Isaac Bartel named CCC Wrestler of the Year

There usually isn't a Frontier Conference Notebook this time of year, but as is the case with everything that's happened this past year, this spring isn't normal either.

No, the Frontier Conference isn't just starting spring golf, rodeo, track and field, and more, the league is also almost all the way through a special spring volleyball season, and is one week into a spring football season that seemed like it may never come.

Last Saturday, the first college football game in the state of Montana since 2019 was played when Carroll College held off Rocky Mountain College 14-12 in Billings. Again, the game was the first of any kind of college football in the Treasure State since December of 2019 when the Montana State Bobcats and Montana Grizzlies hosted playoff games.

Meanwhile, the Montana State University-Northern Lights were also part of the festivites, though Northern was debuting in Caldwell, Idaho, in what turned out to be a 26-12 loss at fifth-ranked College of Idaho.

It was a strong debut for Northern's defense, which was stellar for much of the game against the defending league champion Yotes. The Lights held C of I to just 124 yards rushing, after the Yotes had led the Frontier in rushing four years in a row. Northern also held the Yotes to just 15 first downs, though, the Yotes got the better of the Lights on the scoreboard.

While Northern has this weekend off, there will be two more Frontier games on the docket, with Rocky visiting C of I and Carroll traveling to EOU, as the Mounties make their season debut in the fourth-game spring league.

Bartel honored by the CCC

Isaac Bartel ended his senior season of wrestling on the highest of high notes, by winning the NAIA national championship earlier this month. Now, he's been honored by the Cascade Conference.

Tuesday, Bartel, a four-time NAIA All-American for the Lights, was named the Cascade Conference Wrestler of the Year. Bartel was undefeated this season and didn't lose a single match to a CCC opponent. He went 17-0 overall and won the 197-pound national championship.

Down to the Wire

Speaking of spring leagues, the postponed Frontier volleyball season actually started in January, and now, it's coming down to the wire, and no question, the season has been a rousing success.

While many pundits lament that the Frontier should have played football in the fall, the volleyball season was also moved, and it's gone off well. Very few teams have had COVID-19 issues, and almost every league game has been played or resheculed.

Now, there's just three weeks left in the regular season, and the race for the Frontier title is fully on. Providence is in first place, but has just a one-game lead on Rocky, while Carroll is in third place. The Fighting Saints come to Havre this weekend, where the Northern Skylights host them for a pair of Armory Gymnasium matches.

Frontier Honors

Carroll's Matthew Burgess was named the Frontier Offensive Player of the Week. He rushed for 146 yards and a score in Carroll's win over Rocky. Teammate T.J. Abraham was named the Defensive Player of the Week. He had 11 tackles and an INT.

In volleyball, UP's Cydney Finberg-Roberts was named Setter of the Week, Sacha Legros was named Defender of the Week and and Sadie Lott was picked as Libero of the Week.