Lights crown two champs at Cascade Conference wrestling tourney

With six of the NAIA’s Top 20 teams in the field, and four in the Top 10, plus the format of allocations to nationals per weight class, the Montana State University-Northern Lights knew exactly how tough the 2019 Cascade Conference Tournament was going to be.

And in the end, tough didn’t even begin to describe the two-day Cascade tourney, which played out Friday and Saturday inside the McLaughlin Center in Great Falls.

Northern, ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, crowned two champions and placed nine of its 12 wrestlers Saturday, which, by most measures, was a really fruitful tourney. But the Lights of head coach Tyson Thivierge finished just fourth overall with 104.5 points, and will have to also sweat out a few wildcard entries to the NAIA national tourney, which is two weeks away.

Fifth-ranked Embry-Riddle captured the team title Saturday with 136 points, while sixth-ranked Menlo was a close second (131.5) and Providence wound up third with 128 points.

Individually, the Lights got championships from Brandon Weber at 157 pounds and Isaac Bartel at 197 pounds, while Chase Short reached the 174-pound final, and Jase Stokes finished second at heavyweight.

Weber was sensational Saturday, knocking off fifth-ranked Casey Dobson (UP) in the semifinals, and avenging an loss earlier this season to third-ranked James Williams of ERAU in the final. Bartel was dominant as well. He won all three of his matches by major decision, including a 13-2 championship victory over ERAU’s Elias Mason, who is ranked fifth in the NAIA currently.

Short made a huge mark in his hometown Saturday, beating ERAU’s Kody Davis in the semifinals 8-7, to punch his ticket to nationals. It was a tough draw for the Northern sophomore because only two automatic spots to nationals were available at 174. The same held true for Stokes. The former Blue Pony four-time state champion came into the tourney unranked but fought his way to his first national tournament by pinning his way to the final before falling to third-ranked Matt Hopkins of Providence. Then, with only two spots on the line, he had to hold off UP’s second heavyweight, Just Harbison, for second place.

Northern senior Andrew Bartel is also headed back to nationals. The 2017 NAIA All-American lost a gut-wrenching overtime match to top-ranked Adrien Lyons-Lopez in the semifinals Saturday. Bartel has beaten Lyons-Lopez two weeks ago in Great Falls, and the two bitter rivals went to overtime for a second straight match. Bartel then won a narrow victory over another Argo, Josh Beckler, before edging seventh-ranked Carlos Apodoca (ERAU) in the third-place match.

Things were tougher for other Northern grapplers, however, including top-ranked Matt Weber. Trying to overcome a late-season knee injury, Weber reached the semifinals Saturday but was upset by Menlo’s Joseph Dominguez. Weber lost two more tight matches to finish sixth, and will have to reach nationals on a wildcard with only five spots available to 141.

At 125 pounds, Nick Kunz came up short of qualifying for nationals automatically. Six spots were available at 125, but Kunz wound up seventh, while Steeler French was fighting for one of just three spots at 184, and he ended up fifth after reaching the semifinals. At 149 pounds, Tony Evans got on the podium by finishing sixth, and he made a great run, winning three straight matches in the wrestle backs after a first-round loss to Shonn Roberts (UP). Evans would then fall again to Roberts and lost in the fifth-place match at 149 where five spots were available.

Landon Bailey (133) also scored a win for the Lights, and will look for a wildcard berth to nationals, while Dylan Veis scored a win at 149.

All of the Lights who qualified automatically this weekend, as well as those who will receive wildcard berths will now get ready for the 2019 NAIA national tournament, which runs March 1-2 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Cascade Conference Tournament

At Great Falls

Team Scores: 1. Embry-Riddle 136, 2. Menlo 131.5, 3. Providence 128, 4. MSU-Northern 104.5, 5. Southern Oregon 101.5, 6. Eastern Oregon 74.5, 7. Life Pacific 57.5, 8. Simpson 27, 9. Warner Pacific 20.

Lights Individual Results

125 - Nick Kunz (7th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Alex Ursua (Warner Pacific) 8-8 won by decision over Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 27-12 (Dec 9-7) Cons. Round 1 - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 27-12 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 27-12 won by major decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 21-14 (MD 8-0) Cons. Round 3 - Mhar Caballa (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 33-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 27-12 (SV-1 6-4) 7th Place Match - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 27-12 won by fall over Alex Ursua (Warner Pacific) 8-8 (Fall 6:16).

125 - Rob Pair

Champ. Round 1 - Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 21-14 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Francisco Barerra (Southern Oregon) 14-9 won in sudden victory - 1 over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 21-14 (SV-1 3-1) Cons. Round 2 - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 27-12 won by major decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 21-14 (MD 8-0).

133 - Landon Bailey

Champ. Round 1 - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-8 won by decision over Eli Walston (Providence (Mont.)) 21-16 (Dec 9-4) Quarterfinal - Justin Coon (Southern Oregon) 5-3 won by fall over Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-8 (Fall 1:10) Cons. Round 2 - Jayce Cunha (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 9-15 won by decision over Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 22-8 (Dec 10-7).

