Thursday, July 16, 2020

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Montana Western

When wrestling fans think of NAIA wrestling in the state of Montana they often think of six time NAIA national champions Montana State Northern.  Yet at one time Montana was home to another great NAIA wrestling program, Montana Western. 

The Bulldogs produced a series of incredibly tough squads throughout the late 80's into the mid 90's when the program was dropped. This included eight top ten finishes at the NAIA tournament including three third place finishes & winning the 1994 NAIA team title.  In their final season of 1995-1996, they finished in seventh place. 


Troy Humphrey
126 lbs 

A state champion for Carrington High School, Humphrey started off his career at Montana State where he won a BIG SKY title. Forced to transfer after the discontinuation of Bobcat wrestling, Humphrey came to Montana Western.  Competing for the Bulldogs, he won an NAIA title in 1988. 

Post college Humphrey became head coach of Jefferson high School & later became a Deputy of Fish & Wildlife. 

Steve Meuer
126, 118 lbs  


A Washington native, Meuer was a two time state champion for Mead High School.  He began his career at North Idaho where he placed eighth at the 1986 NJCAA championships.  While wrestling for the Bulldogs Meuer took seventh at the 1989 NAIA tournament & was the runner up in 1990. 



Jim Putman
167 lbs 

Putman began his collegiate career at North Idaho where he was a two time NJCAA All American placing fourth in 1987 & runner-up honors in 1988.  He then transferred to Montana Western where he took runner-up honors at the NAIA tournament in 1989.  For his final season of competition Putman transferred to Boise State (Another program we no longer have) to wrestle for the Broncos.   

Today Putman is the senior Pastor of Real Life Ministries. 


Pat Whitcomb
190 lbs 

Whitcomb began his career at North Idaho where he won two NJCAA titles.  He then transferred to Oklahoma before transferring to Montana Western.  While competing for the Bulldogs he took runner-up honors at the 1989 NAIA championships.  

Post his collegiate career, Whitcomb became the head coach of North Idaho where he lead his team to four NJCAA titles & produced 18 individual NJCAA champions. 

Mick Cheff
190 lbs 


A transfer from Utah State (another program we have lost) Cheff never knew defeat during his time at Montana Western.  He went undefeated winning two NAIA titles in 1990 & 1991. 

Travis Williams


Williams won a NAIA title in 1991, finishing in fifth place in 1992. 

Jamie Kamberling
177, 190 lbs  

A native of the Hawkeye state, Kamberling won a state title for Lisbon High school before beginning his career at North Idaho where he placed seventh at the NJCAA tournament in 1990.  After transferring to Montana Western he placed sixth at the 1991 NAIA championships before being crowned champion in 1993.  

He later coached at Lisbon. 

Phil McCluskey
118 lbs 


McCluskey took runner-up honors in 1992. 

Ernest Molina
126 lbs 

Molina was an NAIA runner-up in 1992. 

Corey Bolton


Bolton was more known for his work on the gridiron,but he was a member of the Bulldog wrestling team.  As a football player he was All Conference, All District & NAIA honorable mention.  Within the conference he was named MVP with a total of 29 touchdowns & 986 yards rushing.  

Post college he went into the Army & later coached Football & wrestling while teaching English at Butte High School. 

Todd Goodwin
HWT 


Another wrestler that began his career at North Idaho where he placed fourth in 1990 at the NJCAA tournament.  Wrestling for the Bulldogs, Goodwin took third at the NAIA championships in 1992. 

Shawn Fossen
118 lbs 


If it isn't clear by now that North Idaho was a pipeline to Montana Western, here is yet another NJCAA All American (sixth in 1991)  that began his career wrestling for the Cardinals.  Transferring to Montana Western he finished as the NAIA runner-up in 1993, winning a national title in 1994. 

He later became a surgical technician in Great Falls. 

Paul Pownall
126 lbs 


Pownall got it done in the classroom & on the mat.  A three time All American, Pownall took sixth at the 1993 NAIA championships, finishing as the runner-up in 1994 & 1995.   A three time Academic All American, Pownall graduated with a 3.78 GPA. 

Post college he entered the Army & later became a Patrol Deputy. 

Larry Garrison
134 lbs  


Garrison won a national title in 1994. 

Rich Vasquez
142 lbs 


Vasquez won a NAIA title for the Bulldogs in 1994, finishing in third place in 1995.   

He later became head coach at Flathead High school & the representative for Montana USA Girl's wrestling. 

Jason Flaten 
177 lbs  


A graduate of Glasgow High school, Flaten placed third at the 1996 NAIA championships in 1996.  Forced to transfer, he then competed for Fresno State. 

Abe Boomer
HWT


Boomer was a two time state champion in Idaho, who originally began his career at the University of Wyoming where he won a Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title.  Wanting to also continue his football career, Boomer transferred to Montana wrestling for his final years of competition.  In the Bulldogs final year of wrestling, he placed third at the NAIA championships. 

He later became head coach at Butte. 

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