Pair of Lights place at NAIA Wrestling Nationals

Down in Wichita, Kansas, this past weekend, the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team wrapped up its season by competing in the 2023 NAIA National Championships. The Lights finished tied for 15th at the tournament with six wrestlers competing. Several wrestlers did well in the consolation bracket, but many of them lost before they could clinch All-American honors.

“We had six guys and they battled. We had some hiccups but we moved through the backside of the tournament,” MSU-N head coach Tyson Thivierge said. “We had four guys in the blood rounds where we won one match out of four so that’s kind of a gut punch.”

The Lights did have a pair of All-Americans at the end of the weekend with NaKoda Siegel and Austin Vanek bringing home a pair of trophies. Siegel had the best finish for the Lights as he took fourth wrestling in the 174-pound weight class. Siegel started the weekend with a 10-5 decision against Jordan Lomeli from Ottawa. Siegel then won a 5-2 decision against Makail Stanley from William Penn.

In the quarterfinal, Siegel won a 6-1 decision over No. 5-ranked Stephen Kelle from Southeastern. After a loss in the semifinal, Siegel rebounded with a win in a consolation semifinal match. Against No. 10-ranked Douglas Peppers from Southeastern, Siegel won in a 3-2 decision. While Siegel lost in the third-place match, Thivierge was impressed by Siegel’s performance over the weekend.

“I’m super stoked. He wrestled extremely well, wrestled smart, made adjustments throughout the tournament and was coachable,” Thivierge said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

At 184 pounds, Vanek finished seventh for the Lights. After a loss to start the tournament, the freshman won an 8-4 decision against Austin Antcliffe from Cumberland in a consolation match. Vanek then won a 16-12 decision against No. 9-ranked Kyle Knudtson from Eastern Oregon. Vanek then won by injury default against Thomas Ketchen-Carter from Cumberland.

In another consolation match, Vanek won an 8-2 decision against No. 6-ranked Hayden Wempen from Morningside. In the seventh-place match, Vanek won, 7-5, in sudden victory over Sam Irwin from Reinhardt. After a solid regular season, Thivierge was happy to see Vanek have a strong postseason.

“Austin had an exceptional tournament. We’ve been waiting for this Austin all year,” Thivierge said. “We’ve seen glimpses of it but in this tournament, he finally showed a level of consistency and started showing who he really was. That was fun to watch and we’re excited about him.”

Several other Lights won matches throughout the weekend. At 149 pounds, Martin Wilkie started the weekend winning by injury default against Tyler Okada from Waldorf. In a consolation match, Wilkie won a 12-5 decision over Steven Weathers from Missouri Valley. Wilkie then won a 5-0 decision against No. 15-ranked Dallas Koelzer from Baker.

At 165 pounds, Devin Crawford won some consolation matches. In his first consolation match, Crawford pinned No. 15-ranked Zander Ernst from Morningside. Crawford then won, 8-6, in sudden victory over Braeden Baller from Texas Wesleyan.

At 174 pounds, Rylin Burns started the weekend with a 3-1 sudden victory over No. 7-ranked Alex Hernandez from Southern Oregon. Then in a consolation match, Burns won a 6-4 sudden victory over Michael Scarponi from Doane. At 197 pounds, Carl Hansen won an 8-6 sudden victory over No. 6-ranked Marco Retano from Eastern Oregon.

As a team, the Lights finished tied for 15th alongside Campbellsville and Cumberlands with 31.5 total team points. Grand View won the tournament with 206 total points while Life took second and Southeastern finished third. While he would have liked a better finish and season for the Lights, Thivierge was happy to see the Lights battle throughout the year.

“We were underdogs all year. We kept getting labeled as young but we’re not, we’re very experienced and things happened how they happened,” Thivierge said. “But it was a good season, I can’t say it wasn’t. I think we were overlooked by quite a few people but we did what we did and now we get a little time off, then it’s right back to getting ready for next season.”

Team Scores

Grand View 206.0, Life 157.5, Southeastern 90.0, Menlo 74.0, Indiana Tech 61.0, Doane 54.0, Marian 52.5, Thomas More 52.5, Cumberland 46.0, Providence 45.0, Reinhardt 44.0, Eastern Oregon 42.0, Ottawa 39.5, Central Methodist 33.5, Campbellsville 31.5, Cumberlands 31.5, MSU-Northern 31.5, Keiser 30.5, Oklahoma City 26.5, Baker 25.0, Vanguard 24.5, Graceland 21.0, Morningside 21.0, Cornerstone 19.5, Corban 17.5, Southern Oregon 17.5, Brewton-Parker 15.5, Lindsey WIlson 15.5, Embry-Riddle 14.5, William Penn 10.5, Lourdes 9.5, St. Thomas 9.0, Dakota Wesleyan 8.5, Missouri Valley 7.5, Briar Cliff 5.0, Oklahoma Wesleyan 3.5, Texas Wesleyan 3.5, Northwestern 3.0, Concordia 2.5, Iowa Wesleyan 2.5, Midway 2.5, Midland 2.0, Wayland Baptist 2.0, Avila 1.5, West Virginia Tech 1.5, Hastings 1.0, Rio Grande 1.0, Missouri Baptist 0.5, Saint Mary 0.5, Simpson 0.5.

