MSU-N wrestlers head to Arizona for more duals

Montana State University-Northern's Nick King (right) locks up with a Souther Oregon heavyweight during an NAIA dual back in November in Havre. The eighth-ranked Lights travel to Arizona for the Mile High Duals and Mile High Open this weekend.

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team had a rough go in Illinois last weekend.

The Lights' longest bus ride of the season yielded little results as they went 1-2 at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals last weekend in Springfield, Illinois.

Now the Lights will look to regroup on another long trip, though they'll be taking a plane this time. On Friday, Northern will compete in the Mile High Duals in Prescott, Ariz. The duals, as well as Saturday's Mile High Open will be hosted by NAIA power Embry-Riddle University.

On Friday, the Lights will dual a pair of NCAA Division III teams in Grand Canyon University and New Mexico Highlands. Northern will also take on NCAA DII's Cal Baptist, a former NAIA rival. The Mile High Open will consist of Embry-Riddle, the Lights, UGF, the three teams the Lights dual on Friday and some wrestlers from NCAA powerhouse Arizona State.

After this weekend's tough showing in Illinois, the Lights dropped from No. 6 to No. 8 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll. Northern also had a noticeable drop in the individual rankings as Evan Hinebauch is now not ranked No. 1 for the first time this season. Hinebauch lost a 9-0 major decision to Morningside's Brian Block, and this week, Block moved past Hinebauch to the No. 1 spot at 184 pounds. Hinebauch is ranked No. 2 this week.

The Lights also have Ethan Hinebauch ranked No. 4 at 165 pounds, Cameron Neiss ranked NO. 6 at 133, Anthony Weerheim ranked 8th at 149 and Jared Miller ranked 10th at 174.

Northern's current lineup has Riley Miller at 125, Neiss at 133, Weerheim moving down to 141, either James Petersen or Beau LaSalle at 149, Mickey Cheff at 157, Ethan Hinebauch at 165, either Miller or Max Payne at 174, Evan Hinebauch at 184, Kody Reed at 197 and steadily improving Nick King at heavyweight.

The Lights will return home to dual Northwest College on Jan. 19. For the complete NAIA poll see below.

NAIA Wrestling Poll

Pts. Prv.

1. Grand View 119 2

2. Southern Oregon 114 3

3. Great Falls 86 1

4. Campbelsville (Ky.) 80 8

5. Oklahoma City 76 4

6. Lindsey Wilson 57.5 5

7. Missouri Valley 56.5 9

8. MSU-Northern 45 6

9. Morningside 44 11

10. Baker (Kan.) 41.5 10

11. Midland (Neb.) 35.5 7

12. Cumberlands (Ky.) 34.5 14

13. Concordia (Neb.) 31 12

14. Missouri Baptist 28 13

15. Dakota Wesleyan 26.5 16

16. Northwestern 22.5 15

17. William Penn 22 18

18. Embry-Riddle 21.5 17

19. Shorter (Ga.) 16.5 18

20. Dickinson State 13.5 RV

Others receiving votes: Menlo (Calif.) 12.5; Indiana Tech 7.5; Waldorf (Iowa) 6.5; York (Neb.) 4; Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 1.5; Hastings (Neb.) 1; Bacone (Okla.) 1.