2017-18 MSU-N Wrestling Preview: TALENTED LIGHTS AIM HIGH ON THE MAT

A quick glance at the 2017-18 Montana State University-Northern wrestling roster, and something really stands out - and it's not just that 2017 NAIA national champion Ben Stroh isn't there anymore.

No, what's really interesting about these Lights is head coach Tyson Thivierge doesn't have a single senior on his roster.

But that doesn't mean the cupboard is bare in the Northern wrestling room - far from it in fact. And while the Lights may be young this winter, they don't lack in talent or experience. The 17th-ranked Lights open the new season Saturday at the Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyoming.

"We have some proven guys, but we're a young team," the veteran Thivierge said. "Our roster numbers are lower than I'd like, but at the same time, this is already one of the most fun teams I've ever coached. They work their tails off, and they've meshed together as quickly as any team I've ever had. They go to dinner together, they hang out, they support each other and they push each other. So far, they've been an absolute blast to coach, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what they can do this season."

Northern will certainly miss the services of Stroh, and heavyweight Taylor Kornoely, two key components of a squad that finished eighth at last year's NAIA national tournament. However, MSU-N's exciting finish last season included Brandon Weber's run to the 157-pound title, and he returns for his junior season, not just as a national champion, but also one of the key leaders in Thivierge's room. Weber starts the year ranked No. 1 in the NAIA at 157.

"Brandon is in an elite group now," Thivierge said. "Not many guys get the opportunity to become a multiple-time national champion. He's always been confident, but right now, he's exploding with confidence. He's hungry and he's confident, but also, he's become a real leader for us."

Brandon's brother Matt is also back at 141 pounds for the Lights. The junior has spent much of his career ranked in the NAIA, and was an All-American two years ago. But injuries slowed him down last season. He starts the season ranked eighth.

"Matt's back," Thivierge said. "It's as simple as that. He got away from wrestling a bit this summer, and it was good for him. He's healthy both mentally and physically. He's ready."

Another junior, Andrew Bartel, ranked 12th, is also full of promise. A national qualifier his freshman season, Bartel had an up-and-down campaign last winter. But, with so much experience under his belt, Northern's 165-pound spot is in good hands.

"Andrew has all the potential in the world," Thivierge said. "And I really believe this is going to be his breakout year. I really believe he's ready to take that next step."

A host of sophomores who all saw varsity time a year ago will also need to take the next step to help the Lights remain as one of the top programs, not just in the newly-formed Cascade Conference (West Region), but as an elite NAIA program.

At 125 pounds, Rob Pair was Northern's starter a season ago, and he will man that spot again this season. Then there are twins Dylan and Brennon Veis, who wrestled varsity as true freshmen last season. Dylan could see time all the way up at 149 this season, while Brennon will man a spot at 133.

"They are both so competitive, and they hate to lose," Thivierge said of the Veis twins. "They are full of fire."

Another sophomore with a ton of potential is Steeler French, who also competed for the Lights as a true freshman. French went back-and-forth between 184 and 197 pounds last season, but looks to be solid this year at 184. French is ranked 18th to begin his second season as a Light.

"Steeler is stronger and more mature," Thivierge said. "Last year was tough because we asked him to wrestle two different weights. But he also gained a ton of experience, and, he had so many close matches that could have gone his way. So all of that experience is really going to benefit him this season."

Northern has always been strong in the upper weights, and while losses like Stroh and Kornoely hurt, the Lights have a newcomer who will certainly pack an immediate punch in the upper weights. At 174 pounds, Boise State transfer Chris Nile will impact the Lights' lineup right away. Nile was a star at Forsyth, before wrestling at Boise State until they dropped wrestling. He spent last year as an assistant coach at Billings Skyview.

"We expect Chris to impact us immediately," Thivierge said. "He's had a year away, but he's extremely talented. Another Forsyth kid. I think that year coaching at Skyview was really good for him, and he's going to have a big impact on our team, on the mat, and as a leader in the room."

Nile is just one of many fresh faces that will be on the mat for the Lights this season. Thivierge said he's very excited about North Idaho transfer Landon Bailey at 133 pounds, Great Falls High freshmen Chase Short (174) and Rylan Moldenhauer (184), as well as Nick Kunz, a true freshman from Helena, who will compete at 125 pounds.

And then there's exciting prospect Isaac Bartel, the younger brother of Andrew. An Iowa state champion, Bartel will wrestle at 197 pounds, and is one of four Lights who will compete to solidify Northern's upper-most weights. Transfer Jake Ferris could be a potential heavyweight, as is freshman Jeremy Smith, while junior Dace Fisher brings plenty of returning experience to the table at 197 pounds.

"Isaac Bartel is a guy who is going to turn some heads," Thivierge said. "He's so strong. He reminds me a lot of (Garret) DeMers. "He's strong, he's big, but he'll get down low and take shots. He's going to open some eyes for sure.

"We have a great group of new guys," Thivierge continued. "I'm really excited about all those guys and what they can bring to this team."

Of course, new faces can also come with some growing pains, and Northern's schedule will certainly test both the veterans and newcomers. The Lights wrestle at tough tournaments like the Cowboy Open, The Battle of the Rockies, the Reno T.O.C. and the Missouri Valley Invitational. Two duals against the University of Providence - (formerly UGF) - are also the highlight of Northern's dual campaign, but the Lights also take on Warner Pacific, Southern Oregon and Embry-Riddle at home in conference duals, as well as travel to Eastern Oregon and North Idaho, along with Dickinson State and the Argo Duals among others.

"I've always trained my teams to be tournament teams," Thivierge said. "There's no national championship for duals. Sure, we want to win every dual, we want to win every time we're on the mat, but I have always stressed being a good tournament team. I want our guys to support each other, feed off each other, be matside when we're wrestling, pick each other up. You want to be build towards the national tournament because that tournament, that's always our goal."

And even with a young team, that will be the goal again this season. The Lights always go into February and March competing for hardware, and they'll be shooting for it again when the Cascade Conference Qualifier rolls around Feb. 17 in Ashland, Oregon. There, they'll try and punch as many tickets as they can to the 2018 NAIA national tournament, which is set for March 2-3 in Des Moines, Iowa.

"This is shaping up to be a really fun team," Thivierge said. "We have so much potential. It's very exciting. I know a lot of people don't look at us as a national championship contender right now, and that's OK. But I believe this team will really turn some heads this season, and they can accomplish great things. They work hard, they are a tight group and they are hungry. Those are all things you need to be a good team, and we have all of that in our room. So I'm really looking forward to seeing what these guys can do."

Northern opens the season at Saturday's Cowboy Open. The Lights then head to Great Falls next Wednesday for their first dual against the Argos, before heading back to Wyoming for the Trapper Open Nov. 12. MSU-N makes its home debut Nov. 16 when the Lights host Warner Pacific.