Northern returns to the mat in Great Falls

After a quick break for Thanksgiving, the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team will resume its march through the first half of the 2018-19 season. And the Lights will get to do it close to home.

The third-ranked Lights are in Great Falls this weekend for two seperate competitions, today's Argo Duals, and Saturday's Heritage Inn Open.

And, in both instances, Northern will be tested, though the Lights have already been tested plenty this season. Northern is undefated in duals so far this season, and its dual lineup features plenty of ranked wrestlers.

In the latest NAIA Rankings, the Lights have eight wrestlers who hold rankings going into this weekend, including senior Matt Weber, who is ranked No. 1 at 141 pounds. Isaac Bartel is ranked second at 197 pounds, while Weber's brother Brandon is also ranked third at 157 pounds. Junior Chris Nile moved up a spot to third at 174 pounds. Senior Andrew Bartel is currently ranked fifth at 165 pounds, while Nick Kunz is No. 11 at 125 and Landon Bailey is No. 13 at 133. Sophomore Chase Short is also ranked No. 15 at 174.

Northern's stout dual lineup will get a chance to showcase itself against stiff competition totday at the Argo Duals. Right off the bat, the Lights will take on NCAA Division II McKendree College. McKendree comes to the Argo Duals ranked fourth in DII, so the bout should be a great one.

Northern will face off with Kansas Tech, followed by Mckendree. The Lights were also slated to dual Cascade Conference foe Simpson, but, the squad from California didn't make the trip.

And while today's duals are big, so too will be Saturday's Heritage Inn Open, formerly known as the Battle of the Rockies. The double-elimination tournament will feature more than 20 teams, including the Lights, rival Providence, as well as Dickinson State, Eastern Oregon, Embry-Riddle, McKendree, Minot State, Menlo, Northwest College, Kansas Tech, Simon Fraser, Simpson, Jamestown, and several NCAA Division I JV squads as well, so, the Lights should get plenty of good competition.

This weekend also marks the start of a tough stretch to close out 2018 for the Lights. On Dec. 18, Northern heads west to face Southern Oregon in a big Cascade road dual, before wrapping up the first half of their season Dec. 20 at the Reno Tournament of Champions.

NAIA Coaches Poll

1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 184

2 2 Indiana Tech 141

3 3 Montana State-Northern 115

4 5 Cumberlands (Ky.) 114

5 4 Providence (Mont.) 105

6 6 Menlo (Calif.) 87

7 12 Life University 82

8 10(T) Williams Baptist 79

9 7 Baker (Kan.) 73

9 10(T) Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 73

11 13 Midland (Neb.) 72

11 9 Missouri Valley 72

13 15 Oklahoma City 68

14 8 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 67

15 14 Campbellsville (Ky.) 64

16 16 Reinhardt University 63

17 18 Southeastern 52

19 19 Northwestern (Iowa) 46

20 20(T) Dickinson State (N.D.) 44

Receiving Votes: Eastern Oregon 42, Southern Oregon 40, Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 39, Briar Cliff 38, Concordia (Neb.) 35, Morningside (Iowa) 32, Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 31, Bethany (Kan.) 28, Doane (Iowa) 20, Saint Mary (Kan.) 13, Life Pacific (Calif.) 13, Kansas Wesleyan 11, Ottawa (Kan.) 11, Lourdes University 11, Graceland (Iowa) 11, Jamestown (N.D.) 11, St. Andrews (N.C.) 11, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 10, Missouri Baptist 9, Cumberland (Tenn.) 8, Oklahoma Wesleyan 8, Benedictine (Kan.) 5, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 2, Hastings (Neb.) 2, Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 2.