Group includes three state champions, including Big Sandys Nelson
The Montana State University-Northern wrestling program recently added nine recruits to its roster, head coach David Ray announced.
Jeremy LaPorte of Flathead Valley High School in Kalispell is a transfer from the University of Wyoming and plans to wrestle at 125 pounds.
LaPorte, a business major, is a three-time Montana state placer who placed third his senior year. LaPorte is the son of Dave and Cheryl LaPorte of Kalispell.
Carl Valley of Taylorsville, Utah has also signed a NAIA national letter of intent to wrestle for the Lights. Valley is a two-time Utah state placer and intends to wrestle at 125 pounds.
Valley placed second and third in the National Junior College Championships in 1998 and 1999 and also placed seventh in the NCAA Division II national tournament in March 2001.
Valley is an education major.
Eric Dunmire, from Butte High School, is a transfer from the University of Northern Iowa and a four-time state champion who compiled a 152-2 high-school record.
Dunmire will wrestle at either 133 or 141 pounds and is majoring in education.
Joc Muir from Ronan also plans to join the Lights wrestling team this winter. Muir is a transfer from Dickinson State University.
Muir is a three-time Montana state placer and a NAIA national qualifier in 2001. He intends to wrestle at 141 pounds.
Muir, a diesel technology major, is the son of Dan and Kathy Muir of Ronan.
Tim Kaczmarek, Jr., from Skyview High School in Billings, is another Ray recruit and placed in state all four years of high school, winning the state championship his senior year.
Kaczmarek compiled a 137-41 overall record with a 42-2 record his senior year. He is slated to wrestle at 149 pounds.
Kaczmarek, the son of Tim and Susan Kaczmarek of Billings, plans to be an education major.
Big Sandy wrestler Lance Nelson also intends to join the Lights this year. Nelson placed second at state his sophomore year, third as a junior and won the state title his senior year.
Nelson's record was 39-1 his senior year and 120-29 overall. He plans to wrestle at 149 pounds.
Nelson is the son of Robert and Jane Nelson of Big Sandy and is a diesel technology major.
Ronald Oliver, from Madras High School in Madras, Ore., will also join the Lights wrestling team this winter. Oliver was a two-time state qualifier in Oregon and maintained a record of 31-7 his senior year.
Oliver, the son of Pam Watson and Jim Oliver of Madras, Ore., intends to wrestle at 165 pounds and plans to major in business.
Joel Stuker, from Fairfield High School, is a two-time Montana state placer who notched a 39-7 record his senior year.
Stuker hopes to wrestle at 197 pounds and plans to major in diesel technology.
Stuker is the son of John Stuker and Laura Hodges of Dupuyer.
Dusty Racine, a heavyweight wrestler from Browning, was a two-time Montana state placer, two-time C.M. Russell Christmas Classic Champion and National Cadet All-American in 1999.
Racine's record was 30-3 his senior year and 116-16 overall.
He is the son of Dan and Anne Racine of Browning and intends to major in auto mechanics.