125

First place: 2 Brandon Orum (Life) won by decision over 4 Hunter Sparks (Eastern Oregon) (Dec 5-4); Third place: 7 Trevor Marsman (Cornerstone) won by decision over 6 Dennis McNeal (Brewton-Parker ) (Dec 8-5); Fifth place: 14 Riley Siason (Menlo) won by decision over 1 Esco Walker (Grand View) (Dec 3-1); Seventh place: 5 Isaac Crowell (Southeastern) won by decision over 11 Conner Diamond (Lindsey Wilson) (Dec 3-0).

133

First place: 3 Gulomjon Abdullaev (Menlo) won by decision over 1 Carson Taylor (Grand View) (Dec 7-3); Third place: 7 Evan Potter (Southern Oregon) won in sudden victory - 1 over 4 Blake Mulkey (Marian) (SV-1 3-1); Fifth place: 15 Sammy Shires (Cumberland) won by fall over 8 Joe Lupton (Graceland) (Fall 1:32); Seventh place: 6 Jovan Garcia (Menlo) won by decision over 5 Matt Gimson (Indiana Tech) (Dec 9-4).

141

First place: 5 Shea Ruffridge (Grand View) won by decision over 2 Julian Hernandez (Life) (Dec 8-1); Third place: 1 Baterdene Boldmaa (Doane) won by decision over 6 Patrick Gould (Keiser) (Dec 8-5); Fifth place: 7 Cade Manion (Oklahoma City) won by decision over 8 Asa Garcia (Marian) (Dec 5-2); Seventh place: 13 Chasen Brown (Cumberlands) won by decision over David Pierson (St. Thomas) (Dec 3-2).

149

First place: 3 Brevin Balmeceda (Life) won by decision over 1 Ryan Moore (Thomas More) (Dec 2-1); Third place: 2 Blake Gonzalez (Grand View) won in sudden victory - 1 over 10 Jace Luchau (Cumberlands) (SV-1 7-1); Fifth place: 5 Keegan Luton (Oklahoma City) won by decision over 9 Nathan Lendt (Doane) (Dec 1-0); Seventh place: 13 Trent Johnson (Lindsey Wilson) won by decision over 8 John Diener (Morningside) (Dec 11-4).

157

First place: 5 Sal Silva (Southeastern) won in sudden victory - 1 over 2 Israel Casarez (Grand View) (SV-1 3-1); Third place: 1 Giovanni Bonilla (Grand View) won by decision over 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) (Dec 5-3); Fifth place: 4 Wilder Wichman (Thomas More) won in sudden victory - 1 over 3 Nate Wheeler (Indiana Tech) (SV-1 3-1); Seventh place: 6 Steven Villalobos (Life) won by decision over 9 Trevor Burdick (Reinhardt) (Dec 5-3).

165

First place: 6 Rysan Leong (Menlo) won by decision over 4 David Rubio (Corban) (Dec 4-3); Third place: 3 Cole Smith (Cumberland) won by decision over 2 Marty Margolis (Grand View) (Dec 2-0); Fifth place: 12 Matt Jenkins (Reinhardt) won by medical forfeit over 1 Jack Bass (Life) (MFF); Seventh place: 10 Shadrick Slone (Campbellsville) won by decision over Bridger Hall (Providence) (Dec 6-1).

174

First place: 3 Gerardo Hernandez (Vanguard) won in sudden victory - 1 over 1 Isaiah Luellen (Grand View) (SV-1 3-1); Third place: 2 Riley Smucker (Life) won by decision over 4 Nakoda Siegel (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 6-4); Fifth place: 8 Cole Tenety (Reinhardt) won by decision over 10 Douglas Peppers (Southeastern) (Dec 8-5); Seventh place: 5 Stephen Kelle (Southeastern) won by decision over 6 Chinges Tsermaa (Doane) (Dec 8-2).

184

First place: 5 Asher Eichert (Life) won by decision over 14 Coleman Bryant (Southeastern) (Dec 5-2); Third place: 2 Ben Lee (Grand View) won by decision over 1 Eric Vermillion (Indiana Tech) (Dec 2-0); Fifth place: 7 Sawyer Hobbs (Providence) won by major decision over 3 J.D. Perez (Ottawa) (Maj 15-7); Seventh place: Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) won in sudden victory - 1 over Sam Irwin (Reinhardt) (SV-1 7-5).

197

First place: 3 Owen Braungardt (Grand View) won by decision over 1 Zane Lanham (Life) (Dec 6-1); Third place: 2 Bradley Antesberger (Doane) won in sudden victory - 1 over 4 Malachi Karibo (Baker) (SV-1 3-1); Fifth place: 15 Nathan Critchfield (Indiana Tech) won by medical forfeit over 7 Jack Servies (Marian) (MFF); Seventh place: 9 Tucker Tomlinson (Ottawa) won by decision over 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) (Dec 4-0).

