Lights summit Battle of the Rockies

The annual Battle of the Rockies meet in Great Falls isn’t quite a home meet for the Montana State University-Northern Lights. But they certainly made it seem like one this past weekend.

In the 2015 Battle of the Rockies, the No. 5 Lights swept the dual meet Friday, beating No. 16 Concordia of Nebraska 25-16 and No. 4 Oklahoma City, 30-21. Then, Saturday, the Lights shined bright at the Battle of the Rockies Open, crowning three individual champions.

The tournament, which was held Saturday at the CMR Fieldhouse in Great Falls, saw senior Willie Miller beat McKendree’s John Filipek by technical fall in the 174-pound championship match, capping a perfect weekend for the former Chinook star. Junior Garrett DeMers was also perfect, and he capped his weekend with a 1-0 win over Concordia’s Ken Brukhardt Jr., in the 197-pound finale. Junior Taylor Kornoely then won the heavyweight title with a 14-4 major decision over Minot State’s Mitchell Eull.

In all, the Lights had nine Lights place in the tournament. Quintel Fuchs continued his fine season with a second-place finish at 125 pounds, while Mhar Caballa placed fourth at 125. Freshman Matt Weber also reached the finals, before he was beaten in the 141-pound championship match. Drake Randall also finished fourth at 149 pounds, Blake Ivie finished fifth at 133 pounds and Brandon Weber placed sixth at 149 pounds.

Northern got the weekend off to an outstanding start with its two wins in the duals Friday afternoon.

Against Concordia, Fuchs, Ivie and Matt Weber opened the dual with wins, while Miller and DeMers got bonus point victories for the Lights in the upper weights. Then, senior Toby Cheff finished things off with a big win over Ceron Francisco, who is ranked No. 4, two spots behind Cheff in the heavyweight division.

Later in the day, Northern had its highly-anticipated showdown with fourth-ranked Oklahoma City, a team that, like the Lights, is considered a strong contender at the NAIA national tournament. And in a dual of bonus point wins, the Lights were the better squad. The dual also featured 15 different nationally ranked wrestlers.

Ivie, Matt Weber and Randall scored important wins in the lower weight for the Lights to help get going. And while OKC’s two top-ranked wrestlers won at 157 and 165 pounds, the Lights didn’t falter as Miller, DeMers and Cheff all won their matches against OKC by fall.

After the big weekend in Great Falls, Northern will start to prepare for a big road trip later this month. The Lights dual at Menlo College Dec. 17 and compete at the Reno Tournament of Champions Dec. 20.

Lights 25, Concordia 16

125 – Quintel Fuchs, MSU-N pinned Jerry Stepps, 2:13; 133 – Blake Ivie, MSU-N dec. Dmitir Smith, 3-0; Matt Weber, MSU-N maj. dec. Foster Bunce, 21-10; 149 – Andrew Schulte maj. dec. Brandon Weber, 11-1; 157 – Jr. Lule maj. dec. Tommy Cooper, MSU-N, 17-7; 165 Tommy Bailey tech. fall Austin Blaede, MSU-N, 16-0; 174 – Willie Miller, MSU-N tech. fall Travian Cooke, 18-3; 184 - Matt Atwood dec. Dace Fisher, MSU-N, 10-4; 197 - Garrett DeMers, MSU-N maj. dec. Ken Burkhardt Jr., 9-0; HWT – Toby Cheff, MSU-N dec. Ceron Francisco, 3-2.

Lights 30, Oklahoma City 21

125 – Alvie Killingsworth pinned Mhar Caballa, MSU-N, 1:32; Blake Ivie, MSU-N pinned Matt Landgraff, 3:51; 141 – Matt Weber, MSU-N dec. James Landoll, 5-4; 149 - Drake Randall, MSU-N dec. Eric Ambriz, 8-2; 157 – Zach Skates dec. Tommy Cooper, MSU-N, 10-3; 165 – Ricky McCarty pinned Austin Blaede, MSU-N, 1:14; 174 – Willie Miller, MSU-N pinned Jamie Shawver, 4:39; 184 – Derek Sievertsen pinned Dace Fisher, MSU-N, 4:29; 197 – Garrett DeMers, MSU-N pinned Miguel Tovar, 1:07; HWT – Toby Cheff, MSU-N pinned Bryson McGowan, :50.

Battle of the Rockies Open

125 - Mhar Caballa, 4th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Mhar Caballa (MSU-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Alvie Killingsworth (Oklahoma City) won by fall over Mhar Caballa (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 2 - Mhar Caballa (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Robert Pair (MSU-Northern) (Dec 8-1); Cons. Round 3 - Mhar Caballa (MSU-Northern) won by major decision over Matthew Barfuss (Northwest Community College) (Maj 12-2); Cons. Semi - Mhar Caballa (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Oscar Bulaqui (Simon Fraser) (Fall 0:00); 3rd Place Match - Alvie Killingsworth (Oklahoma City) won by major decision over Mhar Caballa (MSU-Northern) (Maj 15-6).

125 - Robert Pair

Champ. Round 1 - Nick Lukanich (Mckendree) won by decision over Robert Pair (MSU-Northern) (Dec 12-5)' Cons. Round 1 - Robert Pair (MSU-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Mhar Caballa (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Robert Pair (MSU-Northern) (Dec 8-1).

125 - Quintel Fuchs, 2nd Place

Champ. Round 1 - Quintel Fuchs (MSU-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Quintel Fuchs (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Austin Dodson (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Semifinal - Quintel Fuchs (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Oscar Bulaqui (Simon Fraser) (Fall 0:00); 1st Place Match - Luke Schlosser (U. Great Falls) won by major decision over Quintel Fuchs (MSU-Northern) (Maj 9-1).

