KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Former Montana State University Northern head wrestling coach David Ray will be inducted into the NAIA hall of fame. The organization announced the news on Thursday.
Ray led the Lights to four NAIA national championships, including three consecutive titles from 1998-2000. MSU-Northern also won a national championship in 2004. Ray was named national coach of the year in each of the four seasons.
During his career, Ray posted a record of 158-96-5. He had a four-year stint with Southern Illinois Edwardsville before retiring.
Joining Ray in the NAIA hall of fame is former Lights national champion Turk Lords. One of the most decorated wrestlers in MSU-Northern history, Lords was named the NAIA wrestler of the year in 2001. The four-time national champion finished his career with a record of 126-10 and was an all-American for four consecutive seasons.
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Lords was inducted into the MSU-Northern hall of fame in 2013 and continues to coach wrestling
Lords’ former teammate, Emmett Willson, was also recognized with a hall of fame honor from the NAIA. Willson went 163-16 during his MSU-Northern career and finished third in the nation as a freshman before placing first place in his final three seasons.
Willson earned the 2004 Dan Hodge award for being named the most outstanding wrestler of the year. He was inducted into the MSU-Northern hall of fame in 2014.