285

First place: 1 Greg Hagen (Grand View) won by fall over 3 Austin Harris (Life) (Fall 1:43); Third place: 5 Gabe Jacobs (Southeastern) won by fall over 2 KC Buday (Providence) (Fall 6:12); Fifth place: 7 Daulton Mayer (Thomas More) won by fall over 14 Noel Orozco (Eastern Oregon) (Fall 1:11); Seventh place: 10 Earnest Johnson (Keiser) won by major decision over David Toese (Graceland) (Maj 12-0).

Northern Individual Results

149 - Martin Wilkie

Champ. Round 1 - 7 Martin Wilkie (Montana State - Northern) won by injury default over Tyler Okada (Waldorf ) (Inj. 3:00); Champ. Round 2 - 10 Jace Luchau (Cumberlands) won by fall over 7 Martin Wilkie (Montana State - Northern) (Fall 4:36); Cons. Round 2 - 7 Martin Wilkie (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over Steven Weathers (Missouri Valley) (Dec 12-5); Cons. Round 3 - 7 Martin Wilkie (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over 15 Dallas Koelzer (Baker) (Dec 5-0); Cons. Round 4 - 13 Trent Johnson (Lindsey Wilson) won by decision over 7 Martin Wilkie (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 4-2).

165 - Devin Crawford

Champ. Round 1 - 16 Joey Hancock (Baker) won by major decision over Devin Crawford (Montana State - Northern) (Maj 13-4); Cons. Round 1 - Devin Crawford (Montana State - Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Cons. Round 2 - Devin Crawford (Montana State - Northern) won by fall over 15 Zander Ernst (Morningside) (Fall 6:24); Cons. Round 3 - Devin Crawford (Montana State - Northern) won in sudden victory - 1 over Braeden Baller (Texas Wesleyan) (SV-1 8-6); Cons. Round 4 - 12 Matt Jenkins (Reinhardt) won by decision over Devin Crawford (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 8-1).

174 - NaKoda Siegel (4th Place)

Champ. Round 1 - 4 Nakoda Siegel (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over Jordan Lomeli (Ottawa) (Dec 10-5); Champ. Round 2 - 4 Nakoda Siegel (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over Makail Stanley (William Penn) (Dec 5-2); Quarterfinal - 4 Nakoda Siegel (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over 5 Stephen Kelle (Southeastern) (Dec 6-1); Semifinal - 1 Isaiah Luellen (Grand View) won by decision over 4 Nakoda Siegel (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 3-2); Cons. Semi - 4 Nakoda Siegel (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over 10 Douglas Peppers (Southeastern) (Dec 3-2); 3rd Place Match - 2 Riley Smucker (Life) won by decision over 4 Nakoda Siegel (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 6-4).

174 - Rylin Burns

Champ. Round 1 - Rylin Burns (Montana State - Northern) won in sudden victory - 1 over 7 Alex Hernandez (Southern Oregon) (SV-1 3-1); Champ. Round 2 - 10 Douglas Peppers (Southeastern) won by decision over Rylin Burns (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 5-1); Cons. Round 2 - Rylin Burns (Montana State - Northern) won in sudden victory - 1 over Michael Scarponi (Doane) (SV-1 6-4); Cons. Round 3 - 15 Cameron Young-Leggett (Ottawa) won by decision over Rylin Burns (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 3-2).

184 - Austin Vanek (Seventh Place)

Champ. Round 1 - 7 Sawyer Hobbs (Providence) won by fall over Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) (Fall 1:28); Cons. Round 1 - Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over Austin Antcliffe (Cumberland) (Dec 8-4); Cons. Round 2 - Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over 9 Kyle Knudtson (Eastern Oregon) (Dec 16-12); Cons. Round 3 - Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) won by injury default over Thomas Ketchen-Carter (Cumberlands) (Inj. 0:14); Cons. Round 4 - Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) won by decision over 6 Hayden Wempen (Morningside) (Dec 8-2); Cons. Round 5 - 7 Sawyer Hobbs (Providence) won by fall over Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) (Fall 2:07); 7th Place Match - Austin Vanek (Montana State - Northern) won in sudden victory - 1 over Sam Irwin (Reinhardt) (SV-1 7-5).

197 - Carl Hansen

Champ. Round 1 - 11 Carl Hansen (Montana State - Northern) received a bye () (Bye); Champ. Round 2 - 11 Carl Hansen (Montana State - Northern) won in sudden victory - 1 over 6 Marco Retano (Eastern Oregon) (SV-1 8-6); Quarterfinal - 3 Owen Braungardt (Grand View) won by fall over 11 Carl Hansen (Montana State - Northern) (Fall 2:04); Cons. Round 4 - 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) won by decision over 11 Carl Hansen (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 2-1).