Northern matmen beat Morningside, Jamestown in Iowa

After having to postpone their home-opener against arch rival Providence last week, the Montana State University-Northern Lights made a long road trip, through a winter storm, to get back on the mat.

Already a month had gone by since the last time the Lights competed, but Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa, Northern finally got two more duals in, and the Lights stayed undefeated with wins over Morningside and Jamestown College.

Northern head coach Tyson Thivierge also noted that the Lights were supposed to get four matches in Iowa, but several teams couldn’t make the trip because of a blizzard. The Lights prevailed in their two duals while missing their starting 125, 157 and 285-pounders due to COVID-19 protocol.

So with all that, the No. 17 Lights still prevailed and, most importantly, got much-needed competition.

The Lights beat Morningside for the second time this season, winning 22-18 with Nick Kunz (133) and Connor Harris (157) picking up early victories. At 165, Devin Crawford got a big pin for the Lights, while Steeler French (184) and Isaac Bartel (197) anchored the victory.

MSU-N didn’t have as tough a time with Jamestown, in a 37-15 win. Harris moved down to 149 and won, while Dylan Veis went up to 157 and got a pin for the Lights. Crawford got a major decision, while Chase Short won by tech fall at 174 and Carl Hansen stepped in at 184 and got a pin, as well. Bartel then finished things off with a pin in 1:13 at 197 pounds, as the Lights improved to 6-0 in duals this season.

"We were extremely flat against Jamestown before picking up our pace against Morningside. We were short handed due to COVID protocols and that left us without our starting 125, 157 and 285. We had our backup 285 in Travis Adams and he performed well against both schools we faced. We were able to flip flop our two 149 wrestlers to fill in at 157, and they both did an exceptional job filling in. At 125 we had to forfeit in both duals.

“Starting each dual in a hole presents its own problems, but our guys bounced back and got back on track to make up for those points,” Thivierge said. “Against Jamestown, every win we had came with bonus points, so that helped a bunch. In our rematch against Morningside, we again topped them in a tight dual that came down to the last three weights. Steeler French and Isaac Bartel are hammers that we count on in duals like these.”

Northern now looks to get on its home mat for the first time with the rescheduled dual against the Argos, which is slated for this Thursday night in the Armory Gymnasium. MSU-N is also scheduled to travel to Dickinson State this Saturday.

Lights 22, Morningside 18

125 - Benjamin Schmitz, M won by FFT; 133 - Nick Kunz, MSU-N dec. Taylor Vasquez, M, 3-0; 141 - Noah Styksal, M dec. Clayton Currier, MSU-N, 6-4 in SVO; 149 - John Diener, M, dec. Dylan Veis, MSU-N, 5-2; 157 - Connor Harris, MSU-N pinned Brody Kacmarynisk, M, 2:33; 165 - Devin Crawford, MSU-N pinned Ethan Hatcher, M, 2:00; 174 - Jonah Egli dec. Chase Short, MSU-N, 7-3; 184 - Steeler French, MSU-N dec. Elijah Dirx, M, 7-3; 197 - Isaac Bartel maj. dec. Kasten Grape, M, 11-2; HWT - Jacob Jereabek, M, dec. Travis Adams, MSU-N, 2-1.

Lights 37, Jamestown 15

125 - Joseph Pangelinan, JC won by FFT; 133 - Carol Cronin, MSU-N won by FFT; Tommy Berringer, JC dec. Clayton Currier, MSU-N, 10-7; 149 - Connor Harris, MSU-N maj. dec. Jesus Morillo, JC, 13-5; 157 - Dylan Veis, MSU-N pinned Jacob Hamilton, JC, :39; 165 - Devin Crawford, MSU-N maj. dec. Carston Toedter, JC, 9-1; 174 - Chase Short, MSU-N tech. Fall Gabe Juarqui-Diaz, JC, 18-3; 184 - Carl Hansen pinned Thomas Ingraham, JC 4:58; 197 - Isaac Bartel, MSU-N pinned Ivan Vargas, JC, 1:13; HWT - Ramiro Varas Macias, JC pinned Travis Adams, MSU-N, 1:13.