Northern matmen strong in season debut

Even without some of their big guns on hand, the Montana State University-Northern Lights opened their 2015-16 wrestling season with a strong showing Saturday.

The Lights, under veteran head coach Tyson Thivierge, were in Powell, Wyoming, Saturday for the Trapper Open. And, in a tournament that featured the likes of rival UGF, as well as Northwest College and North Idaho College, to NJCAA powers, the Lights wrestled well.

Northern placed 10 wrestlers overall and crowned three champions. MSU-N got a first-place finish from freshman Brandon Weber at 149 pounds, as he beat NIC's Jordan Hall with a pin in the title bout. Northern also doubled up in the 174-pound final as senior Willie Miller beat freshman Zach Haviland in the championship match. Miller won by an 18-0 technical fall. Rounding out the champions for the Lights was heavyweight Miguel Morales. With star senior Toby Cheff sitting out, Morales reached the final, where Western Wyoming's Jake Van Valkenburg injury defaulted.

"We had a great weekend and had some outstanding performances by some young student-athletes," Thivierge said of the Lights' trip to Wyoming.

Also reaching the finals for the Lights was Drake Randall, who lost to NIC's Alex Aguilar in a tough 6-5 decision at 157 pounds. Tommy Cooper also placed fourth for the Lights at 157.

At 125, freshman Quintel Fuch's continued to impress by finishing third, as he beat teammate Mhar Caballa, 1-0 in the consolation bout. Freshman Matt Weber also finished third for the Lights at 141 pounds, while Andrew Bartel battled his way to a third-place finish at 165 pounds.

Northern will return to Wyoming this weekend for the prestigious Cowboy Open in Laramie. The Lights' first home dual of the season comes Nov. 19 when they host arch rival Southern Oregon.

Northwest Open 2015 Results for Montana State University-Northern

125 - Robert Pair

Champ. Round 1 - Robert Pair (Montana State University-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal – Gage Currier (Northwest Wyoming College) won by decision over Robert Pair (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 15-10); Cons. Round 2 - Robert Pair (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Nick Bingham (University of Great Falls) (Dec 11-4); Cons. Round 3 - Trey Long (North Idaho College) won by decision over Robert Pair (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 15-12),

125 - Mhar Caballa (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Omeed Chamanzad (North Idaho College) (Dec 10-5); Quarterfinal - Cole Verner (Western Wyoming Community College) won by tech fall over Mhar Caballa (Montana State University-Northern) (TF 18-0); Cons. Round 2 - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University-Northern) won by major decision over Eli Walston (University of Great Falls) (Maj 15-4) Cons. Round 3 - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Landon Bailey (North Idaho College) (Dec 4-3); Cons. Semi - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Gage Currier (Northwest Wyoming College) (Dec 11-4); 3rd Place Match - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Mhar Caballa (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 1-0).

125 - Quintel Fuchs (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Landon Bailey (North Idaho College) (Fall 4:00)

Semifinal - Cole Verner (Western Wyoming Community College) won by major decision over Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 16-7); Cons. Semi - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Trey Long (North Idaho College) (Fall 6:34); 3rd Place Match - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Mhar Caballa (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 1-0).

141 - Matt Weber (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Matt Weber (Montana State University-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Justin Whitman (University of Great Falls) won by decision over Matt Weber (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 13-8); Cons. Round 2 - Matt Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Shelby Salisbury (North Idaho College) (Fall 2:08); Cons. Round 3 - Matt Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by tech fall over Connor Rogers (University of Great Falls) (TF 16-0); Cons. Semi - Matt Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Blake Ivie (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 7-2); 3rd Place Match - Matt Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Jarren Komac (University of Great Falls) (Fall 1:07).

141 - Blake Ivie

Champ. Round 1 - Blake Ivie (Montana State University-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Blake Ivie (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Jarren Komac (University of Great Falls) (Dec 6-4); Semifinal - Jaydon Rogers (Western Wyoming Community College) won by decision over Blake Ivie (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 0-0); Cons. Semi - Matt Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Blake Ivie (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 7-2).

149 - Brandon Weber (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Ryan Middleton (North Idaho College) (Fall 0:41); Quarterfinal - Brandon Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Ulisses Lopez (Western Wyoming Community College) (Fall 2:51); Semifinal - Brandon Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by tech fall over John-David Henderson (Northwest Wyoming College) (TF 16-1); 1st Place Match - Brandon Weber (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Jordan Hall (North Idaho College) (Fall 1:19).

Tommy Cooper (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Tommy Cooper (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Gage Bentley (University of Great Falls) (Dec 9-5); Quarterfinal - Alex Aguilar (North Idaho College) won by decision over Tommy Cooper (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 3-2); Cons. Round 2 - Tommy Cooper (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Arram Price (University of Great Falls) (Dec 11-9); Cons. Round 3 - Tommy Cooper (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Tim Parten (North Idaho College) (Fall 1:06); Cons. Semi - Tommy Cooper (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Bryce Weatherston (North Idaho College) (Dec 10-8); 3rd Place Match - Matthew Widdicombe (Northwest Wyoming College) won by decision over Tommy Cooper (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 10-5).

157 - Drake Randall (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Drake Randall (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Tim Parten (North Idaho College) (Fall 2:04); Quarterfinal - Drake Randall (Montana State University-Northern) won by major decision over Austin Blaede (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 12-1); Semifinal - Drake Randall (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Bryce Weatherston (North Idaho College) (Dec 8-4); 1st Place Match - Alex Aguilar (North Idaho College) won by decision over Drake Randall (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 6-5).

