Lights dominate Western Wyoming

Less than a week removed from their first dual loss of the season at the hands of the Boise State Broncos, the Montana State University-Northern Lights wrestling team got back to doing what they do best.

The Lights dominated Western Wyoming College 43-7 in dual action Thursday night at the MSU-Northern gymnasium.

"Overall I thought it was a good dual for us," said MSU-Northern veteran head coach David Ray. "There were a couple of matches that we needed to be better, but overall I thought the guys wrestled pretty well."

Early on it appeared that the Lights might shut out the overwhelmed Spartans. Western Wyoming forfeited the 125-pound match which the Lights' Caleb Schaeffer followed up with a dominant performance at 133 pounds.

Schaeffer pinned Western's Lyle Evans at the 5:48 mark of the match, and was already leading 12-0 at the time of the fall.

Chris Smith matched Schaeffer's win by making quick work of Mark Fisher at 141 pounds and scoring a win by fall of his own. Smith pinned Fisher in the first minute of the match.

In the 149 pound match, Anthony Haukenberry continued to look strong for the Lights. Haukenberry was able to add to his 4-0 lead after two periods and turn the win into a 11-0 major decision.

Haukenberry's win coupled with a forfeit win at 157 pounds gave the Lights a commanding 28-0 lead after just three matches.

"I thought all of our guys looked really good in the first three matches," Ray said. "Caleb and Chris Smith wrestled especially well."

At 165 pounds, the Spartans were able to finally get on the board as Nick Larson earned a major decision over the Lights' Aaron Jensen, 12-1.

Western's Mike Casperson followed that up with a hardfought 8-7 win over third-ranked Jesse Juarez.

Jaurez was leading 7-6 after two periods, but Casperson was holding the riding time advantage. When he earned a one-point escape with less than a minute remaining in the match, he was able to hold on for the decision.

"There is no doubt that Jesse could have won that match," Ray said. "I just don't think he wrestled a very smart match. Jesse has to understand that he can't underestimate his opponent and he can't let up at any time. He has to be ready for a battle every time he goes out there."

Despite Western's two wins, the Lights were still never threatened in the dual. Still leading 28-7, top-ranked Kyle Fisher dismantled Luke Kjar at 184 pounds. Fisher scored multiple points in every period on his way to a 13-1 major decision.

Mazi Burke followed Fisher's win with a win at 197, pinning Colt Hamilton at the 3:30 mark of his match.

In the heavyweight match, undefeated phenom Emmett Willson put on a technical clinic against Western's John Fager. Despite giving away 46 pounds to Fager, Willson earned a myriad of takedowns in every period.

By the time the match ended, Willson had racked up 26 points to Fager's nine. The wide margin gave Willson a win by technical fall.

"Kyle Fischer and Mazi Burke both wrestled at a really high level tonight," Ray said. "And Emmett was just as solid. He was giving up a lot of weight, but he was still very tough from start to finish."

The Lights will be back in action tonight when they host the North Idaho College Cardinals in dual action at 7:30 p.m. at the MSU-Northern Fieldhouse. The Cardinals are currently ranked fourth in the latest NJCAA wrestling poll.

MSU-Northern 43, Western Wyoming College 7

125 - Jason Harrington won by forfeit 133 - Caleb Schaeffer, MSUN, pinned Lyle Evans, WWC, 5:48 141 - Chris Smith, MSUN, pinned Mark Fisher, WWC, :59 149 - Anthony Haukenberry, MSUN, Maj. dec. Randy Nelson, WWC, 11-0 157 - Stryder Davis, MSUN, won by forfeit 165 - Nick Larson, WWC, Maj. dec. Aaron Jensen, MSUN, 12-1 174 - Mike Casperson, WWC, dec. Jesse Juarez, MSUN, 8-7 184 - Kyle Fischer, MSUN, Maj. dec. Luke Kjar, WWC, 13-1 197 - Mazi Burke, MSUN, pinned Colt Hamilton, WWC, 3:30 HWT - Emmett Willson, MSUN, Tech. Fall John Fager, WWC, 26-9.

MSU-Northern vs. North Idaho College

125 - Jason Harrington vs. Tyson Hintz or Burke Barnes

133 - Caleb Schaffer vs. Damon Rowe

141 - Chris Smith vs. Derek Kippperberg

149 - Anthony Haukenberry vs.Quinton Moreno

157 - Stryder Davis vs. Niko van Wyngaardt

165 - Aaron Jensne vs. Tyson Hurst

174 - Jesse Juarez vs. Kyle Frawley

184 - Kyle Fisher vs. Blair Alderman

197 - Mazi Burke vs. J.B. Plato

HWT - Emmett Willson vs Israel Silva