Lights finish sixth at tough Cascade Conference Championships

The Montana State University-Northern wrestling team entered the postseason as one of the youngest teams head coach Tyson Thivierge has ever had. And wrestling in the loaded Cascade Collegiate Championships wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

And at the end of the two-day CCC in Prescott, Arizona, the Lights wound up finishing in sixth place with a pair of finalists, and five tickets to the NAIA national tournament punched thus far.

In the team race, Northern scored 85 points, with Menlo, Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon finishing the top three. The Lights saw Martin Wilkie and NaKoda Siegel each reach the finals. Wilkie had to medical forfeit his 149-pound championship match, winding up second, while Siegel lost a tough, 4-3 decision to Vanguard’s Gerardo Hernandez in the 174-pound championship match.

Northern standout Carl Hansen had a strong tournament as well, finishing third at 197 pounds. Hansen rebounded from a tough loss in the semifinals, winning twice to place third and return to nationals.

As expected, the Lights doubled up at 174 pounds, as Rylin Burns finished fifth. Burns lost to Hernandez in the semifinals, before rebounding in the wrestlebacks. Devin Crawford also finished sixth for the Lights at 165 pounds, while Austin Vanek placed fifth at 184 pounds,

All Northern grapplers who are qualified for nationals will head to Wichita, Kansas, March 3-4 for the NAIA National Championships.

125 - Tanner Cook (20-14)

Champ. Round 1 - Riley Siason (Menlo College (Calif.)) 5-1 won by major decision over Tanner Cook (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 20-14 (MD 12-3)

Cons. Round 1 - Tanner Cook (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 20-14 won by major decision over Albert Ambriz (Arizona Christian University (Ariz.)) 7-18 (MD 9-1)

Cons. Round 2 - Landon Smith (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.)) 18-17 won in sudden victory - 1 over Tanner Cook (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 20-14 (SV-1 3-1)

133 - Brennon McDermott (16-12)

Champ. Round 1 - Brennon McDermott (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 16-12 won by decision over Zach Mauras (Eastern Oregon University (Ore.)) 8-9 (Dec 6-2)

Quarterfinal - Evan Potter (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 20-2 won by tech fall over Brennon McDermott (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 16-12 (TF-1.5 4:02 (16-0))

Cons. Round 2 - Colby Evens (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.)) 3-8 won by decision over Brennon McDermott (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 16-12 (Dec 6-4)

133 - Cooper Cook (8-10)

Champ. Round 1 - Gulomjon Abdullaev (Menlo College (Calif.)) 4-0 won by tech fall over Cooper Cook (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 8-10 (TF-1.5 3:00 (18-0))

Cons. Round 1 - Luis Saucedo (Simpson University (Calif.)) 1-2 won by decision over Cooper Cook (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 8-10 (Dec 10-3)

141 - Colin Silverthorn (16-18)

Champ. Round 1 - Blake Runion (Corban University (Ore.)) 17-10 won by fall over Colin Silverthorn (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 16-18 (Fall 1:01) Cons. Round 1 - Colin Silverthorn (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 16-18 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Jaxon Morlan (Eastern Oregon University (Ore.)) 10-12 won by fall over Colin Silverthorn (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 16-18 (Fall 3:27)

149 - Martin Wilkie (29-4)

Champ. Round 1 - Martin Wilkie (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 29-4 won by major decision over Chad Muenzer (Eastern Oregon University (Ore.)) 6-10 (MD 10-0)

Quarterfinal - Martin Wilkie (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 29-4 won by tech fall over Ricardo Valdez (Vanguard University (Calif.)) 5-8 (TF-1.5 7:00 (15-0)) Semifinal - Martin Wilkie (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 29-4 won by major decision over Christopher Gaxiola (Menlo College (Calif.)) 3-2 (MD 8-0) 1st Place Match - Aaron Gandara (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 21-3 won by medical forfeit over Martin Wilkie (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 29-4 (M. For.)

