Northern matmen triumph in Missouri

As far as regular season tournaments go, they don't get much bigger for the Montana State University-Northern Lights than the Missouri Valley College Invitational. And, in the 2016 version, the Lights couldn't have done much better.

The No. 4 Lights, on the backs of two individual champions, scored 161 points to edge No. 1 Grand View for the team title this past weekend in Marshall, Missouri. Head coach Tyson Thivierge's team placed eight grapplers overall, and even still won the meet with two if its top wrestlers having to injury default out of the tournament. Grand View finished with 157 points, while Indiana Tech was third with 142.

The Missouri Valley Invite is likely as close as it gets to what the Lights will see at the national tournament in March, as 17 of the Top 20 teams in the NAIA were in attendance, and overall, there were 25 teams in the field. So, for Northern to do so well, it bodes very well in the coming months.

"We were tied with Grand View going into the heavyweight final," Thivierge said. "And we got a pin. We wrestled well enough to win this tournament, and we did."

That pin came from junior heavyweight Taylor Kornoely, who pinned Grand View's Dean Broghammer in the semifinals, and Cumberlands Tyler Smith in the finale. Northern also got a championship from top-ranked Garrett DeMers at 197 pounds. In going unbeaten on the weekend, DeMers finished off Life University's Dalton Bailey in the championship match.

MSU-N would have also scored more points if not for injury defaults from Toby Cheff (HWT) and Matt Weber at 141 pounds. Cheff was 2-0 and in the quarterfinals before pulling out, while Weber reached the semifinals before losing, and had to withdraw the rest of the way with an injury. He still finished sixth overall.

MSU-N also got an outstanding performance from freshman Quintel Fuchs, who reached the championship match at 125 pounds. Fuchs lost to Oklahoma City's Adrian Gaines in the final, but it was still an outstanding weekend for the youngster.

Adding to MSU-N's big weekend was a fifth-place finish from Willie Miller at 174 pounds, while Drake Randall (149) and Blake Ivie (133) each finished sixth and Brandon Weber (157) finished seventh.

The Lights will get right back on the mat this coming weekend when they dual Dickinson State Friday and take part in the Tyler Plummer Classic Saturday in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Missouri Valley Invite Results

125 - Quintel Fuchs (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University Northern) 21-9 received a bye () (Bye; Champ. Round 2 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University Northern) 21-9 won by fall over Kodi Byrd (Maryville University) 0-2 (Fall 0:00); Champ. Round 3 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University Northern) 21-9 won by fall over Ryan Stearns (Missouri Valley College) 10-7 (Fall 4:22); Quarterfinal - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University Northern) 21-9 won by injury default over Devane Dodgens (Life University) 21-6 (Inj. 6:24); Semifinal - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University Northern) 21-9 won by major decision over Tristan Bundy (Grand View University) 25-11 (MD 12-4); 1st Place Match - Adrian Gaines (Oklahoma City University) 14-0 won by tech fall over Quintel Fuchs (Montana State University Northern) 21-9 (TF-1.5 0:00 (23-7).

125 - Mhar Caballa

Champ. Round 1 - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University Northern) 17-12 received a bye () (By; Champ. Round 2 - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University Northern) 17-12 won by fall over Josiah Lunceford (Truman State University) 1-2 (Fall 4:43); Champ. Round 3 - Austin Boles (Northwestern College) 3-3 won by fall over Mhar Caballa (Montana State University Northern) 17-12 (Fall 2:52); Cons. Round 4 - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University Northern) 17-12 won by major decision over John Altieri (William Penn University) 10-8 (MD 18-9); Cons. Round 5 - Mhar Caballa (Montana State University Northern) 17-12 won by decision over Elias Hamchaoui (Graceland University) 10-10 (Dec 8-5); Cons. Round 6 - Hugo Perez (Midland Lutheran University) 5-2 won by tech fall over Mhar Caballa (Montana State University Northern) 17-12 (TF-1.5 0:00 (19-0).

