Argos win round one on the mat

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team was finally making its Armory Gymnasium debut, albeit without fans. But, the one and only time Northern got to wrestle in its own gym this winter, didn't exactly go to plan.

Thursday night in the Armory, the Lights dropped the first salvo in their annual rivalry with the University of Providence, as the No. 22 Argos beat the No. 13 Lights 21-13.

"I'm glad we got matches in," Northern head coach Tyson Thivierge said after the tough loss.

The Lights came into the dual undefeated in the season, and they ended the night with a pin by star senior Isaac Bartel at 197 pounds. The start, though, was anything but what the short-handed Lights were looking for.

The dual started at heavyweight where a pair of former Great Falls preps went head-to-head, but it was UP's K.C. Buday earning a 3-1 decision over Northern's Rylan Moldenhauer. The match was the start of five unanswered wins by the Argos, as Joel Avila beat Kaleb Frank at 125 pounds, Eli Walston upset Nick Kunz at 133, Chris Mesa beat Carl Cronin at 141 and Brock Rodrigues outlasted senior Dylan Veis in a wild, overtime affair. Many of the matches in that stretch went down to the wire, and they all went the Argos way.

Northern did get on the board with an impressive win by freshman Connor Harris at 157 pounds. Harris, a state champion from Havre, was making his Armory debut, and he dominated UP's Boone Guilio, 14-7. Another Great Falls standout, MSU-N's Chase Short, also grabbed a 15-5 major decision at 174 pounds for the Lights, but that win was offset by a tough loss by Devin Crawford at 165 and Steeler French losing a close decision to Alan Badley at 184. Crawford lost 6-4 to nationally ranked Jaren Komac, while French suffered a 7-5 decision, as Northern came up on the short end of so many close decisions on the night.

So, it was a tough night for the Lights, but they'll get another crack at the Argos next month in Great Falls. First, however, Northern will travel to Dickinson State for duals this Saturday.

Argos 21, Lights 13

HWT - KC Buday, UP dec. Rylan Moldenhauer, MSU-N, 3-1; 125 - Joel Avila, UP dec. Kaleb Frank, MSU-N, 7-1; 133 - Eli Walston, UP dec. Nick Kunz, MSU-N, 6-5; 141 - Chris Mesa, UP dec. Carl Cronin, MSU-N, 9-4; 149 - Brock Rodrigues, UP dec. Dylan Veis, MSU-N, 4-2 in OT; 157 - Connor Harris, MSU-N dec. Boone Guilio, UP, 14-7; 165 - Jaren Komac, UP dec. Devin Crawford, MSU-N, 7-4; 174 - Chase Short, MSU-N maj. dec. Bridger Hall, UP, 15-5; 184 - Alan Badley,UP dec. Steeler French, MSU-N, 7-5; 197 - Isaac Bartel, MSU-N pinned Quinn Whitmus, UP, 2:24.