Back in the Armory: Lights host Eagles

February is here. And that means the Montana State University-Northern Lights are approaching wrestling's postseason. But before it comes, the Lights have some home business to take care of.

That business starts Saturday night when the Lights, ranked 12th in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, host the first of two big Cascade Conference Duals in the Armory Gymnasium. Northern welcomes in No. 14 Embry-Riddle Saturday night, with a special start time of 8 p.m.

And while the Lights and Eagles, who hail from Phoenix, are separated by a couple thousand miles of geography, they do have quite the history against each other the mat, and on Saturday night, Northern will be looking to atone for a rough trip to Embry-Riddle last season.

"This dual is a great test for us at this point in the season," MSU-N head coach Tyson Thivierge said. "Last year, we stepped into their gym overconfident and we got taught a lesson."

Now, the Lights are looking to turn the tables, but the Eagles won't make it easy. Embry-Riddle brings eight nationally ranked wrestlers to Havre, and one of the deepest lineups in the Cascade Conference. Northern, of course, is also deep and talented, with six wrestlers ranked in the NAIA Top 20, and the Lights will get a big boost with the return of Brandon Weber at 157 pounds. Weber has been nursing an injury the last few weeks, but he should be ready to step back into action against ERAU.

And his match will be one of the key bouts in the dual, as he takes on James Williams, who is ranked seventh at 157. Brandon's brother Matt, who is ranked fourth at 141 pounds, also has one of the critical matches of the night when he battles longtime rival Cameron Huizar, who is ranked 18th.

Northern's Bartel brothers also have big showdowns Saturday night. At 165 pounds, Andrew Bartel, ranked ninth, will face off against 20th-ranked Taylor Owens, while Isaac Bartel, ranked sixth at 197, will battle 16th-ranked Elias Mason.

But with so many ranked wrestlers in Saturday night's dual, every match will be key, especially with the Lights being open at heavyweight. At 125 pounds, freshman Nick Kunz will face ERAU's Chandler Strand, who is ranked 10th, while Landon Bailey will face 19th-ranked Colin Anderson at 133. At 149, ERAU will send out 20th-ranked David Salazar to face Northern's Dylan Veis, while either Chase Short or Chris Neil will go at 174, likely against 12th-ranked Kody Davis of ERAU. Rounding out the MSU-N lineup will be 14th-ranked Steeler French at 184 pounds.

So, there's no question, Saturday night's dual, which follows a day of Havre Wrestling Club tournament action in the Armory, will be an intense one. And while the Lights certainly want to beat the Eagles on their home mat, the goal of getting as ready as possible for the postseason is also a driving force for Thivierge and his crew.

"We are working hard and preparing ourselves to peak at the right time, and we are nearly there," Thivierge said. "Each match is vital to our conference tournament and will be a precursor to what is to come in the following weeks."

The Lights and Eagles will meet at 8 p.m. Saturday night in the Armory. Northern closes out the regular season with its highly-anticipated rematch with the Providence Argos Wednesday night in Havre.