Lights ink three Montana matmen from Class AA

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team had a banner season, one which ended two weeks ago with a second-place finish at the NAIA national tournament.

However, head coach Tyson Thivierge is already looking to the future, and that includes the recruiting trail. And Thivierge announced this week that he's added three Montana Class AA standouts to his roster.

Included in the three signees are a pair of 2016 Class AA state champions. Dylan Veis, who won a state title last month at 138 pounds has signed to be a Light starting next fall. Joining him will be his brother, Brennan Veis, who placed fifth at 132 pounds at the AA state tourney, and both were integral parts of Billings Senior's run to the AA state team title.

Also signing on with the Lights is Missoula Sentinel's Dylan Duffalo. Duffalo captured a Class AA title at 145 pounds last month in Billings, and helped his Spartans to a second-place finish.

"All three of these guys have an incredible work ethic and will do exceptional things here at MSU-Northern," Thivierge said.

In other MSU-N news, Thivierge will be looking for a new assistant coach for the Northern program though as Northern assistant and former Lights' All-American Dustyn Azure has been named the head coach at Eastern Oregon University. Not only is Azure the head coach at EOU, he's the first head coach, as the school just announced back in January that it was adding men's and women's wrestling.

Azure spent four season's as assistant coach for the Lights, and has proven to be an important asset for the Lights. Azure brought in knowledge and a powerful strength and conditioning program that proved to be the difference the Lights have been looking for. Before coming to Northern, he was the head coach of a successful six-year run in Ronan.

As a Light, Azure placed fourth at the national tournament in 2000 and fifth in 2005.