Lights face rival Raiders in home debut

The Montana State University-Northern Lights have a short turnaround from last Sunday's Trapper Open in Powell, Wyoming.

In fact, the Lights are back on the mat tonight, with their second Cascade Conference Dual of the season, but more importantly, tonight's battle with Southern Oregon is the Lights' highly anticipated home-opener. The 17th-ranked Lights and Raiders will do battle tonight at 7 inside the Armory Gymnasium.

And while the Raiders come into tonight's dual un-ranked, it won't mean the Lights won't be in for a tough battle.

The Raiders, a perennial NAIA power, were picked just sixth in the Cascade Conference preseason Coaches Poll, and they don't have a single individual ranked in the NAIA preseason rankings. And still, they'll no doubt give Tyson Thivierge's Lights a true battle tonight in Havre.

Of course, the Lights are coming into their first dual already battle-tested.

Northern went down to the wire in its season-opening dual with the University of Providence Argos, where the short-handed Lights came up one win shy of a third straight victory over the Argos.

Then, last Saturday, the Lights traveled to Wyoming for the second time this season, where they competed in the Trapper Open, hosted by Northwest College.

At the Trapper Open, the Lights sent seven grapplers to the podium, led by Isaac Bartel and Chase Short, who each won individual titles. Bartel captured the 197 pound title, while Short dominated the 174-pound bracket.

Senior Rob Pair had a strong showing as well, finishing second at 125 pounds, while junior Nick Kunz reached the championship match at 133 before losing his only match of the day. Carl Cronin, wrestling alongside Kunz, finished fourth at 133, while talented freshman Ethan Roetman finished second at 185 and Carl Hansen took third in the same bracket.

Heading into tonight's dual, Pair, Kunz, Short and Bartel all hold national rankings, as does heavyweight Jase Stokes.

The Lights meet Southern Oregon tonight at 7 in the Armory Gymnasium. Northern is right back at home for another conference dual against Warner Pacific next Thursday night.