2008 NAIA Western Regional Wrestling Championships: UGF McLaughlin Center, Great Falls, MT

Date: Saturday, February 23, 2008

Hosted By: University of Great Falls

2008 Western Regional Preview: Provided by Great Falls Tribune

Argos capture their second consecutive Western Regional Championship;

Alex Calvi and Wayne French take home individual championships

GREAT FALLS, MT – (Saturday, February 23, 2008) – The University of Great Falls Argos hosted the 2008 Western Regional Wrestling Championships on Saturday at the McLaughlin Center as the fourth-ranked team in the NAIA. The tournament rotates every year between the six schools that make up the Western Region including Simon Fraser (B.C.), Embry-Riddle (AZ), Southern Oregon, MSU-Northern, Menlo (CA) College, and this year’s host, the University of Great Falls.

The Argos have fared well this season in the UGF McLaughlin Center and Saturday was no different as the University of Great Falls captured their second consecutive Western Regional Wrestling team championship as they had 10 Argo wrestlers that placed in the top four. The four top wrestlers in each weight class will compete at the 51st Annual NAIA National Wrestling Championships on March 6-8, 2008 in Sioux City, Iowa. The Argos that are slated to attend include Forrest Bouge, Spencer Griffiths, Ross Mosher, Wayne French, Michael French, Brendon DeCock, Mike Kummer, Alex Calvi, Robert Hazenburg, and Brad Fraser.

At the 157 lb. championship, Wayne French (Sr., Malta, MT) defeated Menlo’s Lee Morrison (Jr., Okanogan, WA) 14-2 in a major decision. Great Falls’ Alex Calvi (So., Cut Bank, MT) captured the 197 lb. title with a 8-2 decision over Southern Oregon’s Chase Locke (Jr., West Linn, OR). The Argos had three who receive runner-up honors including Augusta, MT native Ross Moss (Freshman, 149 lbs.) who fell to MSU-Northern’s Byron Kuylen (So. Sidney, MT) by a 7-1 decision. Brendon DeCock (So., Huntley, MT) also captured second place at 174 lbs. as he lost to Embry-Riddle’s Hayden Harrison (Jr., McKean, PA). Mike Kummer (Sr., Reno, NV) also lost his championship match to Calvin DeVault (Sr., Temecula, CA) who pinned him in 1:20. DeVault was also voted on by the coaches as this year’s Western Regionals Outstanding Wrestler.

Third place honors for the Argos include Forrest Bouge (Sr., Elko, NV) at 125 lbs., Simms native and UGF senior Spencer Griffiths at 141 lbs., Michael French (Fr., Malta, MT) at 165 lbs. and heavyweight Brad Fraser from Spokane, WA.

Meanwhile, MSU-Northern’s Corey Borges defeated Menlo’s Jose Hernandez at 125 lbs. and his teammate Byron Kuylen (149 lbs.) each claimed individual titles. Embry-Riddle, who finished in fifth place at the tournament, took home three individual titles followed by Menlo (CA) College, MSU-Northern and UGF with two champions. Southern Oregon had one champion and Simon Fraser (B.C.) had their two regional qualifiers finish in fifth and sixth place.

The total attendance for the one-day event was over 600.

Official stats provided by the University of Great Falls Athletic Department (http://www.ugf.edu/goargos)