MSU-N Winter Sports 2016

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Montana State University-Northern

Winter Sports Schedules Lights Basketball November Nov. 4

Nov. 5

Nov. 25

Nov. 26

UGF Classic Great Falls, MT - TBA UGF Classic Great Falls, MT - TBA vs. New Hope Christian Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Salish Kootenai College Havre, MT - 6:00 pm December

Dec. 1

Dec. 3

Dec. 19

Dec. 20

Dec. 21

vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 8:30 pm Phoenix Classic Phoenix, AZ - TBA Phoenix Classic Phoenix, AZ - TBA Phoenix Classic Phoenix, AZ - TBA

Dec. 28

Dec. 29

Dec. 30

vs. Univ. of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB - TBA Univ. of Alberta-Augustana Havre, MT - 8:00 pm Univ. of Alberta-Augustana Havre, MT - 2:00 pm January

Jan. 5

Jan. 7

Jan. 13

Jan. 14

Jan. 20

Jan. 21

Jan. 26

vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm

Jan. 27

vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm February

Feb. 2

Feb. 4

Feb. 9

Feb. 11

Feb. 16

Feb. 18

Feb. 24

Feb. 25

vs. Rocky Mountain* Billings, MT - 7:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Dillon, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 8:30 pm vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 7:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm

* Denotes Conference Games

Skylights Basketball November Nov. 1

Nov. 4

Nov. 11

Nov. 12

Nov. 25

Nov. 26

vs. Univ. of Mont. (Exhibition) Missoula, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Central Baptist Univ.

Havre, MT - 4:00 pm vs. Northwest Univ.

Kirkland, WA - 8:30 pm vs. Evergreen State Kirkland, WA - 6:30 pm Rotary Classic Jackson, TN - TBA Rotary Classic Jackson, TN - TBA

Dec. 1

Dec. 3

Dec. 15

vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 6:30 pm vs. Nueta Hidatsa College

December

Dec. 18

Dec. 20

Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Pacific Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Willamette Univ.

Helena, MT - TBA January

Jan. 5

Jan. 7

Jan. 13

Jan. 14

Jan. 20

Jan. 21

Jan. 26

vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm

Jan. 27

vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm

Feb. 2

Feb. 4

Feb. 9

Feb. 11

Feb. 16

Feb. 18

Feb. 24

Feb. 25

vs. Rocky Mountain* Billings, MT - 5:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Dillon, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 6:30 pm vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 5:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm

February

* Denotes Conference Games

Lights Wrestling November Nov. 5

Nov. 9

Nov. 11

Nov. 16

Nov. 19

Nov. 20

Cowboy Open Laramie, WY - 9:00 am vs. Univ. of Great Falls Harve, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Eastern Oregon Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Northwest College Laurel, MT - 7:00 pm Cardinal Duals Coeur d'Alene, ID - TBA Spokane Open Spokane, WA - 9:00 am

December Dec. 2

Battle of the Rockies Duals

Dec. 3

Dec. 15

Dec. 18

Great Falls, MT - TBA Battle of the Rockies Open Great Falls, MT - 9:00 am vs. Southern Oregon Sweet Home, OR - 7:00 pm Reno Tournament of Champs Reno, NV - 9:00 am January

Jan. 12

Jan. 20

Jan. 21

Jan. 28

vs. Dickinson State Havre, MT - 7:00 pm Missouri Valley Invite Marshall, MO - TBA Missouri Valley Invite Marshall, MO - TBA Tyler Plummer Classic

Dickinson, ND - 9:00 am February

Feb. 2

Feb. 8

Feb. 20

vs. Embry Riddle Prescott, AZ - 7:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls Great Falls, MT - 7:00 pm West National Qualifying Tournament Redding, CA- 9:00 am March

March 3-4 NAIA National

Championships

Topeka, KS - All Day

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Lights ready to show it on the mat George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com Closer and closer. That’s what the Montana State University-Northern Lights have been getting to the NAIA national championship. And with a new season about to begin, the Lights continue the climb.

Northern head coach Tyson Thivierge’s team is coming off an incredible 2015-16 season — one in which the Lights finished second at the NAIA national tournament, crowned six NAIA All-Americans, swept arch rival UGF in duals and, for good measure, wrestled the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Armory Gymnasium.

Yes, it seems like it would be hard to top last season, but the Lights are determined to do just that this winter.

Northern will have to do it without some key pieces from last year’s team, including All-Americans Toby Cheff, Willie Miller and Garret DeMers. But in all, the Lights were a relatively young team throughout their lineup last season, and those young wrestlers, mixed with some salty veterans, have now grow into what should be an NAIA powerhouse.

"I would say we're pretty close to being a complete team," Thiv-

Havre Daily News/File Photo Andrew Bartel, right, and the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team are fully loaded for another big season on the mat. ierge said. "We have depth, but we also have some areas we need to improve, and some weight classes where we need guys to step up and take it to another level.

"Also, and I know I said this a lot last year, but it's really still true," he continued, "even with all of the guys we have coming back, we're still a very young team. So it's going to take time this season, to continue

to grow, to find our identity and find out what kind of team we can be."

Included in that mix of youth from last year’s team are brothers Matt (141) and Brandon Weber (157), Andrew Bartel (165) and Drake Randall (149), all of whom were ranked nationally a season ago, and all of whom are now just sophomores or redshirt sophomores. In fact, the Lights have just three seniors, one

junior, and the rest of the team is composed of sophomores and freshmen.

"That group was great last year," Thivierge said. "They improved throughout last season, and now, even though they're still young, they're showing our freshmen what it takes. Hopefully, we can catch lightning in a bottle twice with all of these young guys."

Of course, the youth movement the Lights have going right now will also be aided by the return of some key veterans, as well as some new faces.

And no new face is perhaps more highly anticipated than that of former Chinook four-time state champion Ben Stroh. Stroh, who will wrestle at 184 pounds, transferred to Northern after competing the last four years for the University of Wyoming, and his addition to Northern’s team, and to the upper weights, only strengthens the Lights’ lineup.