133 - Blake Ivie (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 won by fall over Timothy Randolph (Life University) 3-7 (Fall 4:27); Champ. Round 3 - Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 won by decision over Preston Hoebelheinrich (Northwestern College) 0-2 (Dec 7-0); Quarterfinal - Collin Crume (Indiana Tech ) 4-2 won by fall over Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 (Fall 6:10); Cons. Round 6 - Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 won by fall over Cole Tawney (St Catherine College) 4-5 (Fall 3:00; Cons. Round 7 - Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 won by decision over Khamin Crow (Graceland University) 16-12 (Dec 3-0); Cons. Semi - Hunter Genco (Grand View University) 13-7 won by fall over Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 (Fall 3:23); 5th Place Match - Sammy Rosario (Cumberland University) 4-2 won by medical forfeit over Blake Ivie (Montana State University Northern) 23-15 (M. For.).

141 - Matt Weber (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Matt Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Matt Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by tech fall over Jadin Taylor (Hannibal LaGrange University) 1-2 (TF-1.5 4:25 (16-0)); Champ. Round 3 - Matt Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by decision over Marcelo Sierra (Graceland University) 17-8 (Dec 18-12); Quarterfinal - Matt Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by decision over Tyler Dickman (Baker University) 18-10 (Dec 7-1); Semifinal - Tyler Fraley (Williams Baptist College) 8-0 won by injury default over Matt Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 (Inj. 0:00).

149 - Drake Randall (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Drake Randall (Montana State University Northern) 22-12 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Drake Randall (Montana State University Northern) 22-12 won by fall over Eric Ambriz (Oklahoma City University) 11-19 (Fall 1:22); Champ. Round 3 - Drake Randall (Montana State University Northern) 22-12 won by decision over Henry Reyes (Williams Baptist College) 3-6 (Dec 8-7); Quarterfinal - Drake Randall (Montana State University Northern) 22-12 won by decision over Thomas Garty (Indiana Tech ) 2-2 (Dec 13-8); Semifinal - Colby Crank (Baker University) 15-1 won by fall over Drake Randall (Montana State University Northern) 22-12 (Fall 4:16); Cons. Semi - Seth Ehlang (Dickinson State University) 12-5 won by decision over Drake Randall (Montana State University Northern) 22-12 (Dec 7-6); 5th Place Match - Dallas Brown (Life University) 17-4 won by decision over Drake Randall (Montana State University Northern) 22-12 (Dec 5-3).

157 - Brandon Weber (7th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Tanner Ogden (Baker University) 14-8 won by major decision over Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 (MD 18-4); Cons. Round 2 - Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by fall over Andrew Bennett (Lindenwood University Belleville) 3-12 (Fall 0:42); Cons. Round 4 - Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by tech fall over Zach Milks (Waldorf College) 1-2 (TF-1.5 0:00 (17-2)); Cons. Round 5 - Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by tech fall over Tyler Mann (Benedictine College) 1-2 (TF-1.5 0:00 (17-1)); Cons. Round 6 - Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by fall over Matt Mattingley (Hannibal LaGrange University) 8-6 (Fall 6:49); Cons. Round 7 - Andy Dobben (St Catherine College) 19-11 won by decision over Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 (Dec 4-0); 7th Place Match - Brandon Weber (Montana State University Northern) 21-10 won by medical forfeit over Rowdy Prior (Life University) 24-12 (M. For.).

165 - Andrew Bartel

Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Bartel (Montana State University Northern) 9-8 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Jacob Blackwell (Grand View University) 15-6 won by decision over Andrew Bartel (Montana State University Northern) 9-8 (Dec 9-2); Cons. Round 3 - Andrew Bartel (Montana State University Northern) 9-8 won by decision over Peter Donchev (Cumberland University) 0-2 (Dec 5-2); Cons. Round 4 - Shelby Floyd (St Catherine College) 15-11 won by decision over Andrew Bartel (Montana State University Northern) 9-8 (Dec 3-1).

