Three Northern legends honored by the NAIA

There’s no denying the greatness of the Montana State University-Northern, and formerly, the Northern Montana College wrestling program in the annals of collegiate wrestling history.

And to prove that greatness, one needs look no further than the 2016-17 NAIA Hall of Fame Class, which includes three Lights legends.

The NAIA announced the class on Thursday, a class that includes former Northern coaching great David Ray, as well as two of the best two ever wear a singlet at Northern in Turk Lords and Emmett Willson.

Ray led Northern to four team championships, including its last in 2004. He also coached 21 individual national champions, and 83 different All-Americans during his brilliant MSU-N career.

Lords, an in-state product from Great Falls, was a remarkable four-time NAIA national champion for the Lights. He won his consecutive titles from 1998-2001, while compiling a record of 126 wins against just 10 losses, with 50 pins.

Willson, a native of Shepherd, won three straight titles for the Lights, from 2002-2004, while also being a four-time All-American. Willson tallied 163 victories at Northern, which is second all-time, to go along with 59 pins. In his senior season, Willson was named the Dan Hodge Award winner, an award that goes to the top collegiate wrestler in the country, regardless of classification.

The NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame ceremony will take place March 4 in Topeka, Kansas, as part of the 2017 NAIA national tournament.