Northern wrestlers remain third in final coaches poll

A week from today, the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team will be in Topeka, Kansas, getting ready to compete in the 2016 NAIA national tournament. And the Lights will do so as one of the top teams in the tournament.

In the final NAIA Coaches Poll of the regular season, the Lights are ranked No. 3. Northern climbed to as high as No. 2 this season, but will enter the national tournament next week behind only defending national champion Grand View and Missouri Valley in the rankings.

After winning the West Regional Qualifier last Saturday in Prescott, Arizona, the Lights are also taking 10 grapplers to the national tourney, with all but one of them ranked in the final individual rankings.

At the top of the list is junior Garrett DeMers, who's been ranked No. 1 at 197 pounds from start to finish this season. Northern also has two No. 2-ranked seniors in Willie Miller at 174 pounds and Toby Cheff at heavyweight. The Lights go into nationals absolutely loaded at heavyweight, as junior Taylor Kornoely is also ranked third there.

MSU-N's sensational group of freshmen also hold national rankings, led by Quintel Fuchs, who is ranked sixth at 125 pounds. Blake Ivie goes to nationals ranked 14th at 133, while Drake Randall is No. 14 at 149. At 157 pounds, Brandon Weber is No. 15 in the final poll, while Andrew Bartel is No. 14 at 165. Fellow frosh Matt Weber is going to nationals as well, and spent much of the season ranked at 141 pounds.

The Lights will compete at the national tournament next Friday and Saturday in Topeka. For full coverage, see next week's Havre Daily News.

NAIA Coaches Poll

Rn. Prv. Pts.

1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 193

2 2 Missouri Valley 92.5

3 3 Montana State-Northern 89.5

4 5 Indiana Tech 76.5

5 4 Oklahoma City 71.5

6 7 Concordia (Neb.) 58

7 8 Campbellsville (Ky.) 54

T8 10 Menlo (Calif.) 43

T8 15 Southern Oregon 43

10 6 Life (Ga.) 42.5

11 12 York (Neb.) 42

T12 9 Williams Baptist (Ark.) 39.5

T12 11 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 39.5

14 15 Dickinson State (N.D.) 36

15 14 Wayland Baptist (Texas) 32.5

16 13 Great Falls (Mont.) 27.5

T17 19 Baker (Kan.) 24.5

T17 RV Doane (Neb.) 24.5

19 RV Cumberland (Tenn.) 22.5

20 20 Warner Pacific (Ore.) 22

Others receiving votes: Midland (Neb.) 19; Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 18; Morningside (Iowa) 17; Missouri Baptist 16.5; Benedictine (Kan.) 14; St. Catharine (Ky.) 14; Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 12; Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 11.5; Northwestern (Iowa) 11; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 8; Jamestown (N.D.) 8; Simpson (Calif.) 7; Bacone (Okla.) 5; Cumberlands (Ky.) 4.5; Bethany (Kan.) 4; Ottawa (Kan.) 4; Southeastern (Fla.) 3; Lyon (Ark.) 3; Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) 2.5; Davenport (Mich.) 2; William Penn (Iowa) 1; Central Baptist (Ark.) 1.