Emotional senior night on the mat: Update: Dual cancelled

The dual between MSU-Northern and Western Wyoming has been cancelled.

A snowy, cold Tuesday night might not be a night when wrestling fans get hyped up about a dual. But, fans of the Montana State University-Northern Lights absolutely won’t want to miss this one.

Tonight, inside the Armory Gymnasium, the Lights will wrestle their last home dual of the 2014-15 season. That means it’s senior night. But it’s not just any senior night at Northern. No, tonight, two of the all-time greats at Northern will be honored when the Lights take on Western Wyoming at 7.

Senior Ethan Hinebauch and Jared Miller will be wrestling their last home dual for the Lights tonight, and both wrestlers have already had extremely special career’s at MSU-N.

“Obviously, having the opportunity to recruit and coach both these young men has been an absolute pleasure.  I have spent a lot of time on the road with them both, and I will miss them both tremendously,” MSU-N head coach Tyson Thivierge said.  “They both have qualities that I would love to instill in any kid who steps on the mat at any level.  That quality is heart and determination. I have tried on many occasions in the practice room to get them to quit on themselves.  I may be able to break them physically, but I have never been able to break their spirit, competitiveness or their will to win.  I love that about these two guys.”

Hinebauch, of course, is part of wrestling royalty on the Hi-Line. He came to Northern after a super-successful career at Havre High. He was a two-time state champion for the Blue Ponies and head coach Scott Filius. But at Northern he’s grown into one of the elite college wrestlers in the entire country, at any division.

Currently ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds, Hinebauch has raced into the record books He has the potential to join his brother Evan as an elite member of the four-time NAIA All-American group at MSU-Northern. Ethan is currently a three-time NAIA All-American placing sixth as a freshman, third as a sophomore and second as a junior.

Hinebauch has already smashed the all-time pins record at Northern, held by former standout Caleb Schaeffer who had the record since 2004 with 85 pins. As of tonight, HInebauch sits at 99 pins in his Northern career, and that puts him as the wrestler with the most pins in Northern history. He also has 141 career victories to his name, which is third on Northern’s all-time list.

“Ethan is another kind of breed,” Thivierge said. “I had never met someone who wants to win as bad as Evan Hinebauch, until I met Ethan. The road wasn’t always smooth, but the fight he possesses is incredible. In his first two years, I tried to mold him into what I thought he could be, I tried to show him proper technique, and he wore me out and won with his own technique. And he wins a lot. I have been able to work with him and coach him, but you can’t coach heart. This is an individual who wants to win at all costs within the rules. He is such an inspiration and a pleasure to be around. I am hoping he will stick around and coach next season.”

Hinebauch’s counterpart at 174 pounds will also be sorely missed when his time at Northern is over. Miller, who is currently ranked second in the NAIA, came to MSU-N from far away Kotzebue, Alaska. And his impact on the Northern program has been profound.

During his high school days, Miller was a standout athlete in basketball and wrestling. He was coached by MSU-Northern Alumni and NAIA national champion Mark Lane. Miller was a two-time Alaska state champion and four-time state placer.

In his career at Northern, Miller has compiled 97 career wins and 41 career pins for the Lights. Miller is a three-time national qualifier and finished as the national runner-up at 174 pounds last season.

This season, Miller has placed in all but one tournament he has entered. He has recorded 19 wins with 10 coming by pin.

“Jared is an amazing kid who I met through a former teammate, Mark Lane,” Thivierge said. “Jared is a very soft-hearted kid who shows up every day. He gets up for his matches, he competes to his fullest and he wins. I have known Jared since he was a sophomore and I want nothing more than to see him succeed. He is a leader, someone who can coach and comfort his teammates, and he is always good for a laugh.”

As for tonight’s dual, Hinebauch and Miller will be emotional, but they’ll also be key to a Northern victory. Western Wyoming is ranked No. 17 in the NJCAA and the Mustangs actually upset the Lights 21-17 back in November. So the No. 3 Lights certainly want to atone for that loss tonight.

Hinebauch will likely battle Hunter Riggs, while Miller will take on third-ranked Colby Barlocker. The upper weights will likely be the difference in the dual, as that’s where both teams are strongest. Tommy Cooper’s match against fifth-ranked Ryan Slough will be critical, as will the 184-pound match where Northern’s Willie Miller has risen to No. 3 in the NAIA and will likely battle Chris Restad, who is ranked No. 11 for the Mustangs. Miller missed the dual with the Mustangs back in November.

Northern’s lineup should be full and intact tonight, as well. Riley Miller has risen in the NAIA rankings and is now 14th at 125 pounds, while Drew Randall is ranked 11th at 149 pounds. Garrett DeMers is No. 3 at 197 pounds and Toby Cheff is ranked No. 8 at heavyweight. Cheff has wrestled sparingly so far since returning from an injury.

And while the Lights are out to beat the Mustangs in what is their final home dual, they also realize how emotional the night will be. Honoring Hinebauch and Miller will be special, but the best way to honor the two seniors is to make sure they leave the Armory tonight with a win.

“Being around these two young men has made me a better coach and a better person,” Thivierge said. “I am going to miss them, but our jobs aren’t done yet. After nationals, that’s where we will reminisce about their time spent here at Northern.”

Tonight’s dual between Northern and Western Wyoming will begin at 7 inside the Armory Gymnasium. It’s the final home dual for the Lights, but they will host the NAIA Western Region Qualifier on Feb. 21.