Lights clipped by Embry-Riddle

It was a short turnaround for the Montana State University-Northern Lights, and that turnaround took its toll a little.

After clobbering Dickinson State last Thursday night, on an emotional senior night, the fourth-ranked Northern wrestling team hopped on a plane and flew all the way to Prescott, Arizona, to battle Cascade Conference rival Embry-Riddle University Saturday night, and the 10th-ranked Eagles handed the Lights their first conference loss of the 2018-19 season. Embry-Riddle edged a Northern squad that was without three of its nationally ranked wrestlers, 21-15.

In the dual, the Lights got wins from Landon Bailey at 133 pounds, Steeler French at 184 and Isaac Bartel at 197, and a pin from Jase Stokes at heavyweight. Bartel started things off for Northern, as the Lights built a 9-0 lead going into the 125-pound bout.

However, in the back-and-forth battle, ERAU tipped the scales with back-to-back sudden-victory overtime wins at 157 and 165 pounds. In the close loss, Northern was without top-ranked Matt Weber at 141 pounds, second-ranked Chris Nile 1t 174 and ninth-ranked Nick Kunz at 125.

The Lights will be off until they travel to Great Falls to close out their regular season with their rivalry rematch against the University of Providence Feb. 6. The Lights will then be off until the Cascade Conference Tournament, which will be held Feb. 15-16 also in Great Falls.

Embry-Riddle 21, Lights 15

197 - Isaac Bartel dec. Elias Mason, ERAU, 8-4; HWT - Jase Stokes pinned Garrett Branson, ERAU, 4:31; 125 - Joshua Nira, ERAU dec. Rob Pair, 6-1; 133 - Landon Bailey dec. Colin Anderson, ERAU, 5-3; 141 - David Salazar, ERAU pinned Gavin Maslan, 1:35; 149 - Berit Sturgeon, ERAU dec. Tony Evans, 4-3; 157 - James Williams, ERAU dec. Brandon Weber, 4-2 in SVO; 165 - Carlos Apodoca, ERAU dec. Andrew Bartel, 3-1 in SVO; 174 - Daniel Butler. ERAU dec. Chase Short, 10-3; 184 - Steeler French dec. Tyler Hall, ERAU, 8-6.