Northern's Isaac Bartel wins an NAIA national championship

In his four years at MSU-Northern senior Isaac Bartel had done just about everything he could have done in wrestling - except win a national championship. On Saturday night in Wichita, Kansas, he added the one missing piece to a brilliant career. Bartel defeated Lindsey Wilson's Trevor Lawson 6-0 in the 197-pound championship Saturday to not only win a national title for the Lights, of head coach Tyson Thivierge, but, to cement himself as a rare, four-time All-American.

Bartel was on a mission from start to finish this weekend, as he opened up his bracket on Friday with a tech fall and a pin to reach the semifinals. Then, Saturday morning, Bartel beat fourth-seeded Zane Lanham of Life to reach his third straight championship match. Bartel had been a runner-up in both 2020 and 2019, as well as finishing third in 2017, but on Saturday night, he was able to cal himself a national champion.

In the team race, Northern finished 11th, which was strong, considering the Lights qualified just five grapplers. Chase Short reached All-American, finishing seventh at 1704, while Nick Kunz was eighth at 133 for a second straight All-American performance. Carl Hansen (184) and Connor Harris (149) also scored points for the Lights.

For more coverage, see Monday's Havre Daily News.