Lights wrestling team adds three new recruits for fall

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team received three letters of intent Monday, head coach David Ray said.

Andrew Leichtnam, of Hotsprings, compiled a 33-0 recored with 30 pins his senior year at Plains High School. He also won the individual state title as a heavyweight last February.

In 2001, Leichtnam placed second at heavyweight with a 34-1 record, again pinning 30 opponents. His overall high school record was 113 wins and 19 losses, with 91 pins.

Leichtnam is a three-time state placer and placed sixth as a sophomore.

"Andrew is someone we are preparing in couple of years to step in and make an impact immediately," Lights head coach David Ray said. "He has the technique and strength to be a great heavyweight."

Trevor Kaczmarek will join his brother Tim on the Northern squad this fall. Trevor Kaczmarek wrestled for state power Skyview High School and won state titles his junior and senior year and finished third as a sophomore. He finished with a 36-1 record with 18 pins in 2002. His overall record was 126 wins and 30 losses.

In 2001 and 2002, Kaczmarek was voted the Skyview Wrestling team's outstanding wrestler.

"Trevor is very talented and will impose a big threat for the starting position at either 133 or 141 pounds," Ray said. "Our goal is to red-shirt Trevor this 2002-03 season. He definitely will help give us quality depth in the room."

Northern's third recruit is Jacob Scoles of Potlatch, Idaho. Scoles is a four-time state placer with two second-place finishes, one third and one sixth during his high school career.

Ray said Scoles will compete at either 133 or 141 pounds.

"He is very raw and has not had the coaching that most high school athletes with his success have had, which shows he has a lot of desire and ambition," Ray said. "I think Jacob will improve tremendously in the Northern practice room, considering he only had four team members this year and eight last year at his high school"

Scoles' overall record was 131 wins and 27 losses. He had 70 wins and 11 losses during the 2001 and 2002 seasons.