Hinebauch wins Cowboy Open title for the Lights

It’s early in the season, and the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team is a little banged up. But that didn’t stop several Lights from performing at a high level in Laramie, Wyo., over the weekend.

The No. 2 Lights competed in the Cowboy Open this past Saturday, and for the first tournament of the year, the Lights did quite well.

Northern junior Ethan Hinebauch captured the 165-pound Elite Division championship Saturday, reeling off four straight wins at the tough tourney, hosted by the University of Wyoming. In the championship bout, Hinebauch defeated Dallas Bailey of Wyoming 10-8.

Also competing in the Elite Division, Jared miller went 3-2 and reached the semifinals at 174 pounds, while Mickey Cheff went 3-2 at 157 and Cameron Neiss went 2-2 at 141. Duell Stadel captured one win at 125 pounds, while Riley Miller went 0-2.

In the Amateur Division, Northern got an outstanding second-place finish from sophomore Jorrell Jones at heavyweight. Jones won three times before losing to an Air Force grappler by a 5-2 decision. Fellow freshman Garrett DeMers placed fourth at 197 pounds, going 3-2 on the day, while Tommy Cooper won twice at 157 pounds.

Former Chinook star Ben Stroh, a red-shirt freshman at Wyoming, took first place in the Elite Division’s 184-pound weight class.

The Lights head right back to Wyoming this weekend for the Trapper Open on Saturday in Powell.