Lights advance five from CCC tourney

For now, six Montana State University-Northern Lights are headed to the NAIA national wrestling championships.

As a team, Northern placed fifth at last weekend's Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships in LaGrande, Oregon, while the Lights pushed six grapplers to nationals.

NaKoda Siegel reached the 174-pound CCC title match but fell short to his arch rival from Providence. At 197 pounds Carl Hansen also had a stellar tournament, as he reached the final before losing to a rival from the Argos as well.

Joining Siegel and Hansen at nationals will be Rylin Burns, who placed fourth at 184, while Devin Crawford (165) and Cade Gubler (174), each placed fifth.

Justin Windauer finished sixth for the Lights at 157 pounds.

The CCC was won by top seed Menlo, while the Argos finished second in the team race. 

Northern, of veteran head coach Tyson Thivierge, could be sending more wrestlers to nationals next weekend in Wichita, Kansas. The NAIA will announce 30 more at-large bids to nationals this evening.