Northern assistant Fullhart representing U.S. on World Cup team

The season has ended for the Montana State University-Northern wrestlers. But for one assistant coach, the journey continues.

Lee Fullhart is on the road this weekend traveling to Spokane, Wash., to compete on the U.S. team at the 2002 World Cup Championships.

Fullhart, also a student at MSU-Northern, became a member of the Northern coaching staff in the fall of 2001 when Terry Brands also joined the program as an assistant coach. Fullhart came to Havre to train with Brands for the 2004 Olympics. Fullhart is a four-time All-American and a national champion from the University of Iowa.

Fullhart was training for the U.S. Open Wrestling Tournament, which will take place April 25-27 in Las Vegas, when he was asked to fill in for Brandon Eggum late last week. Eggum suffered an injury recently and withdrew from competition.

"This worked out perfectly for (Fullhart)," Lights head coach David Ray said. "It's a neat opportunity."

Fullhart placed second at the Dave Schultz Tournament in early January. His only loss came at the hands of a Russian wrestler in the finals. Fullhart, who will wrestle at 185 pounds, will have the chance to meet up with the Russian team again Sunday at 9 p.m.

Five teams will wrestle at the World Cup tournament, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Germany and Korea. Ray said Korea and Russia, along with the United States, usually bring very tough teams to the tournament. Teams receive invitations, asking them to attend the tournament.

"It's nice for Northern to get a little more recognition for a small college our size," Ray said. "It's good PR."

The U.S. team is in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, preparing for the tournament.

The U.S. team will take on Germany at 1 p.m. Saturday and Korea later at 8. On Sunday, the U.S. team will face Canada at 1 p.m. and Russia at 9.