Lights dominant at Battle of the Rockies

Whether it’s tournaments or duals, the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team has been red-hot as of late. And that continued this weekend in Great Falls.

The Lights were in the McLaughlin Center Saturday for the annual Battle of the Rockies hosted by the University of Providence, and Northern dominated the double-elimination tournament.

Of the nine teams in attendance, the Lights finished second overall, while placing nine grapplers and claiming five individual titles.

Isaac Bartel led the way, remaining unbeaten at 197 pounds with a championship in Great Falls. Northern also got a title from Nick Kunz at 133 pounds, as well as former Havre Blue Pony Martin Wilkie at 141. Rylin Burns took first for the Lights at 174 pounds, as did Carl Hansen at 184.

MSU-N also got a third place from Devin Crawford at 165 pounds, a fourth place from Colin Silverthorn at 149, a fourth from Connor Harris at 157 and a fifth place by Georgino Morago at 149.

Northern will now have a little rest until the Lights close out 2021 with a Cascade Conference dual against Eastern Oregon Dec. 17 in Reno, Nevada, and the Reno T.O.C. Dec. 19. The Lights will resume their home schedule Jan. 12 when they host the Dickinson State Blue Hawks.