Another strength is returning AllAmerican heavyweight Taylor Kornoely. In his first year as a Light, he was outstanding, reaching the NAIA heavyweight national championship.

"It's been amazing having Ben in the room, everything he brings to the table, it's so beneficial to our team," Thivierge said. "It was just an instant fit. And with Ben and Taylor now in those leadership roles, it's been really good."

And with Stroh and Kornoely leading the way, the Lights should again be strong in the upper weights, where, youngsters like Zach Haviland will look to step up at 174 pounds, a spot vacated by Willie

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Wrestling: Lights hungry for more ■ From Page 2 Miller, while Dace Fisher returns for depth at 184, as does Stephen Hyatt at 197. The Lights also added transfer Garret Chapel, a former Libby star at 197. He will redshirt this season.

Depth should be a strong point for the Lights throughout the lineup.

Robert Pair will step into a bigger role at 125, while senior Tommy Cooper returns at 157 after missing last season with a shoulder injury. Drew Randall is also back after also missing last season with an injury, while the likes of Logan Foster (165), Lee Cannon (197) and Adam Hokenson (HWT) give Northern’s already deep and talented roster even more to work with.

Thivierge’s 2016 recruiting class was also a big one, as he brought in the likes of Montana standouts Dylan (133) and Brennan Veis (141) of Billings, Clayton Carter (141) of Laurel, Dylan Duffalo (149) of Missoula, Steeler French (184) from Choteau and Cody Lucke (174) of Browning.

Out-of-state standouts included, Alex Lee (125), Garvin Maslen (133), Dylan Lockwood (133) and Tyler Presser (165) And with that talent, the Lights will look to march through the season, with their ultimate goal being the national title come March in Topeka, Kansas.

Before that though, MSU-N will wrestle tough duals against North Idaho College and Dickinson State at home, as well as its annual home-and-home series with the Argos, the first of which takes place Nov. 9 in Havre. In duals, Northern will also face a

new program in Eastern Oregon, as well as Northwest College in Laurel, Southern Oregon and Embry-Riddle, and get tests at both the Cardinal Duals and the Battle of the Rockies. MSU-N’s tournament schedule will also take them to the season-opening Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyoming, the Spokane Open, the Battle of the Rockies in Great Falls, the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions, the Missouri Valley Invitational and the Tyler Plummer Classic, hosted

by Dickinson State.

"Our focus right now is on improving with every opportunity we have to step on the mat," Thivierge said. "Another huge thing for us is the addition of Jimmy Eggemeyer (former Southern Oregon All-American) as an assistant coach. He's already brought so much to our room, and he's going to help make this team better and this program better. So I'm really excited about having Jimmy here."

The postseason starts with the West Regional Tournament Feb. 20 in Redding, Calif., before the Lights embark on their quest for a national championship March 3-4 at the NAIA national tourney in Topeka.

And in Kansas, that's where the Lights will look to achieve their ultimate goals, both as a team, and individually. With the team Northern has in place, the Lights will be looked at as a national championship contender, especially after threatening powerhouse Grand View a season ago. And Thivierge has never shied away from those goals or

Havre Daily News/File Photo Northern All-American Matt Weber, right, squares off against an Iowa Hawkeye during the Lights' historic 2015-16 season. The Lights are gunning for even more history this season. expectations.

"These guys know what the goals are," Thivierge said. "Every year, my goal is for this team to improve throughout the season so that they can compete for a national championship, and that's the expectation again. But we also are focusing more on action than talk this year. It's one

thing to talk about it, but talk is cheap. We want to go out and show that we're capable of competing for a national championship on the mat.

"But overall, I'm very excited about this team," he continued.

"The guys are working hard, they're coming right along, and with this group, it's going to be a very fun season."

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■ From Page 3 And on both ends of the floor, one big reason why the Lights have a chance to make strides is because of the emergence of Reeves. Northern has succeeded for years being an undersized team, but with Reeves presence in the paint, especially with a year under his belt, he has become a force, and a gamechanger for the Lights.

“Having a presence like Ryan brings allows us to match up with any team we face,” Huse said.

“Having that size and the presence in the paint allows us to match up with teams in a different way than we’ve been able to in years past. We have a chance to really control the paint now and that’s exciting.

“Offensively,” he continued. “We can gain some advantages in different ways this season, too. We won’t change our identity, but with our size, and the guys we have around that size, I think we can be a little more versatile and create a few more matchup problems for our opponents. Again, that’s not to take anything away from the guys who graduated last year, because they were very good offensive players. I just think this team has the potential to create a few different looks we haven’t been able to in the past and that’s a nice luxury to have.”

Of course, potential has to be realized and executed on the floor, and Northern will get ample opportunities to do that early in the season. The Lights open at home with Yellow Christian College and also play non-conference home games against New Hope Christian and Salish Kootenai College, as well as University of Alberta-Augustana.

Northern will also be tested against NAIA competition at the Phoenix Classic in November, as well as two games at the UGF Classic in Great Falls among others. As is the norm

now in the Frontier, the Lights also open conference play with trips to Montana Tech Dec. 1 and defending league champion Lewis-Clark State Dec. 3.

“Our schedule is one that will certainly test and prepare us for conference play,” Huse said. “Obviously, the three games we play in Phoenix will be against top NAIA teams so that will be really good for us. We have some exciting home games too. We have a Thanksgiving Classic this year, and that’s something we haven’t had in the past so we’re excited about that. But overall, our schedule will test us, but also give as chances to get a lot of guys some valuable experience before conference play really gets going.”

And, at the end of the day, the Frontier Conference, and contending for a league championship is what it’s all about. And though that’s a long way off right now, Huse is excited and feels his team has the potential to do exactly that this winter.

“We’re always shooting to be in that top three in our conference,” Huse said. “And I don’t see any reason why this team can’t do that. Of course, I’m always going to feel that way about our program.

“Now, we need our young guys and our new guys to grow and step up over time,” he continued. “And we need to continue to grow as a team during these first few months of the season. Because, at the end of the day, this team is still young, and we need to be patient with them, but also push them to get better at the same time. They’re a great group of guys, they’re working hard and their fun to coach, and they have a lot of potential to do big things this season. So we’ll have to just see how it all plays out.”

