History on the Mat: MSU-N Alumni Dual slated for Sunday

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team goes through a rigorous training regimen to get ready for another NAIA wrestling season. And it culminates with their first time on the mat with the annual Alumni Dual.

And while the Lights' of head coach Tyson Thivierge, are out to win every time they step on the mat, the Alumni Dual is also a fun time, meant to celebrate not only Northern's present, but to honor its glorious wrestling past.

The 2017 Alumni Dual will take place Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium and will feature plenty of former Northern greats. The Alumni Team will once again serve as Northern's first litmus test for the upcoming season, as the squad always provides a competitive test for the current Lights.

The 2017 Alumni Team, which will take on many of the current Lights, include some past Northern standouts, including three former NAIA national champions in Evan Hinebauch, Ben Stroh, who win his national title just last spring, and current UGF head coach Caleb Schaeffer. Schaeffer, Hinebauch and brother Ethan Hinebauch, were also four-time NAIA All-Americans for the Lights.

The Alumni roster also features several three-time All-Americans in Toby Cheff and Cameron Neiss, as well as Taylor Kornoely, who won an NJCAA heavyweight national championship at North Idaho College. Former All-Americans Bobby Mantle, Austin Ouelette and Willie Miller are slated to compete, as is Tommy Cooper, Brenton Beard, Ryan Shelstad and current Havre High assistant coach Beau LaSalle.

Thivierge also noted that many other past Northern greats will be back in Havre for Alumni Weekend, which kicks off the Lights' 2017-18 season. Northern will get right back on the mat Thursday night when the Lights host their annual Maroon/Gold Dual.

The 2017 Alumni Dual starts at 2 p.m. Sunday inside the Armory Gymnasium. The Lights officially being the season at the Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyoming Nov. 4.