Lights go for a sweep of the Argos on the mat

It's hard to believe, but, the Montana State University-Northern Lights have reached the end of the 2018-19 wrestling regular season. But, the final dual of the regular season also means the biggest dual every year - a rematch with the University of Providence Argos.

And that rematch comes tonight in Great Falls when the fourth-ranked Lights go for a season sweep of the ninth-ranked Argos. Northern edged UP in Havre back in November, and, a healthy Lights' squad will look to do the same tonight.

"We should be at, or close to, full strength for the Providence dual," MSU-N head coach Tyson Thivierge said. "We just want to make sure we're wrestling our best right now, with the conference tournament so close."

Indeed, the Cascade Conference Tournament is just two weeks away now, so tonight will be the last time the Lights will be on the mat before their national qualifier, which is also in Great Falls.

And being full strength would mean the return of top-ranked Matt Weber at 141 pounds, as well as second-ranked Chris Nile at 174 and ninth-ranked Nick Kunz at 125 pounds. The Lights have been without all three grapplers for an extended period of time, and their return would certainly bolster Northern's chances of sweeping the tough Argos.

Of course, MSU-N also has second-ranked Isaac Bartel, who will likely see arch rival and 7th-ranked John Hensley tonight at 197 pounds. Andrew Bartel, currently ranked 10th, also has a big match with top-ranked Adrien Lyons-Lopez at 165, and Brandon Weber, ranked third, will once again go at longtime rival Casey Dobson, ranked fifth at 157.

Those three matches will be big ones in tonight's dual, while Northern will also send out Landon Bailey, ranked 13th at 133 pounds, Tony Evans at 149, Steeler French, who scored a huge win in the first meeting between the Lights and Argos at 184, and Jase Stokes, who has been on a roll of late at heavyweight.

UP will counter with the likes of 10th-ranked Shonn Roberts at 149, Jarren Komac and third-ranked Matt Hopkins at heavyweight.

Of course, rankings and past results mean very little when Northern and Providence meet on the mat, and tonight will be no different. The Lights will be walking into a hostile environment in Great Falls, as the annual dual also kicks off the biggest wrestling week of the year in the state of Montana.

And, Northern will once again go into the dual with a bigger goal than just beating its biggest rival. The bigger goal is wrestling at a high level to set the tone for the upcoming postseason, while the Lights also have a chance to finish off a sparkling season in the Cascade Conference. Ahead of tonight's dual, the Lights have lost just one conference dual all season long. So, as always, the Northern/Providence showdown will be a lot of fun, and very exciting.

The dual between the Lights and Argos will start tonight at 7 in the McClaughlin Center in Great Falls. The Cascade Conference Tournament is slated for Feb. 15-16 also in Great Falls.