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Lights primed for hardwood success

Lights Basketball: Northern has loads of returning talent point guard Cameron Epps (5-9) averaged 11 points and two assists per game last year at Des Moines Area Community College, while junior guard Charles Porter (6-2) poured in 19 ppg, as well as grabbed four rebounds per night for Umpqua Community College a year ago. Former Box Elder great Jerrod Four Colors also signed with the Lights and will red-shirt this season.

“We do have a lot of guys back,” Huse said. “But we’re going to expect the new guys and the young players to step up and play big roles for us this year, and we feel like all of those guys are capable of doing that. They just need experience now.”

As for what Huse expects his team to look like on the floor, no matter the roster, that doesn’t change.

The Lights will strive to once again be one of the best defensive teams in the Frontier, just as they have been for much of Huse’s tenure. Northern led the Frontier in scoring defense a season ago, and has been either first or second in that category the last seven seasons. The Lights should also be a strong rebounding team again this season, while offensively, Huse said, his system may not change much, but his the team and depth he has at his disposal this season may allow the Lights to be a bit more diverse.

“Defensively, I expect us to be very active, and I think we can be a bit more disruptive this year,” Huse said. “That’s not to say we weren’t last year because we led the league in points allowed, and we had three great seniors who were a big part of that. So to be better than that this year is hard to do, but I think we have a chance to do that, and I’m excited about that.”

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George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com

Havre Daily News/File Photo MSU-Northern senior Tyler Chandler and the Lights have high hopes for the upcoming season. Chandler is one of several key veterans on an otherwise younger Lights' squad.

For what must have seemed like an eternity now for Montana State University-Northern head men’s basketball coach Shawn Huse, roster continuity has been hard to come by.

In recent years, the Lights have had to reload on a yearly basis, and that has been due to graduating great talent.

And while Northern did lose several big time players from last year’s squad, as a new season dawns, roster continuity isn’t something Huse has too much concern with.

Northern, which went 19-12 a year ago, tying for fourth in the Frontier Conference, begins the new season with a big list of returning players, 11 in all and eight who saw significant game action last season. And that fact has Huse excited about not only the season starting, but the potential team the Lights can be.

“Overall, we’re still what I would call a young team,” Huse said. “But that’s not because of lack of guys coming back in our program. We have a big core group of guys back, and a lot of those guys are going to fill key roles this season.

“We also have three seniors back, and we’re going to really lean on their leadership and experience,” he added. “Especially early on.

But in terms of our roster, and guys knowing what’s going on and where we’re at in practice at this point, we’re way ahead of where we’ve been in the last few years to start a season, and that’s a nice luxury to have.”

Northern did lose three starters from last year’s squad, including All Frontier Conference performer and leading scorer Warren Edmondson, as well as starting point guard Tevail Lee and forward KJ Rech. And those types of players are never easy to replace.

Still, many of the Lights who will fill those roles were in the rotation last season, and that makes the transition much easier. The Lights return a pair of starters in senior David Straughter (6-5), who averaged 10 points

and five rebounds on his way to All-Conference honors a year ago. Also back is 6-10 junior Ryan Reeves, who seemed to come out of nowhere last year for the Lights, but quickly became one of the most dominant big men in the league, averaging four points and five rebounds and leading the Frontier in blocked shots.

The Lights will also rely heavily this season on senior point guard Badhasa Margarsa, senior shooting guard Tyler Chandler, who averaged 10 ppg off the bench a year ago, and forward William Walker (6-6), as well as key returners like Dylan Tatarka, Justin Dunsmore and Kevin Oberweiser, all who saw plenty of action last season.

“The guys coming back, they know our system,” Huse said. “They know what we want to do and what we expect, and that’s big for us, to have that many guys that already know exactly what we do when the season starts.

The last few years, we’ve really had a bigger mix of new guys and returning guys and it always takes a lot of time to bring that together.

So, again, I still feel like we’re a pretty young team, but we do have a big group of guys that have experience, too.”

Also in the mix this season for what should be a very deep Northern roster are five newcomers, including three who red-shirted for the Lights a year ago, including shooting guard Adam Huse (6-1), point guard Devin Bray (5-9) and forward Seth Christiaens (6-10). All three spent last season learning the ropes, and working on their game, and all three have high potential according to Huse.

“The three red-shirts we have coming back, they’re all very good players,” Huse said.

“They need the experience still, but all three have come a long way since they got here as freshmen, and they, along with a lot of our other young players, are going to have to step up and fill roles.”

Huse also added three new players to the mix in the offseason, and two of them will vie for key playing time immediately. Junior

See Lights Basketball Page 6

Havre Daily News/File Photo David Straughter is one of many key returning players for the 2016-17 Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team.

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Loaded Skylights aim to keep on shining George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com The past three seasons have been magical for the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team. They’ve been filled with exciting games, dramatic wins and plane rides to the NAIA national tournament.

And when the 2016-17 season is said and done, the magic will likely have kept on going, and the Skylights are hoping they won’t even have to get on a plane to go to the NAIA’s Big Dance, because it’s being held next spring just down the road, in Billings.

Of course, it’s a long way between now and the national tournament, and Northern has plenty of work to do. But coming off a 23-9 season, another trip to the Frontier Conference semifinals, a third straight trip to the national tournament and returning a pair of NAIA All-Americans, Northern’s hopes and dreams are certainly high as a new season begins.

“We do have high expectations, our kids have high expectations for this season,” veteran MSU-N head coach Chris Mouat said. “This group has been able to accomplish a lot already. They’ve seen and done some really neat things over the years. They have done some incredible things for this program.

But, I think they also have a sour taste in their mouths from how last season ended, so they want to get back and turn that around. They want to be even better, and that’s exciting.”

Last season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Benedictine in the first round of the national tournament. But the Skylights certainly have the squad to make amends for that over the next six months, and it starts with the return of senior Natalee Faupel for the final year of her brilliant MSU-N career.

