2008 51st Annual NAIA National Wrestling Championships: Argo Update from the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena, Sioux City, Iowa

Date: Thursday - Saturday, March 6-8, 2008

Argos claim 4th Place at the National Wrestling Tournament; Mike Kummer WINS 184 lb. individual title

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – (Saturday, March 8, 2008) – The University of Great Falls wrestling team came away from the 28-team 51st Annual National Wrestling Tournament on Saturday night with its best finish in school history. The Argos started out Saturday morning in second place but would wind up in 4th place and they were led by national champion Mike Kummer (184 lbs, Sr., Reno, NV).

Kummer, the former Simms, MT resident who attended high school in Reno, NV, won the 184 lb. title on Saturday night as he won by decision over Oklahoma City’s Mitchell Eichenauer 4-3. Cut Bank’s Alex Calvi claimed third place honors with his 11-5 victory over Lindenwood University’s Dennis Kakrah.

The Argos had two wrestlers who took second place including Wayne French (157 lbs., Sr., Malta, MT) who lost in the championship round to Notre Dame College’s Victer Crenshaw 7-2 and Brendon DeCock (174 lbs., So., Huntley, MT) fell to Lindenwood’s Matt Cauley in a major decision 22-8. Alex Calvi, a senior from Cut Bank, MT, took third place honors at 197 lbs. and Forrest Bouge (125 lbs., Sr., Elko, NV) and Brad Fraser (285 lbs., So., Spokane, WA) each took 8th place at the National Tournament. French, DeCock, Kummer and Calvi are All-Americans for the University of Great Falls. The top six in each weight class are selected as “All-Americans.” Forrest Bouge and Brad Fraser, who finished in eighth place in their weight classes, are “honorable mention” All-Americans.

The Argo Wrestlers finish with a 14-4 record in dual meets this season and finished first in the NAIA Western Regional Tournament that Great Falls hosted on February 23rd.

Congrats UGF Wrestlers!!

Championship: Team by Team Results  (PDF Format: You will need Adobe Acrobat to view results)

2008 All-Americans (By weight class) (PDF Format: You will need Adobe Acrobat to view results)

Official stats provided by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (http://www.naia.org)    

By: Kevin Scott

Argo wrestlers add three in-state recruits to their program

GREAT FALLS, MT (Monday, February 25, 2008) — The University of Great Falls men’s wrestling team has announced the signing of three Montana student-athletes to their program.

Ryan Leonard of Cascade-Simms, Michael Hader from Columbia Falls and Will McLaughlin from Boulder, Montana have signed NAIA letter-of-intents to join coach Caleb Schaeffer’s team for next season. “It’s the start of what I think will be the best recruiting class in UGF history,” said head coach Caleb Schaeffer.

Leonard has become only the 16th four-time state champion in Montana high school wrestling history. He recently finished up his mat career with only one loss with a record of 149-1. He won his final 91 high school matches and earned Class B-C championships in 98, 112, 125 and 130 pound weight classes.

“What Ryan Leonard brings is his will to win and his drive. He’s going to be top-notch,” said Schaeffer.

Michael Hader will join the University of Great Falls wrestling program next season from Columbia Falls High School in Columbia Falls, MT. Hader won the State A Championship as a junior and this year he finished in third place in his 152 pound weight class.

“Michael Hader knows how to wrestle. He’s a very fierce competitor. His up-side is huge.”

Will McLaughlin just finished off his prep career at Jefferson County High School in Boulder, Montana. At the recent Montana All-Class Wrestling Championships that were held recently in Billings, Montana, McLaughlin finished third in the Class B-C 125 pound weight class.

“Will McLaughlin is just starting to blossom as a wrestler. His best days are ahead of him,” said coach Schaeffer, the former Columbia Falls High star and MSU- Northern NAIA National Champion wrestler.

These are the first recruits to sign with the University of Great Falls wrestling team so far this season.

By: Kevin Scott

2008 NAIA Western Regional Wrestling Championships: Argo Update from the 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. For more information on this tournament, please click here. You can also find full results by clicking here.

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

By: Kevin Scott

NAIA Wrestling: Argo Update from Scott Gym, Dickinson, ND

#2 UGF Argos (14-4) vs. #4 Dickinson State University Blue Hawks

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Second-ranked Argos fall to fourth-ranked Dickinson State 28-11

DICKINSON, ND – (Wednesday, February 13, 2008) – The second-ranked University of Great Falls Argos wrestling fell Wednesday night to the Blue Hawks of Dickinson State at Scott Gym 28-11. The Blue Hawks are ranked fourth in this past week’s NAIA Wrestling poll.

Dickinson State won seven of the ten matches to secure the victory over Great Falls.

The Blue Hawks received wins from Cory Johnston, a senior from Glasgow, MT who defeated Forrest Bouge 3-1 at 125 lbs. in sudden-victory overtime, Eli Zuniga (Jr., Sunnyside, CA) pinned UGF’s Jason Harrington at 133 lbs. in 7:53, Nate Schweitzer (So., Velva, ND) took a 12-8 decision over Brody Verrall at 141, and Stanton Schlecht (Jr., Whitewood, SD) defeated Malta native Michael French at 165 lbs.

