MSU-N wrestling tops all NAIA teams in the classroom

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team is really good on the mat. The Lights are also really good in the classroom.

Thursday, the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced that the Lights were this year's recipient of the top team in the NAIA Men's Scholar All-American Award. The Lights finished the 2018-19 season with a 3.362 team GPA.

Northern also placed four wrestlers on the NAIA Individual Scholar All-American Team, including two who finished in the top three in the NAIA and one national finalist.

On the individual All-American Team was senior Andrew Bartel, an ag operations technology major who also earned NAIA All-American honors on the mat. Senior Matt Weber, who is a two-time NAIA All-American, and majors in trades management. Sophomore Chase Short made the squad as well, majoring in elementary education, as did sophomore Isaac Bartel, who majors in ag operations technology and is already a two-time NAIA All-American

"I'm really pumped about this," Northern head coach Tyson Thivierge said.

The Lights finished 10th at the NAIA national tournament in March, and crowned three All-Americans.