Lights pin Argos, again

The Montana State University-Northern Lights and Providence Argos aren't just bitter rivals on the wrestling mat. There are also great story lines with almost every individual match when the only two college wrestling teams in Montana hook up.

In other words, because the Lights and Argos see each other so much, there's rivalries within the rivalry, and that was on full display Wednesday night in Great Falls. And thanks to Northern winning many of those big rivalry matches, the fourth-ranked Lights were able to leave the McLaughlin Center with a 23-15 win over the ninth-ranked Argos, and a season sweep in the annual series.

MSU-N had plenty of big wins Wednesday too, and got off to an especially good start with a major decision from Nick Kunz at 125 pounds, and a victory from Landon Bailey at 133. The came a series of dramatic wins that helped the Lights put the Argos away for good.

Matt Weber started it with a 3-1 win in overtime, which was big, simply because Weber had knee surgery not long ago, and had been out for more than a month.

But Weber's thrilling win at 141 pounds wouldn't be the only one of the night. Brandon Weber got the better of one of his biggest rivals, UP's Casey Dobson, shutting him out 4-0 at 157 pounds, and that set the stage for an even bigger moment.

At 165 pounds, former NAIA No. 1 Andrew Bartel was head-to-head with his longtime rival, current No. 1 Adrien Lyons Lopez. And, in overtime, Bartel scored his biggest win of the season, taking Lyons-Lopez down for a 3-1 win. It was a huge victory for Bartel, especially coming in his last-ever dual against the Argos.

And Northern wasn't done. Great Falls native Chase Short dominated UP's Josh Beckler at 174 pounds, and while Steeler French lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to his longtime rival, UP"s Randy Keesler, at 184, Isaac Bartel came right back with an exciting 3-2 win over seventh-ranked John Hensely, who happens to be Bartel's' chief rival.

Yes, the rivalry was the theme Wednesday night and the Lights went out by getting the better of the Argos in their own gym. Now, Northern will get ready to return to Great Falls next Friday-Saturday, with even more on the line. Great Falls is the site of the 2019 Cascade Conference Tournament.

Lights 23, Providence 15

125 - Nick Kunz, MSU-N maj. dec. Deven Altenbur, UP, 15-1; 133 - Landon Bailey, MSU-N dec. Eli Walston, UP, 9-2; 141 - Matt Weber, MSU-N dec. T.J. Baun, UP, 3-1 in SVO; 149 - Shonn Roberts, UP pinned Tony, Evans, MSU-N, 2:24; 157 - Brandon Weber, MSU-N dec. Casey Dobson, UP, 4-0; 165 - Andrew Bartel, MSU-N dec. Adrien Lyons-Lopez, UP, 3-1 in SVO; 174 - Chase Short, MSU-N maj. dec. Josh Beckler, UP, 12-4; 184 - Randy Keesler, UP dec. Steeler French, 2-1; 197 - Isaac Bartel, MSU-N dec. John Hensley, UP, 3-2; HWT - Matt Hopkins, UP pinned Jase Stokes, MSU-N, 1:07.