The Argos top wrester at 157 lbs., Wayne French (Sr., Malta, MT) won by technical fall over DSU’s Nick Zumwalt (Fr., Spokane, WA) and Augusta, MT freshman Ross Mosher took an 11-6 victory at 149 lbs. Meanwhile, Mike Kummer (184 lbs.) blanked his opponent 6-0. At 197 lbs., Cut Bank’s Alex Calvi with an individual record of 24-7 lost to Matt Michaelson (Sr., Dickinson, ND) 4-2.

UGF’s Brad Fraser, the second-ranked wrestler from Spokane, WA, fell in a 9-4 decision to Justin Schlecht (Sr., Whitewood, SD) in their heavyweight bout. Schlecht usually wrestles at 197 lbs. but moved up to heavyweight for this match.

Last Wednesday, Boise State University (Division I) defeated the Argos 26-12 in Boise, Idaho.

To read more about the matches, please see “Additional Game Summaries” below.

Great Falls, the second-ranked team in the NAIA, will play host to the 2008 NAIA Western Regional Wrestling Tournament slated for Saturday, February 23, 2008 at the UGF McLaughlin Center.

Full results are below.

Official stats provided by the Dickinson State University Athletic Department (http://www.dickinsonstate.edu/athletics.asp)    

By: Kevin Scott

NAIA Wrestling: Argo Update from the Bronco Gym, Boise, ID

#2 UGF Argos (14-3) vs. Boise State University Broncos

Friday, February 8, 2008

Attendance: 425

Boise State upends Argo grapplers 26-12

BOISE, ID – (Friday, February 8, 2008) – The University of Great Falls Argos wrestling team headed to Boise, ID for a showdown with NCAA opponent, Boise State University in a dual match on Friday night in the Bronco Gym in front of 425 fans.

The Argos jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over the Broncos thanks to Forrest Bogue who defeated Boise State’s Alan Bartelli 7-4 at 125 lbs. Then the Broncos’ Cory Smith won by major decision over Jason Harrington at 133 and BSU led 4-3. Simms native Spencer Griffiths defeated Eli Hutchison at 141lbs. and Ross Mosher pinned Cody Bender at 149 lbs.

The NAIA’s top wrester at 157 lbs., Wayne French (Sr., Malta, MT) fell to Boise State’s Tyler Sherfey 13-6 and his brother, Michael (Junior) was defeated by Kurt Swartz (165 lbs.) by a 2-0 decision. Mike Kummer (184 lbs.) fell 5-2 to the Kirk Smith and Alex Calvi was pinned by Matt Casperson at 197 lbs.

UGF’s Brad Fraser, the second-ranked wrestler from Spokane, WA, defeated Nick Smith 3-1 in their heavyweight bout.

Great Falls would lead 12-11 but Boise State battled back to win 26-12.

Great Falls, the second-ranked team in the NAIA, will be back in action on Wednesday night when they head to Dickinson, ND to face Dickinson State at 5:00 PM. This year, the Argos will play host to the 2008 NAIA Western Regional Wrestling Tournament slated for Saturday, February 23, 2008.

Full results are below.

Official stats provided by the Boise State University Athletic Department (http://www.broncosports.com)    

By: Kevin Scott

NAIA Wrestling: Argo Update from the Armory Gym, Havre, MT

#3 UGF Argos (14-2) vs. #6 MSU-Northern Lights

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Third-ranked Argos sweep the sixth-ranked MSU-Northern Lights in season duals 22-12

HAVRE, MT – (Wednesday, February 6, 2008) – The University of Great Falls Argos wrestling team swept their only in-state wrestling rival, MSU-Northern 22-12 at the Armory Gym on the campus of MSU-Northern on Wednesday night in front of more than 500 spectators. Earlier in the season, UGF defeated the Lights 34-6 at the McLaughlin Center.

Augusta, MT native Ross Mosher defeated Mike McPeak from MSU-Northern in the 149 lb. weight class 14-4 and Simms, MT native Spencer Griffiths won by decision over MSU-Northern’s Colt Heger 6-3 at 141 lbs.

Malta’s Wayne French (157 lbs), Cut Bank’s Alex Calvi (197 lbs.) and Brad Fraser, a heavyweight from Spokane, WA each picked up wins by decision for the Argos and Ryan Smith (174 lbs.) from Arlee, MT won by forfeit over his unnamed opponent.

Last year, UGF came away with a 28-13 victory in Great Falls and then MSU-Northern edged UGF 19-16 in Havre, MT.

Great Falls, the third-ranked team in the NAIA, improves to 14-2 in dual matches on the season. This year, the Argos will play host to the 2008 NAIA Western Regional Wrestling Tournament slated for Saturday, February 23, 2008. But before that, Great Falls and MSU-Northern will tangle with NCAA Division I opponent, Boise State University on Friday night. The Argos will be on the mat at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Lights at 7:00 p.m. in duals. The Argos are also in action next Wednesday (February 13) as they head to Dickinson, North Dakota to face Dickinson State at 5:00 PM.

Full results are below.