Lights punch tickets to nationals

The Cascade Conference Championships are tough. And the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team knows just how tough.

Last weekend in California, the No. 20 Lights got a champion, placed seven and automatically qualified three grapplers for the NAIA national tournament next month in Wichita, Kansas.

Northern junior Isaac Bartel won yet another conference title Saturday at 197 pounds to lead the way for the Lights, who scored 75 points to finish fifth. Bartel beat Providence rival John Hensley 3-2 in the 197-pound final to give the Lights their lone CCC champion.

Also punching a ticket to nationals was 125-pounder Nick Kunz. He finished third at the CCC to earn his second trip to nationals, while junior Chase Short also placed sixth at 174 pounds to punch his second straight ticket to the national tourney.

Bids at each weight class are based on how many wrestlers the conference has ranked nationally, so some weights get more than others. MSU-N senior Landon Bailey is hoping for a wildcard at 133 pounds after finishing fifth, while senior Rob Pair placed sixth at 125, Clayton Currier finished eighth at 141 and Nakoda Siegel was sixth at 165.

Host Menlo won the tournament with 138.5 points, while Embry-Riddle was second and Providence was third.

All qualifiers will head to the NAIA national tournament March 6-7 in Wichita.

125 - Nick Kunz (21-11) (3rd Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 21-11 won by fall over Ryan Davis (Corban University) 8-10 (Fall 3:57) Quarterfinal - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 21-11 won by decision over Lorenzo Vasquez (Southern Oregon) 15-7 (Dec 2-0) Semifinal - Riley Siason (Menlo (Calif.)) 16-8 won in sudden victory - 1 over Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 21-11 (SV-1 10-8) Cons. Semi - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 21-11 won by decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 23-14 (Dec 5-2) 3rd Place Match - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 21-11 won by fall over Joshua Nira (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 24-12 (Fall 4:42)

125

125 - Rob Pair (23-14) (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 23-14 won by decision over Eli Walston (Providence (Mont.)) 7-9 (Dec 13-6) Quarterfinal - Joshua Nira (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 24-12 won by decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 23-14 (Dec 8-4); Cons. Round 2 - Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 23-14 won by tech fall over Christopher Lacoyo (Simpson (Calif.)) 7-16 (TF-1.5 6:38 (16-0)); Cons. Round 3 - Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 23-14 won by fall over Connor Finch (Warner Pacific) 18-16 (Fall 4:08);p Cons. Semi - Nick Kunz (Montana State-Northern) 21-11 won by decision over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 23-14 (Dec 5-2)

5th Place Match - Jacob Mendoza (Menlo (Calif.)) 16-12 won in tie breaker - 1 over Rob Pair (Montana State-Northern) 23-14 (TB-1 5-3) 133

122 - Carl Cronin (4-11)

Champ. Round 1 - Collin Anderson (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 27-19 won by major decision over Carl Cronin (Montana State-Northern) 4-11 (MD 16-4) Cons. Round 1 - Grant Laiblin (Corban University) 2-11 won by decision over Carl Cronin (Montana State-Northern) 4-11 (Dec 14-10)

133 - Landon Bailey (18-11) (5th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 18-11 won by decision over Silas Lagroue (Simpson (Calif.)) 4-12 (Dec 5-0) Quarterfinal - Anthony Vargas (Life Pacific) 15-6 won by decision over Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 18-11 (Dec 10-3) Cons. Round 2 - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 18-11 won by major decision over Sunny Luna (Vanguard University) 8-10 (MD 13-1) Cons. Round 3 - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 18-11 won by fall over Monte Zufelt (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 20-12 (Fall 0:42) Cons. Semi - Justin Coon (Southern Oregon) 18-10 won by decision over Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 18-11 (Dec 6-4) 5th Place Match - Landon Bailey (Montana State-Northern) 18-11 won by decision over Collin Anderson (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 27-19 (Dec 6-4)

141 - Clayton Currier (17-9) (8th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Clayton Currier (Montana State-Northern) 17-9 won by decision over Matt Peterson (Southern Oregon) 14-20 (Dec 14-9) Quarterfinal - Armand Molina (Simpson (Calif.)) 14-6 won by decision over Clayton Currier (Montana State-Northern) 17-9 (Dec 12-10) Cons. Round 2 - Clayton Currier (Montana State-Northern) 17-9 won by decision over Aaron Mora (Life Pacific) 2-2 (Dec 10-8) Cons. Round 3 - Eric Reyes (Menlo (Calif.)) 21-7 won by decision over Clayton Currier (Montana State-Northern) 17-9 (Dec 7-4) 7th Place Match - Clayton Currier (Montana State-Northern) 17-9 and Jayce Cunha (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 17-20 (DFF)

