MSU-N's Brandon Weber named Montana Little Sullivan winner

Saturday was a very big day for Montana State University-Northern star wrestler Brandon Weber.

In the morning, Weber took part in MSU-N's 2019 graduation ceremony, and not long after he became a college graduate he received the highest amateur sports honor in the state of Montana.

Saturday night in Billings, Weber was named the 2019 A.A.U. Male Little Sullivan Award winner. Weber was unable to attend the banquet, but his father accepted the award on his behalf.

Weber is a three-time NAIA All-American for the Lights of head coach Tyson Thivierge. He won the 2017 157-pound national championship and followed that up with two straight appearances in the 157-pound national championship match. He also piled up one of Northern's greatest all-time win totals in his four years as a Light.

Weber, who graduated from Forsyth in 2014, was a three-time State B-C champion and four-time finalist for the Dogies. At the time of his graduation, Weber was the state's all-time wins leader.

Brandon's mother, Maria, and brothers Nathan and Michael were in attendance representing him, along with Steve Pulver, who coached Brandon in Little League, youth football and junior high track. Maria said it was an incredible day witnessing her son graduate from MSU-Northern and then learning he had won the Little Sullivan.

"Winning the Little Sullivan was amazing and watching my kid march across the stage and get a college degree was priceless," she said.

Montana State-Billings basketball player Aleesha Breen was named the Female Little Sullivan Award winner, while Havre High's Martin Wilkie was named the Montana A.A.U. Northeast Outstanding Wrestler. Wilkie was also a finalist for the USAW Gordon Smith Award.

The Little Sullivan Award is given to the top amateur Montana male and female athlete who have qualities that include athletic excellence, leadership, character, sportsmanship and ideals of amateurism.

Weber now becomes a finalist for the A.A.U. National Little Sullivan Award.