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News you can use
Montana State University-Northern's Matt Weber has climbed to No. 4 in the NAIA 141-pound rankings. Weber and the 12th-ranked Lights are in Missouri this weekend for the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational, one of the NAIA's top tournaments.
The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team is headed on its final road trip of the regular season. And it's a tournament the Lights look forward to every year.
Friday and Saturday, the Lights will be in Missouri for the prestigious Missouri Valley Invitational, a tournament that features many of the top teams in the NAIA, and offers a national tournament type feel.
The event is hosted by Missouri Valley College, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the NAIA. It will also feature top-ranked Grand View, which, after the release of the new NAIA Coaches Poll Tuesday, has been ranked atop the NAIA for a staggering 42 straight polls.
But Grand View, which includes former Havre Blue Pony Grayson Brenna, isn't the only top team in the field this weekend, as so many NAIA powers sill be there. In all, 30 teams are expected to compete at the tournament, including powerhouses like the Lights, who are ranked No. 12 in the new coaches poll, as well as Lindsey Wilson, Indiana Tech, Life, Cumberlands, Menlo and Camobelsville, all of whom are ranked in the NAIA Top 15.
So, there's no question, the Lights will see the best of the best this weekend, and it's a perfect time for it, as the Cascade Conference Tournament is now just a month away.
As for Northern, the Lights are coming off an impressive showing at Dickinson State last weekend, and they'll take six wrestlers who are ranked in the NAIA this week. Junior Matt Weber is coming on very strong as of late and has moved up to No. 4 in the NAIA at 141 pounds, while Brandon Weber remains No. 2 at 157. Brandon has been injured the last couple of weeks. Another pair of brothers, Isaac and Andrew Bartel, also hold national rankings. Isaac is ranked sixth at 197 and Andrew is No. 9 at 165. Steeler French is ranked 14th at 184, while Nick Kunz (125), Chris Nile (174) and Chase Short (174/184) are all within striking distance of a national ranking as well.
So again, this weekend's trip to Missouri will be a big one for the Lights. And though Northern has several key duals left in the regular season, the Missouri Valley Invitational will be crucial, as far as national rankings go and getting top-flight competition on the mat, with the postseason so close at hand now.
The Missouri Valley Invite runs Friday and Saturday in Marshall, Missouri. The Lights also have the Cascade Conference duals remaining on their schedule, starting with Embry-Riddle Feb. 3 in Havre, and arch rival Providence, Feb. 7, also in the Armory Gymnasium.
NAIA Coaches Poll
Rn. Prv. Pts.
1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 206
2 2 Missouri Valley 141
3 5 Williams Baptist (Ark.) 136
4 4 Cumberlands (Ky.) 120
5 3 Indiana Tech 107
6 7 Life (Ga.) 100
7 6 Providence (Mont.) 97
8 T8 Southeastern (Fla.) 85
9 T11 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 83
10 T8 Menlo (Calif.) 72
11 13 Southern Oregon 71
T12 T11 Campbellsville (Ky.) 70
T12 10 MSU-Northern 70
T14 14 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 53
T14 15 Baker (Kan.) 53
16 RV Midland (Neb.) 49
17 17 Eastern Oregon 48
18 20 Morningside (Iowa) 43
T19 16 Oklahoma City 42
T19 RV Reinhardt (Ga.) 42
Others receiving votes: Cumberland (Tenn.) 41; Hastings (Neb.) 40; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 40; Concordia (Neb.) 32; Warner Pacific (Ore.) 31; Doane (Neb.) 25; Northwestern (Iowa) 21; Benedictine (Kan.) 20; Bethany (Kan.) 16; Graceland (Iowa) 14; Lyon (Ark.) 14; Missouri Baptist 14; Jamestown (N.D.) 13; Bacone (Okla.) 13; York (Neb.) 11; Kansas Wesleyan 10; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 8; St. Andrews (N.C.) 8; William Penn (Iowa) 7; Marian (Ind.) 7; Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 6; Wayland Baptist (Texas) 6; Saint Mary (Kan.) 6; Dickinson State (N.D.) 5; Oklahoma Wesleyan 5; Lourdes (Ohio) 5; Ottawa (Kan.) 4; Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 3; Calumet (Ind.) 1.
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