Lights start strong on the mat

In wrestling or any sport for that matter, practicing and scrimmaging against your teammates gets old and eventually, you just need to face an opponent, regardless of who they are. That is what the Montana State University-Northern wrestling must of felt going into the Northwest Open.

In their first live action of the season, the Lights put together a solid performance, placing a number of wrestlers in the top four in their weight classes at the Northwest Open in Powell, Wyoming Saturday.

The tournament featured a number of other top programs including the University of Great Falls, one of MSU-N's Frontier Conference rivals, as well as North Idaho and the University of Wyoming.

The Lights more than held their own against some solid competition and the top performers for Northern were Ethan Hinebauch and Willie Miller, who each took first in their respective weight classes.

Hinebauch, who wrestles at 165 pounds, defeated Jordan Cooks of North Idaho to earn the individual title, while Miller knocked off Johnathen Dennis of North Idaho to finish first in the 184-pound weight class.

At 174 pounds, Northern's Jared Miller wrestled for an individual title but had to settle for second-place after being defeated by UGF's Shawn Lau. Garrett DeMers finished third for the Lights at 197 pounds following his victory over fourth-place finisher Tristian Baus of UGF.

Rounding things out for the Lights was Caesar Montes finishing fourth for Northern at 141 pounds and Drew Randall, who also came in fourth at 149 pounds.

Next up for the Lights will be the Trapper Open, which will take place on Wednesday again in Powell, Wyoming. Then, on Thursday the Lights will compete against Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyoming before finishing the week next Saturday at the Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyoming.

Northwest College Open

at Powell, Wyo.

Individual order of finish

125: Michael Nguyen, North Idaho; Ronald Wardleigh, Western Wyoming; Isaac Jimenez, Air Force Prep; Gunnar Woodburn, Wyoming.

133: Deondre Wilson, North Idaho; PT Garcia, Wyoming; Eduardo Pehna, Northwest College; John Twomey, Air Force Prep.

141: Michael Ruiz, UGF; John-David Henderson, Northwest College; Bryce Weatherston, North Idaho; Caesar Montes, MSU Northern.

149: Jake Elliott, Wyoming; Jeff McCormick, Northwest College; Austin Breckenridge, Wyoming; Drew Randall, MSU Northern.

157: Archie Colgan, Wyoming; Kyle Pope, Wyoming; Tanner Miller, Wyoming; Chad Cebulski, UGF.

165: Ethan Hinebauch, MSU Northern; Jordan Cooks, North Idaho; Dajour Reece, North Idaho; Tyler McLean, North Idaho.

174: Shawn Lau, UGF; Jared Miller, MSU Northern; Luke Paine, Wyoming; Colby Barlocker, Western Wyoming.

184: Willie Miller, MSU Northern; Johnathen Dennis, North Idaho; Cruz Del Angel, North Idaho; Taylor Vaughn, UGF.

197: Anthony McLaughlin, Air Force Prep; Jonathan Wixom, Northwest College; Garrett DeMers, MSU Northern; Tristian Baus, UGF.

Hwt.: T2 Jaydn Wilson, UGF; T2, Dylan Lemery, UGF; 3, Taylor Kornoely, North Idaho; 4, Logan Sharp, Air Force Prep.