157 - Connor Harris (10-19)

Champ. Round 1 - Abraham Del Toro (Menlo College (Calif.)) 4-0 won by fall over Connor Harris (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 10-19 (Fall 4:22) Cons. Round 1 - Connor Harris (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 10-19 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Connor Harris (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 10-19 won by fall over Jaden Madding (Simpson University (Calif.)) 0-2 (Fall 3:27) Cons. Round 3 - Travis Thorpe (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 6-7 won by fall over Connor Harris (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 10-19 (Fall 2:25)

165 - Devin Crawford (24-12) placed 6th

Champ. Round 1 - Devin Crawford (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 24-12 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Jordan Komac (University Of Providence (Mont.)) 15-4 won by decision over Devin Crawford (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 24-12 (Dec 4-3) Cons. Round 2 - Devin Crawford (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 24-12 won by fall over Davion Barnes (Arizona Christian University (Ariz.)) 7-18 (Fall 4:09)

Cons. Round 3 - Devin Crawford (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 24-12 won by decision over Jordan Faifai (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 15-12 (Dec 11-6) Cons. Semi - Rysan Leong (Menlo College (Calif.)) 3-1 won by decision over Devin Crawford (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 24-12 (Dec 5-4) 5th Place Match - Bridger Hall (University Of Providence (Mont.)) 24-11 won by decision over Devin Crawford (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 24-12 (Dec 5-4)

174 - NaKoda Siegel (26-4) placed 2nd

Champ. Round 1 - NaKoda Siegel (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 26-4 won by tech fall over Ian Vasquez (Warner Pacific) 6-9 (TF-1.5 7:00 (16-1)) Quarterfinal - NaKoda Siegel (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 26-4 won by fall over Anthony Aguilera (Arizona Christian University (Ariz.)) 4-10 (Fall 5:59) Semifinal - NaKoda Siegel (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 26-4 won by decision over Keegan Mulhill (Eastern Oregon University (Ore.)) 15-14 (Dec 7-3) 1st Place Match - Gerardo Hernandez (Vanguard University (Calif.)) 16-1 won by decision over NaKoda Siegel (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 26-4 (Dec 4-3)

174 Rylin Burns (15-8) placed 5th

Champ. Round 1 - Rylin Burns (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 15-8 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Rylin Burns (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 15-8 won by major decision over Matthew Bartlett (Corban University (Ore.)) 16-9 (MD 9-0)

Semifinal - Gerardo Hernandez (Vanguard University (Calif.)) 16-1 won by decision over Rylin Burns (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 15-8 (Dec 3-1) Cons. Semi - Alex Hernandez (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 22-7 won by decision over Rylin Burns (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 15-8 (Dec 7-6) 5th Place Match - Rylin Burns (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 15-8 won by medical forfeit over Keegan Mulhill (Eastern Oregon University (Ore.)) 15-14 (M. For.)

184 - Austin Vanek (23-17) placed 5th

Champ. Round 1 - Austin Vanek (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 23-17 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Isaiah Morales (Menlo College (Calif.)) 4-1 won in sudden victory - 1 over Austin Vanek (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 23-17 (SV-1 5-3) Cons. Round 2 - Austin Vanek (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 23-17 won by fall over Kabb Christensen (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 13-12 (Fall 2:03) Cons. Round 3 - Austin Vanek (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 23-17 won by fall over Baron Gaunt (Vanguard University (Calif.)) 18-9 (Fall 1:08) Cons. Semi - Michael Densmore (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.)) 22-10 won by decision over Austin Vanek (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 23-17 (Dec 8-4) 5th Place Match - Austin Vanek (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 23-17 won by fall over Kaden Martin (Arizona Christian University (Ariz.)) 18-14 (Fall 2:25)

197- Carl Hansen (22-9) placed 3rd

Champ. Round 1 - Carl Hansen (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 22-9 won by major decision over Isaiah Hernandez (Vanguard University (Calif.)) 5-9 (MD 17-7) Quarterfinal - Carl Hansen (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 22-9 won by decision over Brodie Scott (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.)) 17-14 (Dec 8-1)

Semifinal - Marco Retano (Eastern Oregon University (Ore.)) 19-4 won by major decision over Carl Hansen (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 22-9 (MD 13-4)

Cons. Semi - Carl Hansen (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 22-9 won by major decision over Jay Smith (Eastern Oregon University (Ore.)) 21-7 (MD 15-1) 3rd Place Match - Carl Hansen (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 22-9 won by fall over Andrew Herrera (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 16-11 (Fall 1:30)

285 - Rylan Moldenhauer (8-16)

Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Vincent (Simpson University (Calif.)) 4-1 won by fall over Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 8-16 (Fall 4:54) Cons. Round 1 - Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 8-16 received a bye () (Bye) Cons. Round 2 - Antonio Garcia (Southern Oregon University (Ore.)) 19-8 won by decision over Rylan Moldenhauer (Montana State University-Northern (Mont.)) 8-16 (Dec 5-2)