Lights get to work in Maroon/Gold Dual

Preparation for the 2015-16 season is essential for the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team. And the Lights got some essential mat time during their annual Maroon/Gold Dual.

On Thursday night at the Armory Gymnasium, the Lights conducted seven wrestle-off matches, with the Maroon squad coming out on top 19-10.

But it wasn't the score that pleased head coach Tyson Thivierge, it was how competitive most of the matches were, and how well many of his grapplers wrestled during Thursday night's scrimmage.

"Overall, the guys wrestled extremely well," Thivierge said. "There was some really competitive matches out there. I think some of the guys were zapped because it was our first weight cut of the year, but I saw a lot of things I really liked. There was some really good matches, and everybody competed hard. So it was a good dual."

The Lights have high hopes this season, and they start the year ranked No. 5 in the NAIA. And while the time is now for Northern, several matches also gave MSU-N fans a glimpse into the future as well.

Right off the bat, freshman Quintel Fuchs stunned veteran Mhar Caballa at 125 pounds. Fuchs was tough from start to finish and never let the crafty Caballa get into the match in what turned out to be a 6-0 decision. After that, the dual moved to 149 pounds where two young Lights went to battle, as Brandon Weber took on Drake Randall. Both grapplers looked tough from the start, while Weber scored in a flurry in the second period and won 10-5. Andrew Bartel, also looked sharp in a 9-2 win over newcomer Jim Malone at 165 pounds.

Another freshman who looked outstanding, even in a loss, was Zach Haviland. Taking on senior Willie Miller at 174 pounds, Haviland was on fire in a 10-10 first period. Eventually, Miller was technically too good, and earned a major decision, 23-12, but Haviland, and many of the younger Lights impressed Thivierge.

"I really liked what I saw from the young guys," he said. "They weren't afraid to attack. And, they forced some of our older guys to have to dig deep tonight, and that was good for them, too. I just really liked how competitive most of these matches were."

Of course, there were some dominant performances, too.

Junior 157-pounder Tommy Cooper wasted little time in pinning freshman Austin Blaede. And at 197 pounds, top-ranked Garrett DeMers looked in mid-season form as he pinned former Havre Blue Pony Casey Schaub. Senior heavyweight Toby Cheff then finished the dual off with a 14-2 major over freshman Miguel Morales.

And at the end of the night, mat time and form were two important things the Lights needed as they get set to open the regular season next Saturday at the Trapper Open. And, with seven intra-squad matches in the books, Thivierge was excited about what his team showed.

"I was pleased," the veteran head coach said. "We have plenty to work on, but the guys that wrestled tonight wrestled really well. They dealt well with the rule changes this year, and they just seemed comfortable out on the mat. It's early, but I'm happy with where we're at right now."

Maroon 19, Gold 10

125 - Quintel Fuchs, M dec. Mhar Caballa, G, 6-0; 149 - Brandon Weber, G dec. Drake Randall, M, 10-5; 157 - Tommy Cooper, M pinned Austin Blaede, G, 1:24; 165 - Andrew Bartel, G dec. Jim Malone, M, 9-2; 174 - Willie Miller, M, maj. dec. Zach Haviland, G, 23-12; 197 - Garrett DeMers, M pinned Casey Schaub, G, 1:19; HWT - Toby Cheff, G maj. dec. Miguel Morales, M, 14-2.