Already a three-time Frontier All-Conference player, she returns for her senior season as the reigning Frontier MVP, as well as a First-Team NAIA All-American.

Faupel (5-10) was incredible a season ago, averaging 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal

Havre Daily News/File Photo Jacy Thompson and the Montana State University-Northern Skylights have had a great three-year run. But with how talented the Skylights are the best could be yet to come. per game.

Of course, Faupel has plenty of help around her, too, including junior guard Jacy Thompson (5-6).

A two-time All-Conference standout, Thompson averaged 13 points per game, and shot better than 40 percent from the 3-point-line a year ago, all the while earning the Frontier Defensive Player of the year award, and being named an NAIA All-American.

Northern’s veteran team also includes senior point guard Molly Kreycik (5-7), senior forward Cydney Auzenne (5-10), who averaged 10 ppg and was named Frontier AllConference a season ago, and senior forward Sierra Richards (6-0),

who averaged a team-high six rebounds per night.

“We are a veteran team,” Mouat said. “When you look at Natalee and Molly, they’ve played heavy minutes for us for the last three years, and Jacy has started since she was a freshman. And we have seniors like Cyd (Auzenne) and Sierra, so we have a ton of experience and a ton of leadership with this team. That group has a lot of Frontier Conference and national tournament experience under their belts, so, from that standpoint, we’re probably in as good a shape as we’ve ever been.”

Of course, Northern did lose a true veteran leader in senior Ra-

chelle Bennett, who fought valiantly to overcome knee injuries to average six points and three rebounds per game for the Skylights, who went 11-7 and tied for third in the rugged Frontier last season.

And yet, Northern returns perhaps two of the best players in the conference, and perhaps, all of the NAIA, as well as an outstanding supporting cast, so, of course, the sky is the limit.

“We’ve never had two returning All-Americans before, so we’re going to enjoy that,” Mouat said. “It’s a great luxury to have. Natalee has established herself as an elite level player, one of the best in the country, and she has all the awards

to back it up. But what’s so great about her is, she just wants to keep winning. She just wants to keep getting better and help her team win. She’s one of the most special players we’ve ever had in this program.

“And then you have Jacy, who has two years left and has already established herself as a great player,” he continued. “What she does at both ends of the floor is just incredible. So it all starts with those two, but you add to that Molly Kreycik, who is a true coach on the floor and knows our system as well as anybody I’ve ever coached, and the experience and skill that Cyd and Sierra bring back, and the crew we have out there is very good, and probably farther ahead at this point in the season than any returning team we’ve had in a long time.”

And the crew Mouat speaks so highly of doesn’t stop with the five returning veterans. While Northern signed just two new players this season, Northwest College transfer Kealanie Sagapolu (5-11) and sensational scorer Shiloh McCormick of St. Labre, the Skylights also have the 2014 recruiting class returning, and it’s a class big things will be expected from this season. Junior point guard Brandy Lambourne (5-5), junior forward Makhayla Farmer (6-2) and sophomore guards Peyton Filius (5-6) and Katie Fetterer (5-6) will all step into much more pivotal roles this winter.

“Those four give us the depth we haven’t had in the past,” Mouat said of the stellar 2014 class. “They are all going to have big roles on this team, and they have all made a lot of progress, and we expect them to all be major contributors. Our two new players, they’re quick learners and are really picking things up fast. So we’ve been working on building depth for some time in our program, and I think this year, we have that depth.”

And there’s no doubt that depth will make MSU-N a contender for the Frontier title and a fourth straight trip to the national tournament. But, so will execution.

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Skylights: MSU-N women look to build on recent success ■ From Page 4 And on defense, few teams in the NAIA execute like the Skylights.

For years under Mouat, Northern has been in the Top 5 or better in many defensive categories in the NAIA, and he expects that to continue this season. On the other end of the floor, he sees the potential for his team to again be good from beyond the arc, but also be a patient offense that can get plenty done on the inside, too.

“Defensively, we’re ahead of where we would normally be this time of year,” he said. “And I think that speaks to the effort our kids bring on that end. We want to again be a Top 10 team defensively, and we have the kids to accomplish that.

We don’t have a ton of size, but our kids play hard, they play smart and they make hoops hard to come by.

So I expect us to be consistently solid defensively.

“Offensively, I feel like we’re way ahead, too, and that’s because we have not only talent, but a lot of experienced kids who know our system,” he added. “So we’re not going to change our base stuff much this year, and I expect us to execute at a very high level.”

Something else that has changed at Northern is the brutally tough non-conference schedule the Skylights always play. It starts with three tough home games against top-level Canadian competition, and continues with yet another trip to Missoula for a meeting with the legendary University of Montana Lady Griz. The Skylights will also play an NAIA foe in Central Baptist at home, as well as travel to tough games against Cascade conference teams in Washington, and play in the Rotary Classic against two nationally ranked NAIA teams still to be determined at the former site of the national tournament in Jack-

son, Tennessee. Northern also opens Frontier play at Montana Tech Dec. 1 and has a huge showdown with league favorite Lewis-Clark State two nights later in Lewiston, Idaho.

“Certainly our schedule will prepare us well for what we’ll have to go through in our league,” Mouat said.

“That’s always the goal. And it will be tough right off the bat, especially with two games against Lethbridge, who is going to be very good this season. And going to play Montana is always a huge challenge for us, but an exciting one. It will be different, with Robin not there anymore, but I’ve known and admired Shannon (Schweyen) for years and she’ll have that program right where it always is. And our two big trips out of state, both to play in Washington and in Tennessee, those will all be very tough games, so our schedule will give us the opportunity to improve and at the same time, prepare us for what we’ll face in conference play.”

But with the how loaded the Skylights are this season, the rest of the Frontier should be worried about preparing for them. With the talented Faupel and Thompson leading the way, with a veteran starting lineup and reserves rising up to fill new roles, the Skylights expect to be an elite team this season, not just in the Frontier, but in the NAIA. “We’re excited,” Mouat said.

