Lights among NAIA's best

After a weekend of triumphs and a thrilling dual in Ashland, Ore., the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team remaining the No. 4 team in the NAIA, and the Lights are part of a Top 5, which features three Western Region teams.

The new NAIA Coaches Poll was released earlier this week, with the Lights remaining at No. 4, while UGF stayed at No. 3 and Southern Oregon still at No. 2. All three teams are in the same region, while Grand View remained atop the poll for the second straight

Montana State University-Northern's Toby Cheff, top, holds down a North Idaho wrestler during a dual match back in October in Havre. Cheff and the Lights are currently ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, while the freshman from Ronan has risen to No. 8 in the nation at 197 pounds.

week.

Individually, the Lights have six nationally-ranked wrestlers with Ethan Hinebauch still ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds. Kody Reed remaining No. 2 at 184 and Max Payne staying at No. 3 at 174 pounds. Redshirt-freshman Toby Cheff moved up one spot to No. 8 at 197 pounds, while former Ronan teammate Cameron Neiss is ranked sixth at 133. Sophomore Hunter Azure is ranked 10th at 141 pounds.

SOU has an impressive four wrestlers ranked No. 1 at their respective weight classes. Mitchell Lofstedt, who hasn't lost an NAIA match since his freshman season, is ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds, while Prescott Garner is No. 1 at 133, Jimmy Eggemeyer is tops at 149 and Brock Gutches is the top-ranked 174-pounder.

Former Havre High great Myles Mazurkiewicz is still No. 1 at 141 pounds. Mazurkiewicz is having an outstanding senior year for UGF, which has 12 wrestlers nationally ranked this week.

The Lights are on an extended holiday break after returning home from a grueling road trip last weekend, which saw them lost at SOU, dominate Simpson University, and have a strong showing at the Reno Tournament of Champions. Northern returns to action Jan. 12-13 at the NAIA National Duals in Springfield, Ill.

The Lights also wrap up their home schedule with a dual against Western Wyoming Jan. 16.

NAIA Wrestling Poll

Rank Prvs. Points

1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 148

2 2 Southern Oregon 139.5

3 6 Great Falls (Mont.) 102

4 4 MSU-Northern 75

5 9 Missouri Valley 74

6 4 Campbellsville (Ky.) 71

7 13 Oklahoma City 65

8 11 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 61

9 5 Morningside (Iowa) 59

10 9 Dickinson State 48

11 11 Baker (Kan.) 46.5

12 11 Cumberlands (Ky.) 42.5

13 16 Indiana Tech 42

13 12 Missouri Baptist 42

15 17 Midland (Neb.) 40

16 11 Menlo (Calif.) 35

17 17 Cumberland (Tenn.) 24

18 20 York (Neb.) 23

19 17 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 22.5

20 18 Bacone (Okla.) 17

Others receiving votes: Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 16; Waldorf (Iowa) 16; Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 13; Northwestern (Iowa) 9.5; Life (Ga.) 9; Calumet (Ind.) 4.5; Concordia (Neb.) 4; Hastings (Neb.) 4; St. Andrews (N.C.) 4; Jamestown (N.D.) 3.5; Simpson (Calif.) 2.5; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 1.5.