Round Two: Lights battle Argos tonight

The excitement for the Montana State University-Northern Lights’ historic dual with the Iowa Hawkeyes has been building for months now. But, right now, the Hawkeyes are the furthest things from Northern’s mind.

That’s because the No. 2 Lights have an NAIA showdown with arch rival, and 14th-ranked UGF tonight in the Armory Gymnasium to deal with. And, with how the duals between the Lights and Argos usually go, Northern is focused on nothing but that. The latest salvo in the rivalry will start at 7 tonight inside the Armory Gymnasium.

“We’re very excited for this dual,” said Northern head coach Tyson Thivierge. “This will be a great test for our guys, to see where they are at and how far they’ve come since the last time we saw them (Argos).”

The last time Northern saw the Argos, the two teams waged another epic battle in what is Montana’s only college wrestling rivalry. In the end, the Lights edged the Argos 19-18 in Great Falls back on Nov. 12. The dual actually ended in an 18-18 stalemate, but, the Lights won on a criteria for having scored more total points in the match.

However, as good as the first meeting was, a long season has passed since, and both the Lights and Argos have a lot more matches under their belt. So, Thivierge is expecting two more experienced and more polished teams going at it tonight.

“We’ve gained a ton of experience since the first time we wrestled them,” Thivierge said. “And we’ve really matured. We’re a young team still, but the work these guys have put in, the attitude they approach every day with, they are just such a fun group to coach, and they’ve come a long, long way.

“And I think what’s most beneficial for us right now is, we’re as healthy as we’ve been all season,” he continued. “And I think on the flip side of that, UGF has come a long way too. So it should be another great dual.”

It usually is when the Lights and Argos hook up, and tonight will likely be no different.

Northern’s lineup includes its two nationally ranked seniors in No. 2 heavyweight Toby Cheff and No. 5 174-pounder Willie Miller. It won’t be Northern’s last home match with Iowa coming in Friday, but both seniors will be honored tonight, and it should be emotional, with Cheff now in his fifth year at Northern and Miller, being a Chinook native.

“Those two guys, I just have so much respect for,” Thivierge said. “They have given us everything we have asked from them. They are warriors and great leaders in our room.”

In the lower weights, Northern will send out fifth-ranked freshman Quintel Fuchs at 125 pounds, though he may get a forfeit as second-ranked Luke Schlosser may be out with an injury for the Argos. At 133, freshman Blake Ivie will have a tough test against UGF veteran Clinton Garvin, while the 141-pound matchup will pit fifth-ranked Matt Weber, another MSU-N freshman against UGF’s Justin Whitman, and at 149 pounds, 15th-ranked freshman Brandon Weber will take on UGF stalwart Kyle Leir.

“I think, for us, the lighter weights are the key,” Thivierge said. “I think those matches will dictate the whole dual. That’s where UGF is very well rounded and really solid, so our guys have to go out there and attack and get this dual started off on the right foot.”

As the dual goes on, MSU-N will have freshmen Drake Randall and Andrew Bartel at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively. Randall will face off against UGF’s Isaiah Yates, while Bartel has a big matchup with seventh-ranked Khaldoon Rashid. At 174, Miller will go up against Michael Ayala, while Northern freshman Dace Fisher will battle fifth-ranked Taylor Vaughn at 184 pounds. The last two matches, the Lights will be heavily favored with top-ranked Garrett DeMers battling Justin Harbison at 187, and Cheff taking on Andreas Geranois in the heavyweight bout.

“Should be another exciting dual,” UGF head coach Caleb Schaeffer said. “There should be some great matchups coming at 133 and 174. Havre is always a tough place to wrestle. My guys better be ready for a hostile, but great environment. Northern has a great team this year and we are just trying to give them the best match we can.”

The Lights have been great, going 8-1 this season, with a perfect record against West Region opponents, but that doesn’t mean tonight will be anything but a typical Northern/UGF battle. And Thivierge expects his guys to come out hungry and fired up to defend their home mat.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere, it should be a great dual,” Thivierge said. “This dual always brings out the best in everybody. And I hope to see that in our guys tonight.”

Tonight’s dual between the Lights and Argos starts at 7 in the Armory Gymnasium. Northern will, of course, follow up tonight’s huge rivalry match with the long-awaited visit from Iowa Friday night.

Cheff, Willie Miller and Riley Miller will all be honored tonight before the dual.