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News you can use
Lights ranked 18th in Preseason Coaches Poll
Montana State University-Northern's Chase Short, right, is one of three returning NAIA All-Americans for a Lights' squad that will be very, very good this winter. Northern opens its season ranked No. 11 in the last NAIA Coaches Poll, and starts the year at North Idaho College Friday night.
UPDATED: The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team has been really good, for a long time. That's thanks in large part to the coaching of now-veteran head man Tyson Thivierge.
But, as good as the Lights have been, could this be the season when they are even better?
That question will be answered over the next four months, but, given the trajectory the Lights have been on, and the roster they have this season, it's certainly possible that, Northern is headed for a big, big season on the mat.
Northern begins its quest for a special year this weekend, then, the Lights will return home for their first home dual of the year, and that's something Thivierge, and his entire roster, is really looking forward too - a normal year with fans.
"We definitely missed having fans in attendance, they give us a nice home advantage and really get our guys charged up," Thivierge said. "It's fun hearing them cheer again. It's been a long time since we've had fans in the building and it definitely makes it feel great again."
What Northern fans will see this season is an absolutely loaded lineup.
The Lights return a pair of former NAIA national champions in 2021 197-pound champion Isaac Bartel and 2020 125-pound champ Nick Kunz. Northern's veteran presence doesn't stop there either. Senior Chase Short returns at 174 pounds, while starters Carl Hansen (184), Devin Crawford (165) and Connor Harris (157) are also back after all three had very strong campaigns last winter, including Hansen qualifying for the national tournament.
Northern also has a veteran presence at heavyweight, with senior Rylan Moldenhauer returning, while a pair of familiar names are also back in the room in former Havre High four-time state champion Martin Wilkie (141), as well as former Colstrip star Nakoda Siegel (174). The Lights also have a veteran at 125 in Kaleb Frank, but even more so, Thivierge's room will have tons of depth.
The roster also includes, Havre Blue Pony Travis Adams (285), freshman Rylin Burns (165), freshman Micah Cashdollar (285), freshman Riley Devries (165), freshman Mathias Holen (285), freshman Jett Jones (184), freshman Georgino Moraga (149), veteran Lane Paulson (157), veteran Ethan Roetman (184), freshman Kaleb Sanchez (141), freshman Colby Schriever (149) and freshman Colin Silverthorn (149).
"We have a great atmosphere, and that's what I'm enjoying right now," Thivierge said. "These guys are excited to get things done and continue to get better day in and day out. Their work ethic has been great and they are eager to get on the road and start our bid for a trophy at the national tournament. They understand it's a long season, and they are not taking for granted any moment to improve."
It is a long season indeed, but the Lights will be looking forward to that after a shortened schedule due to the pandemic last season. Back to normal now, Northern will host duals against Northwest College, Providence and Southern Oregon before the new year, and they host Dickinson State for senior day Jan. 12. Road duals include a visit to Eastern Oregon, as well as matches at Arizona Christian and Embry-Riddle. Northern will also revive wrestling Providence the night before the All-Class state wrestling tournament in Billings, which will take place Feb. 10.
The Lights will also return to tournament competition, including the Spokane Open, Colorado-Mesa, the Battle of the Rockies in Great Falls, the Reno T.O.C., the Tyler Plummer Classic and the Missouri Valley Collegiate Tournament.
Of course, the postseason is what the Lights are always gearing up for, and they will host the Cascade Conference Championships Feb. 18-19 in the Armory Gymnasium after the event was canceled last season.
Even with a tough and exciting schedule, Thivierge isn't looking too far ahead.
"Our goals are to get better with every opportunity we are given," he said. "Our focus is to build throughout the season and be wrestling at our best at the end of the season. It's all about peaking at the right time."
And the right time will be in March at the NAIA national tournament in Wichita, Kansas. The Lights finished 11th a year ago, with All-American finishes from Bartel (national champion), Short (7th) and Kunz (8th). But with even more depth, and with the normal qualifying format back in play, the goal is the same for the Lights as it always is - compete for a national championship, and Thivierge believes his team can do just that.
"This team just has to believe in their abilities and things will go well," he said. "They have the potential to shock the NAIA, we just have to get 12 guys to believe they are the best in the NAIA, and things will go how they should. As a team, we have to buy in and believe, it's that simple."
Northern opens the regular season Friday night at North Idaho. The Lights host Northwest College Tuesday and Providence Nov. 10.
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