Eight Lights grapple to nationals

Every year, the goal at the regional tournament is the same. Sure, the Montana State University-Northern Lights always want to win championships and team titles, but the biggest goal is to make sure they punch as many tickets to the NAIA national tournament as they possibly can.

Longtime head coach Tyson Thivierge’s team accomplished that goal Saturday in Ashland, Oregon. Northern qualified eight wrestlers for next month’s national tournament, and on the strength of four finalists, the Lights scored 117 points at the Cascade Conference Qualifying Tournament. The field was loaded with five Top 20 NAIA teams, including the Lights, so what the Lights accomplished Saturday was quite a feat.

"As the day went on, we started getting stronger round after round," Thivierge said. "As we came in to those crucial matches, the ‘you win you're in’ matches, we took full advantage of the moment. Each individual was motivated to punch their ticket to Des Moines.

"As it ended up, we put 10 of our 12 in the medal rounds. Two of those were not qualifying matches, but were important in the team points race. I haven't had a fun team race like that in a while, it was between SOU, Menlo, UP and our team. There was a lead change nearly every match," he added.

MSU-N was led by some of its biggest guns, as expected. Junior Matt Weber reached the 141-pound championship match, before losing a tough decision to arch rival Deven Poppen of Southern Oregon. At 165, Andrew Bartel reached the championship bout with two wins, before he fell to highly ranked Blake Cooper of Warner Pacific.

Sophomore Chris Nile, who has been on a real hot streak of late, beat Providence’s Adrian Lyons-Lopez for the second time this month, on his way to a second-place finish at 174. Nile lost a gut-wrenching 5-4 decision in the final to Menlo’s Anthony Orozco. Freshman Isaac Bartel also got to the national tourney in his debut season, finishing second at 197 pounds. In the championship match, he lost to Southern Oregon’s Tanner Fischer for the third time this season, this time by a narrow 4-1 margin.

Northern not only had finalists Saturday, the Lights had impressive bounce-back performers too. Junior Brandon Weber, the defending national champion at 157 pounds, suffered a semifinal setback against Embry-Riddle’s James Williams, but he roared back to beat nationally-ranked Hunter Hodges of SOU and Providence rival Casey Dobson to finish third.

Freshman Nick Kunz also had a spectacular rebound. Losing his first match of the day, Kunz beat nationally-ranked and former Northern grappler Mhar Caballa 10-6 in overtime to earn a spot in the national tournament. Kunz would go on to finish third at 125 pounds. Sophomore Landon Bailey too lost his opening match at 133 pounds, but he rebounded to beat ERAU’s Collin Anderson and Menlo’s Elias Hernandez to earn a spot in the consolation final, where he lost a 5-3 decision to Menlo’s top-seeded Ian Morken.

Chase Short and Steeler French rallied back as well. Short won two straight in the wrestlebacks, then beat SOU’s Calvin McInnis to place fifth, while at 184 pounds, French was beaten in the first round, then he knocked off three straight wins to reach the consolation final before losing 7-6, but still earning himself a spot in the national tourney. Rob Pair at 125 pounds, also finished sixth for the Lights.

"Unfortunately, with four guys in for first and four in for third, we weren't able to overcome a bad round to finish the tournament," Thivierge said. "All we had to do was win four out of those eight matches and we win the inaugural Cascade Conference Championship. But it was fun and we wrestled extremely well."

Now, all the grapplers who qualified for the Lights will get ready for the 2018 NAIA national tournament, which runs March 2-3 in Des Moines, Iowa.

"I'm really happy qualifying eight to nationals," Thivierge said, "We'd love to have all 12, but we will get back to work and get these eight ready to compete in Iowa."

Cascade Conference Tournament

1 Menlo (Calif.) 120.0; 1 Southern Oregon 120.0; 3 Providence (Mont.) 119.0; 4 Montana State-Northern 117.0; 5 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 98.5; 6 Eastern Oregon University (OR) 76.0; 7 Warner Pacific 39.5; 8 Simpson (Calif.) 11.5.

125 – Rob Pair (6th Place)

Quarterfinal - Mikel Perales (Menlo (Calif.)) 9-0 won by decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 8-15 (Dec 13-7; Cons. Round 1 - Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 8-15 won by decision over Josh Johnson (Warner Pacific) 0-2 (Dec 10-9); Cons. Semi - Chandler Strand (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 11-13 won by decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 8-15 (Dec 8-2); 5th Place Match - Mhar Caballa (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 13-8 won by major decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 8-15 (MD 16-8).

125 – Nick Kunz (3rd Place)

Quarterfinal - Roy Long (Southern Oregon) 16-9 won by decision over Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 23-18 (Dec 7-5; Cons. Round 1 - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 23-18 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Semi - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 23-18 won in sudden victory - 1 over Mhar Caballa (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 13-8 (SV-1 10-6); 3rd Place Match - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 23-18 won by forfeit over Chandler Strand (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 11-13 (For.).

