Lights lose narrow dual at Providence

The opening salvo of the annual rivalry between the Montana State University-Northern and University of Providence wrestling teams was one of the ages.

Wednesday night in Great Falls, the sixth-ranked Argos edged the 19th-ranked Lights 21-20 in an NAIA dual at the McLaughlin Center.

It was a contrast in weights as the dual progress. UP won matches at 125, 133, 141 and 149 pounds, but the Lights ralled.

At 157, No. 22 Justin Windauer beat No. 10 Jalen Vladic 2-1 in overtime, followed by Travis Waldner upsetting No., 12 Bridger Hall of UP 3-1 at 165 pounds. At 174 pounds, No. 16 Devin Crawford won by technical fall.

The match of the night then came between two of the best in the NAIA as third-ranked Abel Nava Jr., edged Rylin Burns, who moved up in weight, 2-0. The match proved to be the different for the Argos as Northern also got a pin from Austin Vanek at 197 and a win by Shane Mattson at 285.

The dual was an exciting one and showed the Lights, of longtime head coach Tyson Thivierge, are on the verge of something special this season.

The Lights will have a rematch with the Argos in February. Northern returns to action when the Lights travel to the Grand View Open on Nov. 16.

125: #22 Kobi Johnson (UP) TF Kolten Powers (MSUN), 20-5; 133: #24 Na'u McBrayer (UP) maj. dec. Kade Willis (MSUN), 12-2; 141: Dante Reviglio (UP) TF Caleb Morales (MSUN), 18-2; 149: Irish Furthmyre (UP) maj. dec. Caeleb Ishmael (MSUN), 13-3; 157: #22 Justin Windauer (MSUN) TB-1 #10 Jalen Vladic (UP), 2-1; 165: Travis Waldner (MSUN) dec. #12 Bridger Hall (UP), 3-1; 174: #16 Devin Crawford (MSUN) TF Blaze Sumiye (UP), 18-2; 184: #3 Abel Nava Jr. (UP) dec. #3 Rylin Burns (MSUN), 2-0; 197: #7 Austin Vanek (MSUN) pinned #11 Caleb Werner (UP), 1:12; 285: #19 Shane Mattson (MSUN) dec. #7 Ethan DeRoche (UP), 4-1.