Lights in the trophy hunt in Topeka

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team is in the thick of the NAIA national championship race at the end of the first day of the national tournament in Topeka, Kansas.

On day one, Northern scored 74 points and advanced four wrestlers to Saturday's national semifinals. The Lights, who will crown six All-Americans at tournament's end, sit in second place behind defending champion Grand View, which has 114 points.

Freshman Matt Weber (141), senior Willie Miller (174), junior Garrett DeMers (197) and junior Taylor Kornoely (HWT) are in the semifinals Saturday morning, while Quintel Fuchs (125) and Toby Cheff (HWT) are in the All-American rounds of the wrestlebacks. In all the Lights advanced seven grapplers to the quarterfinals Friday afternoon.

016 NAIA National Championships Results for Montana State-Northern

125 - Quintel Fuchs (31-12) placed 8th and scored 10.50 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State-Northern) 31-12 won by fall over Deshaun Haynes (Dickinson State) 15-11 (Fall 2:45)

Champ. Round 2 - Devane Dodgens (Life (Ga.)) 31-8 won by decision over Quintel Fuchs (Montana State-Northern) 31-12 (Dec 6-4)

Cons. Round 2 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State-Northern) 31-12 won by tech fall over Josh Johnson (Warner Pacific (Ore.)) 16-15 (TF-1.5 4:35 (21-6))

Cons. Round 3 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State-Northern) 31-12 won by tech fall over Isaac Wilson (Great Falls (Mont.)) 11-11 (TF-1.5 3:35 (17-1))

Cons. Round 4 - Quintel Fuchs (Montana State-Northern) 31-12 won by decision over Tristan Bundy (Grand View (Iowa)) 36-13 (Dec 11-5)

133 - Blake Ivie (30-17) place is unknown and scored 0.50 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Blake Ivie (Montana State-Northern) 30-17 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Davion Caston (Campbellsville (Ky.)) 8-0 won by decision over Blake Ivie (Montana State-Northern) 30-17 (Dec 6-4)

Cons. Round 2 - Blake Ivie (Montana State-Northern) 30-17 won by decision over Jordan Olfus (Graceland (Iowa)) 13-10 (Dec 12-6)

Cons. Round 3 - Collin Crume (Indiana Tech) 20-15 won by fall over Blake Ivie (Montana State-Northern) 30-17 (Fall 4:14)

141 - Matt Weber (24-13) placed 6th and scored 9.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 24-13 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 24-13 won in sudden victory - 1 over Tyler Dickman (Baker (Kan.)) 23-12 (SV-1 3-1)

Quarterfinal - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 24-13 won by decision over Jake Ekster (Missouri Valley) 8-3 (Dec 7-3)

149 - Drake Randall (29-15) place is unknown and scored 4.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Drake Randall (Montana State-Northern) 29-15 won by fall over Kyle Fowler (Morningside (Iowa)) 11-8 (Fall 3:59)

Champ. Round 2 - Drake Randall (Montana State-Northern) 29-15 won by decision over William Upson (Missouri Baptist) 14-2 (Dec 3-0)

Quarterfinal - Jaedin Sklapsky (Campbellsville (Ky.)) 13-1 won by decision over Drake Randall (Montana State-Northern) 29-15 (Dec 5-2)

Cons. Round 4 - Dallas Brown (Life (Ga.)) 28-9 won by decision over Drake Randall (Montana State-Northern) 29-15 (Dec 10-7)

157 - Brandon Weber (32-14) place is unknown and scored 2.50 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 32-14 won by tech fall over Dakota Drenth (Morningside (Iowa)) 19-14 (TF-1.5 5:53 (18-0))

Champ. Round 2 - Victor Thomas (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) 23-6 won by decision over Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 32-14 (Dec 7-4)

Cons. Round 2 - Andrew Simmons (Missouri Valley) 14-9 won in sudden victory - 1 over Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 32-14 (SV-1 8-6)

165 - Andrew Bartel (17-15) place is unknown and scored 1.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 17-15 won by decision over Connor Middleton (Baker (Kan.)) 27-14 (Dec 6-2)

Champ. Round 2 - Ricky McCarty (Oklahoma City) 39-2 won by major decision over Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 17-15 (MD 10-0)

Cons. Round 2 - Orlando Nawade (Cumberland (Tenn.)) 23-11 won in tie breaker - 2 over Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 17-15 (TB-2 7-6)

174 - Willie Miller (39-9) placed 6th and scored 9.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Willie Miller (Montana State-Northern) 39-9 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Willie Miller (Montana State-Northern) 39-9 won by decision over Chuck Sharon (Campbellsville (Ky.)) 21-2 (Dec 7-6)

Quarterfinal - Willie Miller (Montana State-Northern) 39-9 won by decision over Kevin Corbett (Doane (Neb.)) 29-5 (Dec 13-6)

197 - Garrett DeMers (35-5) placed 6th and scored 13.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Garrett DeMers (Montana State-Northern) 35-5 received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 - Garrett DeMers (Montana State-Northern) 35-5 won by fall over Nate Knauf (Campbellsville (Ky.)) 12-7 (Fall 1:52)

Quarterfinal - Garrett DeMers (Montana State-Northern) 35-5 won by fall over Donovan Fouchey (Missouri Valley) 24-10 (Fall 0:42)

285 - Toby Cheff (16-4) placed 8th and scored 13.50 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Toby Cheff (Montana State-Northern) 16-4 won by fall over Scott Pitrowski (Calumet (Ind.)) 4-9 (Fall 1:59)

Champ. Round 2 - Korey Walker (Oklahoma City) 29-11 won by decision over Toby Cheff (Montana State-Northern) 16-4 (Dec 9-4)

Cons. Round 2 - Toby Cheff (Montana State-Northern) 16-4 won by fall over Jade Hoisington (Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)) 7-12 (Fall 0:54)

Cons. Round 3 - Toby Cheff (Montana State-Northern) 16-4 won by fall over Bucky Dennis (Brewton-Parker (Ga.)) 29-12 (Fall 2:21)

Cons. Round 4 - Toby Cheff (Montana State-Northern) 16-4 won by fall over Tyler Smith (Cumberland (Tenn.)) 27-11 (Fall 3:52)

285 - Taylor Kornoely (28-3) placed 6th and scored 11.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State-Northern) 28-3 won by major decision over Conor Karwath (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 7-6 (MD 15-4)

Champ. Round 2 - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State-Northern) 28-3 won by major decision over Mario Bell (St. Catharine (Ky.)) 17-14 (MD 10-2)

Quarterfinal - Taylor Kornoely (Montana State-Northern) 28-3 won by decision over Markese Christian (Wayland Baptist (Texas)) 29-2 (Dec 3-1)