Lights ready to own the Armory

The Montana State University-Northern Lights wrestled their first dual of the season in the hostile environment that is the McLaughlin Center at Providence College. The Lights didn't come away with a victory on that night.

However, they plan to come away with one tonight, and for the first time this season Northern is on its own mat.

Tonight, the No.12 Lights make their Armory Gymnasium debut when they battle the Warner Pacific Knights in a Cascade Conference dual. The match is set to start at 7.

And the Lights bring some good momentum into tonight's home-opener, after having gotten so many outstanding performances at last Sunday's Trapper Open.

"The guys are wrestling really well and making big strides," MSU-N head coach Tyson Thivierge said.

Strides indeed. Northern's young team is progressing at a rapid rate. And while the veterans are certainly stepping up, including No. 1-ranked Brandon Weber at 157 pounds, No. 7 Matt Weber at 141 and No. 10 Andrew Bartel at 165, Northern is also showing that its youth has some power, too.

And that youth starts with 197-pound true freshman Isaac Bartel, who has burst onto the scene in his Northern debut. Bartel has just one loss so far this year, and that was at the NCAA Division Cowboy Open. He's already ranked No. 6 in the NAIA, and he's leading a young group of Lights who will be on display tonight, including 125-pound freshman Nick Kunz, as well as Landon Bailey at 133, and Dylan Veis at 149. Sophomores Rob Pair and Steeler French are both big guns as well, but both will sit out tonight's dual. The Lights will put in true freshman Rylan Moldenhauer at 184 pounds. Transfer Chris Nile, who won an individual title at 174 pounds, will go tonight, while Northern has also seen exciting promise from true freshman Chase Short at 174.

Meanwhile, Warner Pacific comes into tonight's dual un-ranked, and may not present too many explosive challenges to the Lights. However, by no means will Thivierge and the Lights be taking the Knights lightly. This is a conference dual, which is something new to the NAIA this year, and on top of that, every match is important not only for that reason but also for the continued progress of Northern's roster as the season really hits full stride.

"I don't want to lose any matches. I'd like to go out there and put a goose egg on the board for the other team," Thivierge noted. "I think that goes a long way for the guys in building that confidence and having that attitude that we're growing and we're developing."

While Warner-Pacific is currently ranked No. 7 in the Cascade Conference, the Knights do bring some firepower to Havre. Josh Johnson is ranked No. 7 at 125 pounds and Joe Dickinson is ranked 16th at 184. Zach Sias (133) and Jon Moskowitz (174) are also top prospects for the Knights. Warner Pacific will be open at 197.

Northern's home debut against Warner Pacific will start at 7 tonight inside the Armory Gymnasium. The Lights will continue their busy stretch by traveling to the Spokane Open Sunday. The Lights don't wrestle at home again until a huge showdown with Southern Oregon Jan. 4.

NAIA Coaches Poll

Rn. Prv. Pts.

1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 160

2 2 Missouri Valley 128

3 6 Indiana Tech 123

4 4 Menlo (Calif.) 118

5 3 Providence (Mont.) 101

6 7 Cumberlands (Ky.) 91

T7 11 Life (Ga.) 90

T7 5 Campbellsville (Ky.) 90

9 10 Williams Baptist (Ark.) 88

10 8 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 83

11 9 Southern Oregon 63

12 17 MSU-Northern 60

13 15 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 59

14 13 Baker (Kan.) 57

15 12 Morningside (Iowa) 55

16 RV Southeastern (Fla.) 48

17 T18 Briar Cliff (Iowa) 45

18 RV Reinhardt (Ga.) 42

19 14 Midland (Neb.) 40

20 16 Concordia (Neb.) 36

Others receiving votes: Eastern Oregon 34; Benedictine (Kan.) 34; Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 31; York (Neb.) 30; Oklahoma City 30; Graceland (Iowa) 28; Lyon (Ark.) 28; Northwestern (Iowa) 26; Truett McConnell (Ga.) 25; Missouri Baptist 25; Hastings (Neb.) 22; Bacone (Okla.) 22; Marian (Ind.) 20; Doane (Neb.) 20; Warner Pacific (Ore.) 19; Wayland Baptist (Texas) 19; Cumberland (Tenn.) 17; Ottawa (Kan.) 16; Jamestown (N.D.) 16; Saint Mary (Kan.) 13; William Penn (Iowa) 12; Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 12; Bethany (Kan.) 9; Kansas Wesleyan 6; Lourdes (Ohio) 6; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 5; Oklahoma Wesleyan 5.