“These girls have a lot of individual and team goals, and they should.

They want to build on what we’ve already done in our program over the last few seasons, and they want to have another great season and make their own mark on this program.

“So, again, expectations are high for all of us,” he continued. “But we also know it’s a long season, and right now, we just need to keep get-

ting better every day. We want to stay healthy, play well in these ear-

ly games, and continue to build as the season goes on. But I’m already quite proud of this team. They have done so much for our program, on and off the court. They are a great group, and I’m excited that it’s time

www.havredailynews.com for them to go out and play basketball, and I know they can accomplish great things this season.”

The Skylights opened their season with two games at home last weekend.

Havre Daily News/File Photo Cydney Auzenne is one of three returning Frontier All-Conference players for the Skylights, who are trying to return to the NAIA national tournament for a fourth straight season.

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Loaded Skylights aim to keep on shining George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com The past three seasons have been magical for the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team. They’ve been filled with exciting games, dramatic wins and plane rides to the NAIA national tournament.

And when the 2016-17 season is said and done, the magic will likely have kept on going, and the Skylights are hoping they won’t even have to get on a plane to go to the NAIA’s Big Dance, because it’s being held next spring just down the road, in Billings.

Of course, it’s a long way between now and the national tournament, and Northern has plenty of work to do. But coming off a 23-9 season, another trip to the Frontier Conference semifinals, a third straight trip to the national tournament and returning a pair of NAIA All-Americans, Northern’s hopes and dreams are certainly high as a new season begins.

“We do have high expectations, our kids have high expectations for this season,” veteran MSU-N head coach Chris Mouat said. “This group has been able to accomplish a lot already. They’ve seen and done some really neat things over the years. They have done some incredible things for this program.

But, I think they also have a sour taste in their mouths from how last season ended, so they want to get back and turn that around. They want to be even better, and that’s exciting.”

Last season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Benedictine in the first round of the national tournament. But the Skylights certainly have the squad to make amends for that over the next six months, and it starts with the return of senior Natalee Faupel for the final year of her brilliant MSU-N career.

Already a three-time Frontier All-Conference player, she returns for her senior season as the reigning Frontier MVP, as well as a First-Team NAIA All-American.

Faupel (5-10) was incredible a season ago, averaging 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal

Havre Daily News/File Photo Jacy Thompson and the Montana State University-Northern Skylights have had a great three-year run. But with how talented the Skylights are the best could be yet to come. per game.

Of course, Faupel has plenty of help around her, too, including junior guard Jacy Thompson (5-6).

A two-time All-Conference standout, Thompson averaged 13 points per game, and shot better than 40 percent from the 3-point-line a year ago, all the while earning the Frontier Defensive Player of the year award, and being named an NAIA All-American.

Northern’s veteran team also includes senior point guard Molly Kreycik (5-7), senior forward Cydney Auzenne (5-10), who averaged 10 ppg and was named Frontier AllConference a season ago, and senior forward Sierra Richards (6-0),

who averaged a team-high six rebounds per night.

“We are a veteran team,” Mouat said. “When you look at Natalee and Molly, they’ve played heavy minutes for us for the last three years, and Jacy has started since she was a freshman. And we have seniors like Cyd (Auzenne) and Sierra, so we have a ton of experience and a ton of leadership with this team. That group has a lot of Frontier Conference and national tournament experience under their belts, so, from that standpoint, we’re probably in as good a shape as we’ve ever been.”

Of course, Northern did lose a true veteran leader in senior Ra-

chelle Bennett, who fought valiantly to overcome knee injuries to average six points and three rebounds per game for the Skylights, who went 11-7 and tied for third in the rugged Frontier last season.

And yet, Northern returns perhaps two of the best players in the conference, and perhaps, all of the NAIA, as well as an outstanding supporting cast, so, of course, the sky is the limit.

“We’ve never had two returning All-Americans before, so we’re going to enjoy that,” Mouat said. “It’s a great luxury to have. Natalee has established herself as an elite level player, one of the best in the country, and she has all the awards

to back it up. But what’s so great about her is, she just wants to keep winning. She just wants to keep getting better and help her team win. She’s one of the most special players we’ve ever had in this program.

“And then you have Jacy, who has two years left and has already established herself as a great player,” he continued. “What she does at both ends of the floor is just incredible. So it all starts with those two, but you add to that Molly Kreycik, who is a true coach on the floor and knows our system as well as anybody I’ve ever coached, and the experience and skill that Cyd and Sierra bring back, and the crew we have out there is very good, and probably farther ahead at this point in the season than any returning team we’ve had in a long time.”

And the crew Mouat speaks so highly of doesn’t stop with the five returning veterans. While Northern signed just two new players this season, Northwest College transfer Kealanie Sagapolu (5-11) and sensational scorer Shiloh McCormick of St. Labre, the Skylights also have the 2014 recruiting class returning, and it’s a class big things will be expected from this season. Junior point guard Brandy Lambourne (5-5), junior forward Makhayla Farmer (6-2) and sophomore guards Peyton Filius (5-6) and Katie Fetterer (5-6) will all step into much more pivotal roles this winter.

“Those four give us the depth we haven’t had in the past,” Mouat said of the stellar 2014 class. “They are all going to have big roles on this team, and they have all made a lot of progress, and we expect them to all be major contributors. Our two new players, they’re quick learners and are really picking things up fast. So we’ve been working on building depth for some time in our program, and I think this year, we have that depth.”

And there’s no doubt that depth will make MSU-N a contender for the Frontier title and a fourth straight trip to the national tournament. But, so will execution.

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Skylights: MSU-N women look to build on recent success ■ From Page 4 And on defense, few teams in the NAIA execute like the Skylights.

For years under Mouat, Northern has been in the Top 5 or better in many defensive categories in the NAIA, and he expects that to continue this season. On the other end of the floor, he sees the potential for his team to again be good from beyond the arc, but also be a patient offense that can get plenty done on the inside, too.

“Defensively, we’re ahead of where we would normally be this time of year,” he said. “And I think that speaks to the effort our kids bring on that end. We want to again be a Top 10 team defensively, and we have the kids to accomplish that.

