Third-ranked Lights head to Wyoming for duals

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team has had plenty of lineup difficulties as of late, yet the Lights continue to persevere.

Northern is ranked No. 3 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, released Wednesday afternoon. The Lights dropped one spot in the poll, as Missouri Valley, which narrowly beat the Lights at the NAIA National Duals two weeks ago, moved to No. 2. Defending national champion Grand View is ranked No. 1 for the 16th straight poll, while Northern rival UGF is ranked No. 4. Western Region members Southern Oregon, Simpson College and Menlo College ranked seventh, 14th and 15th, respectively.

Individually, MSU-N junior Ethan Hinebauch remains ranked No. 2 at 165 pounds, while sophomore Toby Cheff moved up to No. 2 at 197. Cheff had been ranked fourth. Junior Jared Miller also made a big jump in the new poll, moving up from No. 11 to No. 5 at 174 pounds, while senior Cameron Neiss is ranked No. 4 at 141 pounds.

Also ranked for the Lights is junior Mickey Cheff, who is No. 4 at 157 pounds, senior Kody Reed, who is sixth at 184 pounds, and freshman Garrett DeMers, who is ranked No. 8 at 197. Aaron LaFarge, who is out with an injury, dropped out of the No. 1 slot at 125 pounds, while Hunter Azure, who was ranked at 149, had decided to forego the rest of the season.

Northern will get back to work this weekend with two big road duals. Friday night, the Lights travel to Powell, Wyo., for a showdown with Northwest College. The Trappers are ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA and have a ranked wrestler at every weight class but one, including stars Cody Vichi at 125 and Zac Lovelass at 141. The Lights beat the Trappers in a tough dual, 27-18 back on Nov. 30 in Havre. The Lights will have a rematch with Western Wyoming Saturday afternoon in Rock Springs, Wyo. Northern beat the Mustangs last Saturday night in Havre.

This weekend marks the last two road duals for the Lights. Northern will be at home to host Western Region rival Embry-Riddle Feb. 1, and the Lights will close out the regular season with the rematch with UGF. That dual is set for Feb. 12, and it will be senior night at the Armory Gymnasium.

NAIA Coaches Poll

Rn. Prv. Pts.

1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 165

2 3 Missouri Valley 97

3 2 MSU-Northern 91

4 4 Great Falls (Mont.) 89.5

5 5 Campbellsville (Ky.) 88

6 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 78

7 6 Southern Oregon 70

8 9 Indiana Tech 61

9 12 Cumberlands (Ky.) 49.5

10 8 Cumberland (Tenn.) 47

11 10 York (Neb.) 44

T12 RV Oklahoma City 41

T12 13 Morningside (Iowa) 41

14 T14 Simpson (Calif.) 40.5

15 18 Menlo (Calif.) 34

16 T14 Bethany (Kan.) 33.5

17 11 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 32.5

18 T19 Dickinson State (N.D.) 31

19 17 Baker (Kan.) 21

20 RV Life (Ga.) 19.5

Others receiving votes: Midland (Neb.) 18; Concordia (Neb.) 12.5; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 8.5; Benedictine (Kan.) 8; Wayland Baptist (Texas) 8; Missouri Baptist 7; Jamestown (N.D.) 7; Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 6; Northwestern (Iowa) 6; Hastings (Neb.) 5.5; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 4.5; West Virginia Tech (W.Va.) 1.5.