Northern adds three out-of-state wrestlers

The Montana State University-Northern Lights wrestling team has added three out-of-state recruits to its roster David Waters, Anthony Haukenberry and Matt Schuster.

Waters is a 5-foot-8, 178-pound wrestler from Sequim High School in Part Angeles, Wash., who placed fifth at the state wrestling tournament as a senior. He compiled a 33-7 record his senior year.

"I think David will get a lot better in our program," Lights head coach David Ray said. "He's a strong and physical kid."

Waters won the Sierra Nevada Classic this year. The Sierra Nevada Tournament hosts more than 80 high schools from all over the country.

Ray said he expects to redshirt Waters in his first season with the Lights. Waters is expected to add depth to the Lights at 165 pounds.

Waters plans to major in physical education and fine arts.

Haukenberry is a two-time state champion from White River High School in Buckley, Wash. White River, a Class AAA high school, which placed second as a team in the state tournament.

Haukenberry, who is 5-feet-10, 158 pounds, had a 63-2 overall record during his junior and senior years and a 119-14 overall record. He also defeated the Class 4A state champion twice during his senior and junior years.

"He's talented and he's a go-er. He's a fierce competitor and he goes hard," Ray said. "He's a great kid and we're very lucky. I was very fortunate to pick up this young man."

Haukenberry placed first at the Western Junior Regional Tournament this year in greco and fourth in freestyle.

He plans to major in civil engineering and will likely redshirt this upcoming season. He will then wrestle at either 141 or 149 pounds for Northern.

Schuster comes to Northern from Franklin High School in Reisterstown, Md.

Schuster will also redshirt his first year and then will wrestle at 133 or 141 pounds.

Schuster stands at 5-foot-7 and weighs 145 pounds. He compiled a 130-10 overall record in high school and won the state championship as a freshman and a senior. He also has second- and third-place finishes at the state tournament in his sophomore and junior years, respectively.

Schuster showed interest in Northern during his junior year, Ray said, and maintained contact with the school throughout the following seasons. Schuster and his father have traveled to Montana a few times before and like the area, especially fly-fishing, Ray said.

"He's tough, he's got the ability and skills and he's a great kid," Ray said. "He's got some great techniques. He's a true competitor."

Schuster is undecided on his major.

The Lights have 17 wrestlers returning from last year's team. Ray has signed about nine new recruits for next year and hopes to sign about six more this summer.

Lee Fullhart, an assistant coach for the Lights last season, has also been busy training for the Olympic team.

Fullhart is in Colorado Springs, Colo., and is expected to return to Montana early next week. He has also had stops in Chattanooga, Tenn, Iowa City, Iowa, and Stillwater, Okla., on his training circuit.

Fullhart will wrestle June 21-22 at the World Trials in St. Paul, Minn., against six to eight other wrestlers in the 185-pound weight class. Fullhart holds the No. 1 seed entering the tournament.

The winner of the mini-tournament will face the top wrestler in the weight class for a chance to compete in the World Championships in late September or early October. The top wrestler in the 185-pound weight class is Cael Sanderson from Iowa.