Name: Tyson Thivierge
Hometown: Clarkston, Washington
Class: Senior
School: MSU-Northern
Sport: Wrestling
Montana State University-Northern wrestler Tyson Thivierge went into last weekend's NAIA National Wrestling Tournament with one goal in mind finally get the championship he had fallen short of three previous years.
Not only did Thivierge win the championship, but he did so in a commanding fashion. Thivierge stopped a streak of second-place finishes with a 20-6 win over Embry-Riddle's Will McCleve. After his win, Thivierge ran into the crowd to thank his supporters.
"This crowd has shed as many tears as I have these last four years," Thivierge, who finished his final season with a 46-3 record said. "I finally got over that last hump and got the monkey off my back."
For his superior efforts at the tournament, Thivierge was awarded the Gorrarian Award for outstanding wrestler of the meet.
Name: Emmett Willson
Hometown: Shepherd, Montana
Class: Sophomore
School: MSU-Northern
Sport: Wrestling
Sophomore Emmett Willson's win last weekend at the NAIA National Wrestling Tournament marked the fifth consecutive year the title at the 197-pound weightclass has belonged to Montana State University-Northern.
Willson faced probably the most banged up wrestler in the championship round, and despite numerous stoppages early, easily defeated Michael Sills from Southern Oregon 8-3.
Willson's win brought the second individual title home for the Lights. Willson, who said he was anxiously awaiting the end of the match, described his emotions as the final buzzer rang.
"It means a lot," he said. "You work all year, you work hard for it and to finally get what you want is incredible."
Willson finished the season with a 43-5 record.
