MSU-N Wrestling 2022-23: New season, same goals for Northern wrestling

Expectations can sometimes be scary, intimidating, or challenging to say the least.

That however, is never the case inside the wrestling room at Montana State University-Northern. Under longtime head coach Tyson Thivierge, the Lights welcome the challenges and expectations that come with each new season.

In fact, they relish it.

And, once again, Northern has set high expectations for itself as the 2022-23 season gets underway.

The Lights begin their new campaign ranked No. 18 in the NAIA and predicted to finish third in the powerful Cascade Conference. The Lights return five qualifiers from last year's national tournament, where they finished an outstanding sixth place.

And while Northern did suffer some huge losses to graduation, including two-time All-American and National Champion Nick Kunz (133), two-time All-American Chase Short (165) and of course, five-time All-American and National Champion Isaac Bartel, the goals the Lights have under Thivierge are unchanged.

"Nothing has changed," Thivierge said ahead of MSU-N's season-opening dual with North Idaho. "Our mentality hasn't changed and our goals will never change."

And they shouldn't. That's because the Lights return a wealth of talent to their lineup.

Top returners from last season include Colin Silverthorn (149 in 2021-22) who will be moving down to 141 this season, NAIA runner-up and former four-time state champion form Havre Martin Wilkie (141) who will be moving up to 149 for the 2022-23 season, NAIA qualifier and former Pony Connor Harris (157), Devin Crawford (165), NAIA All-American NaKoda Siegel (174), Rylin Burns (174), tow-time NAIA qualifier Carl Hansen (184) and sixth-year year senior Rylan Moldenhauer (285).  That core group will be bolstered by a slew of new wrestlers, including 125-pound transfer from MSU-Mankato, Tanner Cook.

"(There are) others who will boost our lineup and fill the gaps," Thivierge said. "Many of our new recruits are hard-nosed and talented."

Northern's roster also includes Leo Anderson (125), Cooper Cook (133), Cade Gubler (174), Shane Mattson (285), Brennon McDermott (133), Gavin McLean (157), Georgina Moraga (149), Tyson Oliver (125), Zach Valdez (165), Austin Vanek (184), Josh Walker (197), Reece White (184), and Cole Younger (165).

"Youth and experience are our strengths," Thivierge said. "We are in that gap where we graduated some very talented wrestlers and we have guys who have been grinding away in our room waiting their turn and are ready to make their impact in the lineup. This season we only have one senior and a load of sophomores who are ready to compete hard."

And those guys will all get ample opportunities. Northern wrestles a tough schedule that includes conference duals against Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon on the road, as well as Arizona Christian and Embry-Riddle at home. The Lights also have big duals against arch rival Providence, the first of which comes Nov. 9 in Great Falls, and the rematch takes place Feb. 9 in Billings on the even of the state wrestling tournament.

Speaking of tournaments, trips to the Bison Open in Fargo, the Spokane Open, the Battle of the Rockies, the Reno T.O.C and the Missouri Valley Invitational are among the events that will help the Lights get ready for the postseason, which starts with the CCC Feb. 17-18 in Prescott, Ariz, and culminates with the NAIA National Championships March 3-4 in Wichita, Kansas.

"The schedule is designed to get them physically and mentally prepared for the postseason," Thivierge said.

And that's where it is at. While the Lights begin their journey Friday against NIC in the Armory Gymnasium, it also comes down to the end, and the end is where all of Northern's goals lie.

"We are training and competing to produce individual and team National Champions," Thivierge said.