Lights shine at tough Cowboy Open

The Montana State University-Northern Lights are 2-0 in duals so far this season, but Saturday, the Lights got their first taste of tournament action.

Northern was in Laramie, Wyoming, for the University of Wyoming's Cowboy Open, a tourney that features plenty of NCAA and NAIA talent.

As expected, several Lights shined bright.

In the Elite Division, Northern got a pair of second-place finishes from the Bartel brothers.

At 165 pounds, Andrew Bartel won three times, including a win by fall over a rival from Air Force to reach the finals. There, Bartel was beaten by the University of Wyoming's Branson Ashworth. Isaac Bartel reached the championship at 197 pounds, as well. In the semifinals, Bartel got a technical fall over a Chadron State grappler, before losing a tough, 3-2 decision to Cale Davidson of Wyoming.

Also competing for the Lights in the Elite Division was Dylan Veis at 149 pounds, Jake and Steeler French at 184 and Rob Pair at 125 pounds.

Northern had standouts in the Amateur Division as well.

At 174 pounds, Chase Short reached the championship match before finishing second, while Jase Stokes took fourth at heavyweight. At 125 pounds, Nick Kunz also battled to win three straight matches in the wrestle backs. Carl Cronin and Kieton Keller competed for MSU-N at 133 pounds, while Gavin Maslan wrestled at 141.

The Lights will be right back in Wyoming this Saturday for the Trapper Open, hosted by Northwest College, before returning home for their annual showdown with the University of Providence Nov. 14.