We don’t have a ton of size, but our kids play hard, they play smart and they make hoops hard to come by.

So I expect us to be consistently solid defensively.

“Offensively, I feel like we’re way ahead, too, and that’s because we have not only talent, but a lot of experienced kids who know our system,” he added. “So we’re not going to change our base stuff much this year, and I expect us to execute at a very high level.”

Something else that has changed at Northern is the brutally tough non-conference schedule the Skylights always play. It starts with three tough home games against top-level Canadian competition, and continues with yet another trip to Missoula for a meeting with the legendary University of Montana Lady Griz. The Skylights will also play an NAIA foe in Central Baptist at home, as well as travel to tough games against Cascade conference teams in Washington, and play in the Rotary Classic against two nationally ranked NAIA teams still to be determined at the former site of the national tournament in Jack-

son, Tennessee. Northern also opens Frontier play at Montana Tech Dec. 1 and has a huge showdown with league favorite Lewis-Clark State two nights later in Lewiston, Idaho.

“Certainly our schedule will prepare us well for what we’ll have to go through in our league,” Mouat said.

“That’s always the goal. And it will be tough right off the bat, especially with two games against Lethbridge, who is going to be very good this season. And going to play Montana is always a huge challenge for us, but an exciting one. It will be different, with Robin not there anymore, but I’ve known and admired Shannon (Schweyen) for years and she’ll have that program right where it always is. And our two big trips out of state, both to play in Washington and in Tennessee, those will all be very tough games, so our schedule will give us the opportunity to improve and at the same time, prepare us for what we’ll face in conference play.”

But with the how loaded the Skylights are this season, the rest of the Frontier should be worried about preparing for them. With the talented Faupel and Thompson leading the way, with a veteran starting lineup and reserves rising up to fill new roles, the Skylights expect to be an elite team this season, not just in the Frontier, but in the NAIA. “We’re excited,” Mouat said.

“These girls have a lot of individual and team goals, and they should.

They want to build on what we’ve already done in our program over the last few seasons, and they want to have another great season and make their own mark on this program.

“So, again, expectations are high for all of us,” he continued. “But we also know it’s a long season, and right now, we just need to keep get-

ting better every day. We want to stay healthy, play well in these ear-

ly games, and continue to build as the season goes on. But I’m already quite proud of this team. They have done so much for our program, on and off the court. They are a great group, and I’m excited that it’s time

www.havredailynews.com for them to go out and play basketball, and I know they can accomplish great things this season.”

The Skylights opened their season with two games at home last weekend.

Havre Daily News/File Photo Cydney Auzenne is one of three returning Frontier All-Conference players for the Skylights, who are trying to return to the NAIA national tournament for a fourth straight season.

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■ From Page 3 And on both ends of the floor, one big reason why the Lights have a chance to make strides is because of the emergence of Reeves. Northern has succeeded for years being an undersized team, but with Reeves presence in the paint, especially with a year under his belt, he has become a force, and a gamechanger for the Lights.

“Having a presence like Ryan brings allows us to match up with any team we face,” Huse said.

“Having that size and the presence in the paint allows us to match up with teams in a different way than we’ve been able to in years past. We have a chance to really control the paint now and that’s exciting.

“Offensively,” he continued. “We can gain some advantages in different ways this season, too. We won’t change our identity, but with our size, and the guys we have around that size, I think we can be a little more versatile and create a few more matchup problems for our opponents. Again, that’s not to take anything away from the guys who graduated last year, because they were very good offensive players. I just think this team has the potential to create a few different looks we haven’t been able to in the past and that’s a nice luxury to have.”

Of course, potential has to be realized and executed on the floor, and Northern will get ample opportunities to do that early in the season. The Lights open at home with Yellow Christian College and also play non-conference home games against New Hope Christian and Salish Kootenai College, as well as University of Alberta-Augustana.

Northern will also be tested against NAIA competition at the Phoenix Classic in November, as well as two games at the UGF Classic in Great Falls among others. As is the norm

now in the Frontier, the Lights also open conference play with trips to Montana Tech Dec. 1 and defending league champion Lewis-Clark State Dec. 3.

“Our schedule is one that will certainly test and prepare us for conference play,” Huse said. “Obviously, the three games we play in Phoenix will be against top NAIA teams so that will be really good for us. We have some exciting home games too. We have a Thanksgiving Classic this year, and that’s something we haven’t had in the past so we’re excited about that. But overall, our schedule will test us, but also give as chances to get a lot of guys some valuable experience before conference play really gets going.”

And, at the end of the day, the Frontier Conference, and contending for a league championship is what it’s all about. And though that’s a long way off right now, Huse is excited and feels his team has the potential to do exactly that this winter.

“We’re always shooting to be in that top three in our conference,” Huse said. “And I don’t see any reason why this team can’t do that. Of course, I’m always going to feel that way about our program.

“Now, we need our young guys and our new guys to grow and step up over time,” he continued. “And we need to continue to grow as a team during these first few months of the season. Because, at the end of the day, this team is still young, and we need to be patient with them, but also push them to get better at the same time. They’re a great group of guys, they’re working hard and their fun to coach, and they have a lot of potential to do big things this season. So we’ll have to just see how it all plays out.”

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Lights primed for hardwood success

Lights Basketball: Northern has loads of returning talent point guard Cameron Epps (5-9) averaged 11 points and two assists per game last year at Des Moines Area Community College, while junior guard Charles Porter (6-2) poured in 19 ppg, as well as grabbed four rebounds per night for Umpqua Community College a year ago. Former Box Elder great Jerrod Four Colors also signed with the Lights and will red-shirt this season.

“We do have a lot of guys back,” Huse said. “But we’re going to expect the new guys and the young players to step up and play big roles for us this year, and we feel like all of those guys are capable of doing that. They just need experience now.”

As for what Huse expects his team to look like on the floor, no matter the roster, that doesn’t change.