133 – Landon Bailey (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-19 received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Blake McNall (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 21-9 won by decision over Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-19 (Dec 3-2); Cons. Round 2 - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-19 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-19 won by fall over Collin Anderson (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 13-16 (Fall 4:26); Cons. Semi - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-19 won by decision over Elias Hernandez (Menlo (Calif.)) 13-15 (Dec 6-3; 3rd Place Match - Ian Morken (Menlo (Calif.)) 16-14 won by decision over Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-19 (Dec 5-3).

141 – Matt Weber (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 30-10 won by fall over Jarren Komac (Providence (Mont.)) 19-23 (Fall 3:44; Quarterfinal - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 30-10 won by fall over Pavin Blas (Warner Pacific) 0-2 (Fall 1:39); Semifinal - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 30-10 won by decision over David Salazar (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 14-14 (Dec 8-6; 1st Place Match - Devin Poppen (Southern Oregon) 32-9 won by decision over Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 30-10 (Dec 12-9).

157 – Brandon Weber (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 21-7 received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 21-7 won by decision over Kevin James (Menlo (Calif.)) 12-12 (Dec 9-2; Semifinal - James Williams (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 17-8 won by decision over Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 21-7 (Dec 4-3); Cons. Semi - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 21-7 won by decision over Hunter Hodges (Southern Oregon) 18-9 (Dec 8-4); 3rd Place Match - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 21-7 won by decision over Casey Dobson (Providence (Mont.)) 12-12 (Dec 2-1).

165 – Andrew Bartel (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-10 received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-10 won by fall over isiah Yates (Providence (Mont.)) 7-8 (Fall 2:51); Semifinal - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-10 won by decision over Taylor Owens (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 17-12 (Dec 3-1; 1st Place Match - Blake Cooper (Warner Pacific) 4-0 won by fall over Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-10 (Fall 3:59).

165 – Logan Foster

Champ. Round 1 - Logan Foster (Montana State-Northern) 1-10 received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Josh Beckler (Providence (Mont.)) 17-14 won by fall over Logan Foster (Montana State-Northern) 1-10 (Fall 3:59); Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Dupuis (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 13-15 won by fall over Logan Foster (Montana State-Northern) 1-10 (Fall 2:41).

174 – Chase Short (5th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 21-18 won by major decision over Keegan Dorsey (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 0-2 (MD 14-4); Quarterfinal - Kody Davis (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 12-14 won by major decision over Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 21-18 (MD 14-4); Cons. Round 2 - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 21-18 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 21-18 won by tech fall over Matthew Aguigui (Warner Pacific) 0-2 (TF-1.5 6:51 (21-6)); Cons. Semi - Adrian Lyons-Lopez (Providence (Mont.)) 27-9 won by decision over Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 21-18 (Dec 4-1); 5th Place Match - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 21-18 won in sudden victory - 1 over Calvin McKinnis (Southern Oregon) 14-12 (SV-1 10-8).

174 – Chris Nile (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Chris Nile (Montana State-Northern) 17-8 received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Chris Nile (Montana State-Northern) 17-8 won by major decision over Calvin McKinnis (Southern Oregon) 14-12 (MD 12-1); Semifinal - Chris Nile (Montana State-Northern) 17-8 won by decision over Adrian Lyons-Lopez (Providence (Mont.)) 27-9 (Dec 8-6); 1st Place Match - Anthony Orozco (Menlo (Calif.)) 23-5 won by decision over Chris Nile (Montana State-Northern) 17-8 (Dec 5-4).

184 – Rylan Moldenhauer

Champ. Round 1 - Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 5-15 received a bye () (Bye); Quarterfinal - Tyler Webley (Providence (Mont.)) 13-7 won by major decision over Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 5-15 (MD 12-3); Cons. Round 2 - Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 5-15 received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 3 - Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 18-16 won by major decision over Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 5-15 (MD 13-1).

184 – Steeler French (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Tyler Hall (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 11-7 won by major decision over Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 18-16 (MD 16-4); Cons. Round 1 - Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 18-16 received a bye () (Bye; Cons. Round 2 - Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 18-16 won by decision over Joe Dickinson (Warner Pacific) 0-2 (Dec 2-1); Cons. Round 3 - Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 18-16 won by major decision over Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 5-15 (MD 13-1); Cons. Semi - Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 18-16 won by major decision over Tyler Hall (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 11-7 (MD 13-5); 3rd Place Match - Bruce Valdez (Menlo (Calif.)) 30-9 won by decision over Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 18-16 (Dec 7-6).

197 – Isaac Bartel (2nd Place)

Quarterfinal - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 34-8 received a bye () (Bye); Semifinal - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 34-8 won in tie breaker - 1 over Jovan Villalobos (Menlo (Calif.)) 24-10 (TB-1 2-1); 1st Place Match - Tanner Fischer (Southern Oregon) 19-6 won by decision over Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 34-8 (Dec 4-1).