Lights back on their own mats Saturday night

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team has endured some difficult times i over the last month. Yet, the Lights are still one of the top teams in the NAIA, and they can prove that again this weekend.

The No. 3 Lights are home Saturday night to dual Western Region rival Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Saturday’s dual is the first of what is two final home duals for the Lights. MSU-N will wrap up the regular season with its annual showdown with the Great Falls Argos on Feb. 12.

The Eagles, from Phoenix, Ariz., are making just their second trip to Havre, and though they haven’t been a factor on the national scene this season, being a region rival, they’ll certainly present the Lights with a stiff test Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Northern will still be a bit short-handed with its lineup but the Lights do get back 125-pounder Riley Miller, which will be key. Miller filled in nicely for the injured Aaron LaFarge at the NAIA National Duals earlier this month, but then he missed three duals himself, leaving MSU-N to forfeit the spot. Miller will wrestle ERAU’s Sean Silva tonight in what will be a key match.

Tonight’s dual will be as close to full strength as the Lights have been in weeks. Northern will only forfeit the 149-pound match, but that will be offset by ERAU giving up a forfeit in the heavyweight bout. The rest of the lower weight matches will see freshman Doug O’Hara taking on ERAU’s Andrew Burr at 133 pounds, No. 4 Cameron Neiss battling Trace Gutknecht of ERAU at 141 and fourth-ranked Mickey Cheff taking on the Eagles’ Matt Coultas at 157 pounds.

In the upper weights, where the Lights have really been so dominant this season, No. 2 Ethan Hinebauch takes on Jesse Routsang at 165 pounds, No. 5 Jared Miller, who’s really been on a roll of late, will face off with Jose Cruz at 174, sixth-ranked Kody Reed will square off with Brandon Foster at 184 and second-ranked Toby Cheff will round out the dual with a match against Troy Kilgore at 197 pounds.

Saturday’s dual is a big one for the Lights as they prepare for the upcoming Western Regional Qualifier later this month in California. So facing a region opponent is a great way to get ready for the regional, where only four wrestlers from each weight class are assured spots to the national tournament.

The dual between MSU-N and ERAU will start at 7 p.m. at the Armory Gymnasium. The Eagles wrestle UGF tonight in Great Falls.