nice way to end a season.”
In a clash between a pair of Lindenwood athletes in the championship match at 125, Andrew Bradbury collected an 8-3 win over Ricky Guzman. Lindenwood was fifth overall with 96.5 team points.
Aaron Hartnell, a defending national champ from Mary, lost to Guzman in the quarterfinals, but battled back for third.
The title at 174 pounds went to Cumberland’s Thetlon Dentry, who downed Embry-Riddle’s David Rivera in their championship encounter. n