Lights pin Blue Hawks on the road

After a lengthy layoff for the holiday break, the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team finally got back to work.

And the No. 18 Lights got back at it in style with a dominant dual win over the Dicksinson State Blue Hawks Tuesday night in Dickinson, North Dakota. The Lights beat the Blue Hawks 32-21 in a great start to 2020.

Northern opened the dual with a Rob Pair pin at 125 pounds, and that set the tone for a big night. Landon Bailey followed suit with another first-period pin at 133 pounds, and the Lights were right out to a 12-0 lead.

More bonus points came from Lane Paulson at 149 pounds. The former Havre Blue Pony star got a pin over Jacob Berg but, not to be outdone, Chase Short earned a technical fall at 174 pounds for the Lights, as he bested Konrich Speelmon 22-5. The Lights were open at 197 Tuesday night, but sophomore Jase Stokes finished things up for Northern with a 5-0 win at heavyweight.

The victory was a big dual win for the Lights, as they wrestled without star 197-pounder Isaac Bartel. And, the week of big duals isn't over yet.

Northern, of head coach Tyson Thivierge, will cross back into Montana, heading to Sidney where the Lights will host Minot State. The NCAA Division II Beavers should be a stern test for the Lights, who are hosting a special dual in eastern Montana for the second straight season. Last winter, the Lights took on the Beavers in Forsyth.

Thursday night's dual between the Lights and Minot State starts at 7 p.m. in the Sidney High School gymnasium. Northern will then be off until the Jan. 17-18 Missouri Valley Invitational.

NAIA Coaches Poll

1 1 Grand View (Iowa) 188

2 2 Reinhardt University (GA) 156

3 3 Campbellsville (Ky.) 138

4 7 Cumberlands (Ky.) 117

5 5 Oklahoma City 110

6 5 Baker (Kan.) 108

7 4 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 102

8 8 Marian University (IN) 91

9 9 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 70

10 12 Southeastern 64

10 11 Menlo (Calif.) 64

12 14 Providence (Mont.) 63

13 13 Indiana Tech 62

14 15 Graceland University 61

15 10 Life University 59

16 15 Missouri Valley 56

17 20 Morningside (Iowa) 38

18 18 Montana State-Northern 36

18 18 Lourdes University 36

18 17 Concordia (Neb.) 36 

Receiving Votes: Ottawa 32, Northwestern (Iowa), 33, Arizona Christian 32, Dickinson State (N.D.) 32, Eastern Oregon 31, Warner Pacific 30, Briar Cliff (Iowa) 22, Saint Mary (Kan.) 21, Cumberland (Tenn.) 20, Thomas More 18, Midway 17, Life Pacific 16, Doane (Neb.) 16, Calumet (Ind.) 15, Bluefield 15, Southern Oregon 15, Corban (Ore.) 14, Williams Baptist 13, Hastings (Neb.) 12, Waldorf (Iowa) 9, Brewtow-Parker (Ga.) 8, York (Neb.) 8, Jamestown (N.D.) 7, Vanguard (Calif.) 6, Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 3, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) 2, Simpson (Calif.) 2