133 - Blake Ivie, 5th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Blake Ivie (MSU-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Blake Ivie (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Clinton Garvin (U. Great Falls) (Dec 3-2); Semifinal - Andrew Rettke (Mckendree) won by major decision over Blake Ivie (MSU-Northern) (Maj 14-5); Cons. Semi - Cruz Velasquez (Simon Fraser) won by decision over Blake Ivie (MSU-Northern) (Dec 11-8); 5th Place Match - Blake Ivie (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Eli Walston (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00).

141 - Matt Weber, 2nd Place

Champ. Round 1 - Matt Weber (MSU-Northern) won by major decision over Silas Hopkins (U. Great Falls) (Maj 20-6); Quarterfinal - Matt Weber (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Cooper Bailey (Concordia University) (Fall 0:00); Semifinal - Matt Weber (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Tanner Crissler (Minot State U.) (Dec 6-3); 1st Place Match - Darren Wynn (Mckendree) won by decision over Matt Weber (MSU-Northern) (Dec 4-3).

149 - Brandon Weber, 6th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Weber (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Cody Haugen (Minot State U.) (Dec 6-2); Quarterfinal - John-David Henderson (Northwest Community College) won by decision over Brandon Weber (MSU-Northern) (Dec 4-2); Cons. Round 2 - Brandon Weber (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Kyle Leir (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 3 - Brandon Weber (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Tony Bergerson (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Semi - Drake Randall (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Brandon Weber (MSU-Northern) (Dec 4-2); 5th Place Match - Josh Reyes (Boise) won by decision over Brandon Weber (MSU-Northern) (Dec 10-3).

149 - Drake Randall, 4th Place

Champ. Round 1 - Drake Randall (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Kyle Leir (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Quarterfinal - Drake Randall (MSU-Northern) won by tech fall over Jered Sublet (Minot State U.) (TF 22-4); Semifinal - Mech Spraggins (Mckendree) won by decision over Drake Randall (MSU-Northern) (Dec 10-6); Cons. Semi - Drake Randall (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Brandon Weber (MSU-Northern) (Dec 4-2); 3rd Place Match - Andrew Schulte (Concordia University) won by decision over Drake Randall (MSU-Northern) (Dec 5-2).

165 - Jim Malone

Champ. Round 1 - Tyler Mclean (Simon Fraser) won by fall over Jim Malone (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 1 - Andrew VonRein (Northwest Community College) won by fall over Jim Malone (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00).

165 - Logan Foster

Champ. Round 1 - Austin Starkey (Concordia University) won by tech fall over Logan Foster (MSU-Northern) (TF 16-1); Cons. Round 1 - Khaldoon Rashid (U. Great Falls) won by tech fall over Logan Foster (MSU-Northern) (TF 18-3).

165 - Austin Blaede

Champ. Round 1 - Fred Green (Boise) won by fall over Austin Blaede (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 1 - Austin Blaede (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Matt Struzik (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 2 - Qiante Wagner (Mckendree) won by fall over Austin Blaede (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00).

174 - Willie Miller, 1st Place

Champ. Round 1 - Willie Miller (MSU-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Willie Miller (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Peter Struzik (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Semifinal - Willie Miller (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Mason Courtright (Minot State U.) (Fall 0:00); 1st Place Match - Willie Miller (MSU-Northern) won by tech fall over John Filipek (Mckendree) (TF 19-1).

184 - Sam Lindsey

Champ. Round 1 - Derek Sivertsen (Oklahoma City) won by tech fall over Sam Lindsey (MSU-Northern) (TF 17-1); Cons. Round 1 - Lee Cannon (Minot State U.) won by decision over Sam Lindsey (MSU-Northern) (Dec 10-4).

184 - Dace Fisher

Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Krawulski (Mckendree) won by major decision over Dace Fisher (MSU-Northern) (Maj 11-0); Cons. Round 1 - Dace Fisher (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Briley Crissler (Minot State U.) (Dec 3-0); Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Nelson (U. Great Falls) won by decision over Dace Fisher (MSU-Northern) (Dec 4-0).

197 - Garrett DeMers, 1st Place

Champ. Round 1 - Garrett DeMers (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Luke Diener (Mckendree) (Fall 0:00); Quarterfinal - Garrett DeMers (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Josh Kim (Simon Fraser) (Fall 0:00); Semifinal - Garrett DeMers (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Mathew Hopkins (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); 1st Place Match - Garrett DeMers (MSU-Northern) won by decision over Ken Burkhardt Jr (Concordia University) (Dec 1-0).

197 - Casey Schaub

Champ. Round 1 - Casey Schaub (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Demetreus Roby (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Quarterfinal - Ken Burkhardt Jr (Concordia University) won by fall over Casey Schaub (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 2 - Casey Schaub (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Luke Diener (Mckendree) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 3 - Cody Sivertsen (Oklahoma City) won by fall over Casey Schaub (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00).

285 - Taylor Kornoely, 1st Place

Champ. Round 1 - Taylor Kornoely (MSU-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Taylor Kornoely (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Derek Lee (U. Great Falls) (Fall 0:00); Semifinal - Taylor Kornoely (MSU-Northern) won by fall over Coltyn Pease (Mckendree) (Fall 0:00); 1st Place Match - Taylor Kornoely (MSU-Northern) won by major decision over Mitchell Eull (Minot State U.) (Maj 14-4).

285 - Mike Ollinger

Champ. Round 1 - Mike Ollinger (MSU-Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Mitchell Eull (Minot State U.) won by fall over Mike Ollinger (MSU-Northern) (Fall 0:00); Cons. Round 2 - Octavio Alejandre (U. Great Falls) won by decision over Mike Ollinger (MSU-Northern) (Dec 7-4).