The Lights will strive to once again be one of the best defensive teams in the Frontier, just as they have been for much of Huse’s tenure. Northern led the Frontier in scoring defense a season ago, and has been either first or second in that category the last seven seasons. The Lights should also be a strong rebounding team again this season, while offensively, Huse said, his system may not change much, but his the team and depth he has at his disposal this season may allow the Lights to be a bit more diverse.

“Defensively, I expect us to be very active, and I think we can be a bit more disruptive this year,” Huse said. “That’s not to say we weren’t last year because we led the league in points allowed, and we had three great seniors who were a big part of that. So to be better than that this year is hard to do, but I think we have a chance to do that, and I’m excited about that.”

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George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com

Havre Daily News/File Photo MSU-Northern senior Tyler Chandler and the Lights have high hopes for the upcoming season. Chandler is one of several key veterans on an otherwise younger Lights' squad.

For what must have seemed like an eternity now for Montana State University-Northern head men’s basketball coach Shawn Huse, roster continuity has been hard to come by.

In recent years, the Lights have had to reload on a yearly basis, and that has been due to graduating great talent.

And while Northern did lose several big time players from last year’s squad, as a new season dawns, roster continuity isn’t something Huse has too much concern with.

Northern, which went 19-12 a year ago, tying for fourth in the Frontier Conference, begins the new season with a big list of returning players, 11 in all and eight who saw significant game action last season. And that fact has Huse excited about not only the season starting, but the potential team the Lights can be.

“Overall, we’re still what I would call a young team,” Huse said. “But that’s not because of lack of guys coming back in our program. We have a big core group of guys back, and a lot of those guys are going to fill key roles this season.

“We also have three seniors back, and we’re going to really lean on their leadership and experience,” he added. “Especially early on.

But in terms of our roster, and guys knowing what’s going on and where we’re at in practice at this point, we’re way ahead of where we’ve been in the last few years to start a season, and that’s a nice luxury to have.”

Northern did lose three starters from last year’s squad, including All Frontier Conference performer and leading scorer Warren Edmondson, as well as starting point guard Tevail Lee and forward KJ Rech. And those types of players are never easy to replace.

Still, many of the Lights who will fill those roles were in the rotation last season, and that makes the transition much easier. The Lights return a pair of starters in senior David Straughter (6-5), who averaged 10 points

and five rebounds on his way to All-Conference honors a year ago. Also back is 6-10 junior Ryan Reeves, who seemed to come out of nowhere last year for the Lights, but quickly became one of the most dominant big men in the league, averaging four points and five rebounds and leading the Frontier in blocked shots.

The Lights will also rely heavily this season on senior point guard Badhasa Margarsa, senior shooting guard Tyler Chandler, who averaged 10 ppg off the bench a year ago, and forward William Walker (6-6), as well as key returners like Dylan Tatarka, Justin Dunsmore and Kevin Oberweiser, all who saw plenty of action last season.

“The guys coming back, they know our system,” Huse said. “They know what we want to do and what we expect, and that’s big for us, to have that many guys that already know exactly what we do when the season starts.

The last few years, we’ve really had a bigger mix of new guys and returning guys and it always takes a lot of time to bring that together.

So, again, I still feel like we’re a pretty young team, but we do have a big group of guys that have experience, too.”

Also in the mix this season for what should be a very deep Northern roster are five newcomers, including three who red-shirted for the Lights a year ago, including shooting guard Adam Huse (6-1), point guard Devin Bray (5-9) and forward Seth Christiaens (6-10). All three spent last season learning the ropes, and working on their game, and all three have high potential according to Huse.

“The three red-shirts we have coming back, they’re all very good players,” Huse said.

“They need the experience still, but all three have come a long way since they got here as freshmen, and they, along with a lot of our other young players, are going to have to step up and fill roles.”

Huse also added three new players to the mix in the offseason, and two of them will vie for key playing time immediately. Junior

See Lights Basketball Page 6

Havre Daily News/File Photo David Straughter is one of many key returning players for the 2016-17 Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team.

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Lights ready to show it on the mat George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com Closer and closer. That’s what the Montana State University-Northern Lights have been getting to the NAIA national championship. And with a new season about to begin, the Lights continue the climb.

Northern head coach Tyson Thivierge’s team is coming off an incredible 2015-16 season — one in which the Lights finished second at the NAIA national tournament, crowned six NAIA All-Americans, swept arch rival UGF in duals and, for good measure, wrestled the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Armory Gymnasium.

Yes, it seems like it would be hard to top last season, but the Lights are determined to do just that this winter.

Northern will have to do it without some key pieces from last year’s team, including All-Americans Toby Cheff, Willie Miller and Garret DeMers. But in all, the Lights were a relatively young team throughout their lineup last season, and those young wrestlers, mixed with some salty veterans, have now grow into what should be an NAIA powerhouse.

"I would say we're pretty close to being a complete team," Thiv-

Havre Daily News/File Photo Andrew Bartel, right, and the Montana State University-Northern wrestling team are fully loaded for another big season on the mat. ierge said. "We have depth, but we also have some areas we need to improve, and some weight classes where we need guys to step up and take it to another level.

"Also, and I know I said this a lot last year, but it's really still true," he continued, "even with all of the guys we have coming back, we're still a very young team. So it's going to take time this season, to continue

to grow, to find our identity and find out what kind of team we can be."

Included in that mix of youth from last year’s team are brothers Matt (141) and Brandon Weber (157), Andrew Bartel (165) and Drake Randall (149), all of whom were ranked nationally a season ago, and all of whom are now just sophomores or redshirt sophomores. In fact, the Lights have just three seniors, one

junior, and the rest of the team is composed of sophomores and freshmen.

"That group was great last year," Thivierge said. "They improved throughout last season, and now, even though they're still young, they're showing our freshmen what it takes. Hopefully, we can catch lightning in a bottle twice with all of these young guys."

Of course, the youth movement the Lights have going right now will also be aided by the return of some key veterans, as well as some new faces.