157 - Austin Blaede

Champ. Round 1 - Austin Blaede (Montana State University-Northern) won by tech fall over Hunter Myers (University of Great Falls) (TF 16-0); Quarterfinal - Drake Randall (Montana State University-Northern) won by major decision over Austin Blaede (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 12-1); Cons. Round 2 - Austin Blaede (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Judah Prestegaard (Montana State) (Fall 1:47); Cons. Round 3 - Gage Bentley (University of Great Falls) won by fall over Austin Blaede (Montana State University-Northern) (Fall 2:57).

165 - Andrew Bartel (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Bartel (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Oscar Cuevas-Acosta (Western Wyoming Community College) (Dec 6-0); Quarterfinal - Andrew Bartel (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Jarred Pratt (University of Montana Western) (Dec 7-0); Semifinal - Dajour Reece (North Idaho College) won by fall over Andrew Bartel (Montana State University-Northern) (Fall 3:58); Cons. Semi - Andrew Bartel (Montana State University-Northern) won by major decision over Justin Polkowske (Northwest Wyoming College) (Maj 13-2); 3rd Place Match - Andrew Bartel (Montana State University-Northern) won by major decision over Kaden Campbell (Western Wyoming Community College) (Maj 10-0).

165 - Logan Foster

Champ. Round 1 - Kaden Campbell (Western Wyoming Community College) won by fall over Logan Foster (Montana State University-Northern) (Fall 1:34); Cons. Round 1 - Logan Foster (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Matt Struzik (University of Great Falls) (Fall 1:12); Cons. Round 2 - Jim Malone (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Logan Foster (Montana State University-Northern) (Fall 1:37).

165 - Jim Malone

Champ. Round 1 - Jim Malone (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Joe Else (University of Great Falls) (Dec 2-0); Quarterfinal - Dajour Reece (North Idaho College) won by major decision over Jim Malone (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 17-6); Cons. Round 2 - Jim Malone (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Logan Foster (Montana State University-Northern) (Fall 1:37); Cons. Round 3 - Jim Malone (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Jarred Pratt (University of Montana Western) (Fall 2:48); Cons. Semi - Kaden Campbell (Western Wyoming Community College) won by decision over Jim Malone (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 9-4).

174 - Zach Haviland (2nd Place)

Quarterfinal - Zach Haviland (Montana State University-Northern) won by tech fall over Peter Struzik (University of Great Falls) (TF 16-1); Semifinal - Zach Haviland (Montana State University-Northern) won in tie breaker - 1 over William Kishpaugh (Northwest Wyoming College) (TB-1 14-13); 1st Place Match - Willie Miller (Montana State University-Northern) won by tech fall over Zach Haviland (Montana State University-Northern) (TF 18-0).

174 - Willie Miller (1st Place)

Quarterfinal - Willie Miller (Montana State University-Northern) won by tech fall over Francisco Rueda (University of Great Falls) (TF 17-1); Semifinal - Willie Miller (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Jacob Wharton (University of Great Falls) (Fall 2:48); 1st Place Match - Willie Miller (Montana State University-Northern) won by tech fall over Zach Haviland (Montana State University-Northern) (TF 18-0).

184 - Jake French

Champ. Round 1 - Jake French (Montana State University-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Tevin Nuttall (Northwest Wyoming College) won by major decision over Jake French (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 11-2); Cons. Round 2 - Kolbjorn Skalestad (University of Great Falls) won by major decision over Jake French (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 10-2).

197 - Dace Fisher

Champ. Round 1 - Sam Voigtlaender (University of Great Falls) won by major decision over Dace Fisher (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 11-2); Cons. Round 1 - Dace Fisher (Montana State University-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Kaleb Nelson (Utah State University) won by decision over Dace Fisher (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 9-3).

285 - Miguel Morales (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Miguel Morales (Montana State University-Northern) won by injury default over Colton Horn (Northwest Wyoming College) (Inj. 0:00); Quarterfinal - Miguel Morales (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Armando Garcia (North Idaho College) (Fall 5:06); Semifinal - Miguel Morales (Montana State University-Northern) won by fall over Cooper Thomas (North Idaho College) (Fall 6:38); 1st Place Match - Miguel Morales (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Jake Van Valkenburg (Western Wyoming Community College) (Dec 5-3).

285 - Casey Schaub

Round 1 - Casey Schaub (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Octavio Alejandre (University of Great Falls) (Dec 12-7); Quarterfinal - Casey Schaub (Montana State University-Northern) won by decision over Aspen Naylor (Western Wyoming Community College) (Dec 15-9); Semifinal - Jake Van Valkenburg (Western Wyoming Community College) won by decision over Casey Schaub (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 12-6); Cons. Semi - Andreas Geranios (University of Great Falls) won by injury default over Casey Schaub (Montana State University-Northern) (Inj. 0:00).

285 - Stephen Hyatt

Champ. Round 1 - Cooper Thomas (North Idaho College) won by decision over Stephen Hyatt (Montana State University-Northern) (Dec 5-1); Cons. Round 1 - Stephen Hyatt (Montana State University-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Damian Trujillo (North Idaho College) won by major decision over Stephen Hyatt (Montana State University-Northern) (Maj 11-2).