BIG VALLEY
Missouri Valley looks to overcome Montana-State Northern in NAIA race
The 2003-2004 season was truly a magnificent time to be a part of the Montana-State Northern wrestling family. To briefly sum it up, the Northern Lights captured the team title at the NAIA Championships by a comfortable margin, crowning an astounding five champions along the way.
And in an announcement that caused members of the collegiate community at all levels to stand up and take notice, Emmett Willson earned the Dan Hodge Award. Willson was 50-0 at 197 and won three straight NAIA championships.
Of course, that was then and this is now.
Can the Northern Lights repeat" Quite possibly, they still have the experience, talent and leadership needed to get the job done.
But with the amount of quality athletes spread out amongst the top tier programs, it’s somewhat hard to imagine another 35-point victory at the championship meet in 2005.
MSU-Northern lost three of its five NAIA champions from last year’s team: Caleb Schaeffer (133), Kyle Fisher (184) and Willson.
Returning as champs for the Northern Lights are junior 149-pounder Anthony Haukenberry and senior 157-pounder Stryder Davis. Chris Smith, a runner-up as a freshman to Schaeffer at last year’s nationals, could go 133 or 141.
Jesse Juarez, a senior who was fifth at 174 last season, is looking to open some eyes as a 184-pounder.
Brian Luna (133) a former NCAA Div. II standout and Chase Gormley (heavyweight), a former junior college star, could provide some considerable depth for the defending champs.
"This team is not different (from prior squads) in wanting to go undefeated in dual meets, place in the top 15 in Las Vegas and at the Midlands," head coach David Ray said. "We want to win the Region title and the National Tournament."
Ray lists Missouri Valley and Lindenwood University amongst roughly a half dozen teams that could contend when the 2005 NAIAs get underway, Mar. 4, in Sioux City, Iowa.
He also included a team that has been very much in the hunt in recent years.
"Menlo College is a team that has been overlooked the last two year’s and finished fourth and second (respectively)," Ray said. "They will definitely be a threat."
Menlo, the team that placed just behind the Northern Lights at the nationals, lost high-caliber wrestlers such as national champ James Guizar (141), runner-up Danny Castillo (149) and All-Americans Ricky Aguirre (125) and Eddie Lucatero (165). They should remain strong, however, thanks in part to a pair of returning All-Americans in juniors Artem Krylov (157) and Marcus Andy (197).
Menlo also brings in some successful junior college athletes in Juan Roman (149), Mariano Sanchez (197) and heavyweight Jacob Hallmark. Justin Flores enters as a transfer from Nebraska.
"I feel like we have pretty good balance and more quality depth than we’ve ever had," Menlo head coach Keith Spataro said. "If I had to say where we were the strongest, it would be from 133-157 and 184 to heavyweight. I wouldn’t say that we have any weak spots at all, but certainly unproven. Our 125-, 165- and 174- pounders need to prove themselves.
"We would like to stay in the top five, but with so many unprovens and the rest of the teams returning such strong groups, it will take a great effort."
One of the teams that Spataro mentioned as returning a strong group is Dana College. Dana brings back a string of All-Americans, including seniors Brian Tsutsumi (133) and Leister Bowling (165), juniors Jason Lozier (141) and Chris Egan (184) and sophomore Terrance Almond (141),
Dante Lewis (125), Jimmy Rollins (133) and Blair Alderman (184-197) could also make some noise this year.
"The strength of our line-up is experience," Dana head coach Steve Costanzo said. "We have all but one starter, two-time All-American Wynn Fangmeier, returning. We believe that we could be in the hunt for a trophy at this years national tournament. We will expect nothing less."
In the eyes of some in the know, Missouri Valley College could be the top team when all is said and done in Sioux City on Mar. 5. The Vikings appear loaded with a line-up that features a slew of athletes who have placed at the NAIAs.
Senior Tyson Biddle (141), a champ in 2003, is back as is senior Josh Pulsifer (141/149), who was the runner-up to Biddle that year.
Seniors Mario Thomas (4th at 184), Donaco Watts (3rd at 157) and Gilbert Jones (5th at heavyweight), juniors Jory Dick (2nd at 165) and Kiel Geise (4th at 174) and sophomores Darion Terry (5th at 157) and Shane Hall (6th at 197) were All-Americans for MVC last season.
Seniors Shane Cristelli (149), Adam Nuru (Hwt) and sophomore Josh Johnston (165) were All-Americans for the Vikings in 2003.
Nate Engel, a transfer from William Penn is the new 125-pounder and Paul Collum, a former junior college standout, could be at 133.
"We would like to go undefeated in dual meets, win our ninth regional title in 11 years and win our fourth national championship as a program, sending our seniors out on a winning note," MVC head coach Mike Machholz said.