149 - Lane Paulson (13-20)

Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Loera (Life Pacific) 17-9 won by decision over Paulson Lane (Montana State-Northern) 13-20 (Dec 7-4) Cons. Round 1 - Paulson Lane (Montana State-Northern) 13-20 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Layn Pannkuk (Southern Oregon) 15-8 won by fall over Paulson Lane (Montana State-Northern) 13-20 (Fall 0:57)

157 - Caden Hilliard (8-25)

Champ. Round 1 - Cooper Mccullough (Corban University) 28-12 won by fall over Caden Hilliard (Montana State-Northern) 8-25 (Fall 4:03) Cons. Round 1 - Caden Hilliard (Montana State-Northern) 8-25 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Caden Hilliard (Montana State-Northern) 8-25 won by major decision over Noel Magallanes (Life Pacific) 4-8 (MD 11-3) Cons. Round 3 - John Bittinger (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 24-13 won by fall over CadenHilliard (Montana State-Northern) 8-25 (Fall 2:05)

165 - Nakoda Siegel (9-7) (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Nakoda Siegel (Montana State-Northern) 9-7 won by decision over Luke Lussier (Vanguard University) 1-7 (Dec 7-3) Quarterfinal - Nakoda Siegel (Montana State-Northern) 9-7 won by decision over Freddie Garcia (Simpson (Calif.)) 10-5 (Dec 2-0)Semifinal - Jordan Komac (Providence (Mont.)) 27-10 won in sudden victory - 1 over Nakoda Siegel (Montana State-Northern) 9-7 (SV-1 6-4) Cons. Semi - Josh Pine (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 34-11 won by fall over Nakoda Siegel (Montana State-Northern) 9-7 (Fall 3:47) 5th Place Match - Noah Talavera (Southern Oregon) 19-13 won by decision over Nakoda Siegel (Montana State-Northern) 9-7 (Dec 4-2)

174 - Chase Short (35-14) (6th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 35-14 won by tech fall over Bj Garza (Arizona Christian University) 3-7 (TF-1.5 4:54 (16-1)) Quarterfinal - Gerardo Hernandez (Life Pacific) 4-2 won by decision over Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 35-14 (Dec 3-2) Cons. Round 2 - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 35-14 won by major decision over Rylan Larko (Arizona Christian University) 5-13 (MD 19-5) Cons. Round 3 - Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 35-14 won by decision over Tanner Sallee (Southern Oregon) 28-15 (Dec 9-3) Cons. Semi - Keegan Mulhill (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 38-5 won by decision over Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 35-14 (Dec 6-5) 5th Place Match - Gerardo Hernandez (Life Pacific) 4-2 won in sudden victory - 1 over Chase Short (Montana State-Northern) 35-14 (SV-1 3-1)

184 - Carl Hansen (7-9)

Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Orozco (Menlo (Calif.)) 31-4 won by tech fall over Carl Hansen (Montana State-Northern) 7-9 (TF-1.5 6:21 (19-4)) Cons. Round 1 - Carl Hansen (Montana State-Northern) 7-9 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Joshua Walker (Arizona Christian University) 18-10 won by decision over Carl Hansen (Montana State-Northern) 7-9 (Dec 10-6)

197 - Isaac Bartel (29-2) (1st Place)

Champ. Round 1 - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 29-2 won by fall over Falemalama Weggen (Corban University) 25-19 (Fall 1:37) Quarterfinal - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 29-2 won by major decision over Cade Woodward (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 16-16 (MD 11-2) Semifinal - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 29-2 won by fall over Jacob Gonsalves (Simpson (Calif.)) 20-12 (Fall 1:14) 1st Place Match - Isaac Bartel (Montana State-Northern) 29-2 won by decision over John Hensley (Providence (Mont.)) 30-9 (Dec 3-2)

285 - Rylan Moldenhauer (11-18)

Champ. Round 1 - Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 11-18 won by decision over Jack Farley (Corban University) 8-20 (Dec 10-6) Quarterfinal - Noel Orozco (Eastern Oregon University (OR)) 14-5 won by fall over Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 11-18 (Fall 1:40) Cons. Round 2 - Garrette Branson (Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)) 25-21 won by major decision over Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State-Northern) 11-18 (MD 13-5)