174 - Willie Miller (5th Place)

Champ. Round 2 - Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 won by tech fall over Luke Kotomos (Truman State University) 0-2 (TF-1.5 4:28 (18-0)); Champ. Round 3 - Archie Williams (University Central Missouri) 4-1 won by decision over Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 (Dec 17-12); Cons. Round 4 - Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 won by fall over Travis Lang (Maryville University) 0-2 (Fall 1:09; Cons. Round 5 - Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 won by fall over Gabe Suthoff (Benedictine College) 1-2 (Fall 2:47); Cons. Round 6 - Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 won by fall over Connor Linehan (Williams Baptist College) 9-13 (Fall 2:50); Cons. Round 7 - Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 won by major decision over Zach Fishman (Northwestern College) 5-2 (MD 12-1); Cons. Semi - Archie Williams (University Central Missouri) 4-1 won by decision over Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 (Dec 13-6); 5th Place Match - Willie Miller (Montana State University Northern) 29-9 won by tech fall over Cody Johnson (Dickinson State University) 8-4 (TF-1.5 3:59 (15-0).

184 - Dace Fisher

Champ. Round 3 - Dustin Harris (Cumberland University) 3-3 won by decision over Dace Fisher (Montana State University Northern) 3-21 (Dec 6-0); Cons. Round 4 - Dace Fisher (Montana State University Northern) 3-21 won by forfeit over Luis Rivera-Santiago (Northwestern College) 0-2 (For.); Cons. Round 5 - Chase Wrisinger (Truman State University) 2-2 won by decision over Dace Fisher (Montana State University Northern) 3-21 (Dec 6-4).

197 - Garrett DeMers (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Garrett DeMers (Montana State University Northern) 25-5 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Garrett DeMers (Montana State University Northern) 25-5 won by fall over Tony Crowell (Cumberland University) 0-2 (Fall 0:45; Champ. Round 3 - Garrett DeMers (Montana State University Northern) 25-5 won by decision over Kyler Atwood (Baker University) 15-9 (Dec 4-0); Quarterfinal - Garrett DeMers (Montana State University Northern) 25-5 won by tech fall over Kasey Crump (Ottowa University) 17-6 (TF-1.5 0:00 (18-0)); Semifinal - Garrett DeMers (Montana State University Northern) 25-5 won by decision over Stephen Loosbrock (Benedictine College) 5-1 (Dec 4-3); 1st Place Match - Garrett DeMers (Montana State University Northern) 25-5 won by decision over Dalton Bailey (Life University) 28-2 (Dec 8-5).

285 - Taylor Kornoely (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State University Northern) 22-4 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State University Northern) 22-4 won by decision over Ben Melton (Maryville University) 1-2 (Dec 7-3); Champ. Round 3 - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State University Northern) 22-4 won by decision over Maury Lemons (Midland Lutheran University) 2-2 (Dec 9-4); Quarterfinal - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State University Northern) 22-4 won by decision over Korey Walker (Oklahoma City University) 23-10 (Dec 2-1); Semifinal - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State University Northern) 22-4 won by fall over Dean Broghammer (Grand View University) 23-4 (Fall 4:30); 1st Place Match - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State University Northern) 22-4 won by decision over Tyler Smith (Cumberland University) 4-1 (Dec 8-5).

285 - Toby Cheff

Champ. Round 1 - Toby Cheff (Montana State University Northern) 10-5 received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - Toby Cheff (Montana State University Northern) 10-5 won by fall over Armondo Contreras (Ottowa University) 3-3 (Fall 1:33); Champ. Round 3 - Toby Cheff (Montana State University Northern) 10-5 won by major decision over Trevor Conrad (Dickinson State University) 8-6 (MD 13-3); Quarterfinal - Mario Bell (St Catherine College) 9-6 won by medical forfeit over Toby Cheff (Montana State University Northern) 10-5 (M. For.); Cons. Round 6 - Deaken McCoy (St Catherine College) 12-8 won by injury default over Toby Cheff (Montana State University Northern) 10-5 (Inj. 0:00).