141 - Matt Weber (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 12-4 won by fall over Adrian Marrufo (Simpson (Calif.)) 7-5 (Fall 5:13) Quarterfinal - Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 12-4 won by decision over Justin Acuff (Southern Oregon) 9-12 (Dec 7-0) Semifinal - Joseph Dominguez (Menlo (Calif.)) 20-15 won in tie breaker - 1 over Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 12-4 (TB-1 3-2) Cons. Semi - Armand Molina (Simpson (Calif.)) 6-7 won by decision over Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 12-4 (Dec 7-5) 5th Place Match - TJ Baun (Providence (Mont.)) 35-12 won by decision over Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 12-4 (Dec 2-1).

149 - Tony Evans (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Shonn Roberts (Providence (Mont.)) 33-4 won by fall over Brent Evans (Montana State-Northern) 15-14 (Fall 5:57) Cons. Round 1 - Brent Evans (Montana State-Northern) 15-14 won by major decision over Zac Wigzell (Southern Oregon) 7-10 (MD 14-3) Cons. Round 2 - Brent Evans (Montana State-Northern) 15-14 won by decision over Devin Everk (Menlo (Calif.)) 13-14 (Dec 2-1) Cons. Round 3 - Brent Evans (Montana State-Northern) 15-14 won by decision over Silas LaGroue (Simpson (Calif.)) 9-19 (Dec 8-4) Cons. Semi - Shonn Roberts (Providence (Mont.)) 33-4 won by decision over Brent Evans (Montana State-Northern) 15-14 (Dec 8-1) 5th Place Match - Berit Sturgeon (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 22-10 won by fall over Brent Evans (Montana State-Northern) 15-14 (Fall 4:46).

149 - Dylan Veis

Champ. Round 1 - Devin Everk (Menlo (Calif.)) 13-14 won by major decision over Dylan Veis (Montana State-Northern) 7-8 (MD 9-0) Cons. Round 1 - Dylan Veis (Montana State-Northern) 7-8 won in sudden victory - 1 over Jared Brant (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 10-18 (SV-1 4-3) Cons. Round 2 - Aaron Mora (Life Pacific) 12-10 won by tech fall over Dylan Veis (Montana State-Northern) 7-8 (TF-1.5 7:00 (21-6)).

157 - Brandon Weber (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 25-5 won by fall over Wyatt Kesler (Warner Pacific) 3-16 (Fall 0:32) Quarterfinal - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 25-5 won by fall over Noel Magallanes (Life Pacific) 0-2 (Fall 2:01) Semifinal - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 25-5 won by decision over Casey Dobson (Providence (Mont.)) 23-7 (Dec 9-2) 1st Place Match - Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 25-5 won by decision over James Williams (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 29-5 (Dec 4-2).

165 - Andrew Bartel (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-9 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-9 won by decision over Alejandro Garcia (Menlo (Calif.)) 18-10 (Dec 5-2) Semifinal - Adrian Lyons-Lopez (Providence (Mont.)) 32-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-9 (SV-1 3-1) Cons. Semi - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-9 won by decision over Josh Beckler (Providence (Mont.)) 11-13 (Dec 2-1) 3rd Place Match - Andrew Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 36-9 won by decision over Carlos Apodaca (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 18-11 (Dec 3-1).

174 - Chase Short (2nd Place)

Quarterfinal - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 25-13 won by major decision over Rodney Kincaid (Simpson (Calif.)) 19-13 (MD 11-3) Semifinal - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 25-13 won by decision over Kody Davis (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 12-9 (Dec 8-7) 1st Place Match - Gerardo Hernandez (Life Pacific) 14-7 won by decision over Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 25-13 (Dec 16-9).

184 - Steeler French (5th Place)

Quarterfinal - Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 21-13 won by major decision over Calvin McKinnis (Southern Oregon) 13-14 (MD 12-1) Semifinal - Anthony Orozco (Menlo (Calif.)) 33-2 won by major decision over Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 21-13 (MD 13-5) Cons. Semi - Randy Keesler (Providence (Mont.)) 9-9 won by decision over Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 21-13 (Dec 8-2) 5th Place Match - Steeler French (Montana State-Northern) 21-13 won by major decision over Calvin McKinnis (Southern Oregon) 13-14 (MD 15-4).

197 - Isaac Bartel (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 41-3 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 41-3 won by major decision over Jeremiah Smith (Life Pacific) 7-10 (MD 15-3) Semifinal - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 41-3 won by major decision over Bruce Valdez (Menlo (Calif.)) 23-14 (MD 8-0) 1st Place Match - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 41-3 won by major decision over Elias Mason (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 23-6 (MD 13-2).

285 - Jase Stokes (2nd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Jase Stokes (Montana State-Northern) 26-13 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Jase Stokes (Montana State-Northern) 26-13 won by fall over Tony DaCosta (Life Pacific) 6-5 (Fall 5:43) Semifinal - Jase Stokes (Montana State-Northern) 26-13 won by fall over Justin Harbison (Providence (Mont.)) 11-3 (Fall 5:31) 1st Place Match - Mathew Hopkins (Providence (Mont.)) 34-3 won by fall over Jase Stokes (Montana State-Northern) 26-13 (Fall 2:17) 2nd Place Match - Jase Stokes (Montana State-Northern) 26-13 won by rule over Justin Harbison (Providence (Mont.)) 11-3 (RULE).