And no new face is perhaps more highly anticipated than that of former Chinook four-time state champion Ben Stroh. Stroh, who will wrestle at 184 pounds, transferred to Northern after competing the last four years for the University of Wyoming, and his addition to Northern’s team, and to the upper weights, only strengthens the Lights’ lineup.

Another strength is returning AllAmerican heavyweight Taylor Kornoely. In his first year as a Light, he was outstanding, reaching the NAIA heavyweight national championship.

"It's been amazing having Ben in the room, everything he brings to the table, it's so beneficial to our team," Thivierge said. "It was just an instant fit. And with Ben and Taylor now in those leadership roles, it's been really good."

And with Stroh and Kornoely leading the way, the Lights should again be strong in the upper weights, where, youngsters like Zach Haviland will look to step up at 174 pounds, a spot vacated by Willie

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Wrestling: Lights hungry for more ■ From Page 2 Miller, while Dace Fisher returns for depth at 184, as does Stephen Hyatt at 197. The Lights also added transfer Garret Chapel, a former Libby star at 197. He will redshirt this season.

Depth should be a strong point for the Lights throughout the lineup.

Robert Pair will step into a bigger role at 125, while senior Tommy Cooper returns at 157 after missing last season with a shoulder injury. Drew Randall is also back after also missing last season with an injury, while the likes of Logan Foster (165), Lee Cannon (197) and Adam Hokenson (HWT) give Northern’s already deep and talented roster even more to work with.

Thivierge’s 2016 recruiting class was also a big one, as he brought in the likes of Montana standouts Dylan (133) and Brennan Veis (141) of Billings, Clayton Carter (141) of Laurel, Dylan Duffalo (149) of Missoula, Steeler French (184) from Choteau and Cody Lucke (174) of Browning.

Out-of-state standouts included, Alex Lee (125), Garvin Maslen (133), Dylan Lockwood (133) and Tyler Presser (165) And with that talent, the Lights will look to march through the season, with their ultimate goal being the national title come March in Topeka, Kansas.

Before that though, MSU-N will wrestle tough duals against North Idaho College and Dickinson State at home, as well as its annual home-and-home series with the Argos, the first of which takes place Nov. 9 in Havre. In duals, Northern will also face a

new program in Eastern Oregon, as well as Northwest College in Laurel, Southern Oregon and Embry-Riddle, and get tests at both the Cardinal Duals and the Battle of the Rockies. MSU-N’s tournament schedule will also take them to the season-opening Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyoming, the Spokane Open, the Battle of the Rockies in Great Falls, the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions, the Missouri Valley Invitational and the Tyler Plummer Classic, hosted

by Dickinson State.

"Our focus right now is on improving with every opportunity we have to step on the mat," Thivierge said. "Another huge thing for us is the addition of Jimmy Eggemeyer (former Southern Oregon All-American) as an assistant coach. He's already brought so much to our room, and he's going to help make this team better and this program better. So I'm really excited about having Jimmy here."

The postseason starts with the West Regional Tournament Feb. 20 in Redding, Calif., before the Lights embark on their quest for a national championship March 3-4 at the NAIA national tourney in Topeka.

And in Kansas, that's where the Lights will look to achieve their ultimate goals, both as a team, and individually. With the team Northern has in place, the Lights will be looked at as a national championship contender, especially after threatening powerhouse Grand View a season ago. And Thivierge has never shied away from those goals or

Havre Daily News/File Photo Northern All-American Matt Weber, right, squares off against an Iowa Hawkeye during the Lights' historic 2015-16 season. The Lights are gunning for even more history this season. expectations.

"These guys know what the goals are," Thivierge said. "Every year, my goal is for this team to improve throughout the season so that they can compete for a national championship, and that's the expectation again. But we also are focusing more on action than talk this year. It's one

thing to talk about it, but talk is cheap. We want to go out and show that we're capable of competing for a national championship on the mat.

"But overall, I'm very excited about this team," he continued.

"The guys are working hard, they're coming right along, and with this group, it's going to be a very fun season."

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Montana State University-Northern

Winter Sports Schedules Lights Basketball November Nov. 4

Nov. 5

Nov. 25

Nov. 26

UGF Classic Great Falls, MT - TBA UGF Classic Great Falls, MT - TBA vs. New Hope Christian Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Salish Kootenai College Havre, MT - 6:00 pm December

Dec. 1

Dec. 3

Dec. 19

Dec. 20

Dec. 21

vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 8:30 pm Phoenix Classic Phoenix, AZ - TBA Phoenix Classic Phoenix, AZ - TBA Phoenix Classic Phoenix, AZ - TBA

Dec. 28

Dec. 29

Dec. 30

vs. Univ. of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB - TBA Univ. of Alberta-Augustana Havre, MT - 8:00 pm Univ. of Alberta-Augustana Havre, MT - 2:00 pm January

Jan. 5

Jan. 7

Jan. 13

Jan. 14

Jan. 20

Jan. 21

Jan. 26

vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm

Jan. 27

vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 7:00 pm February

Feb. 2

Feb. 4

Feb. 9

Feb. 11

Feb. 16

Feb. 18

Feb. 24

Feb. 25

vs. Rocky Mountain* Billings, MT - 7:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Dillon, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 8:30 pm vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 7:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm

* Denotes Conference Games

Skylights Basketball November Nov. 1

Nov. 4

Nov. 11

Nov. 12

Nov. 25

Nov. 26

vs. Univ. of Mont. (Exhibition) Missoula, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Central Baptist Univ.

Havre, MT - 4:00 pm vs. Northwest Univ.

Kirkland, WA - 8:30 pm vs. Evergreen State Kirkland, WA - 6:30 pm Rotary Classic Jackson, TN - TBA Rotary Classic Jackson, TN - TBA

Dec. 1

Dec. 3

Dec. 15

vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 6:30 pm vs. Nueta Hidatsa College

December

Dec. 18

Dec. 20

Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Pacific Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Willamette Univ.

Helena, MT - TBA January

Jan. 5

Jan. 7

Jan. 13

Jan. 14

Jan. 20

Jan. 21

Jan. 26

vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm

Jan. 27

vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm

Feb. 2

Feb. 4

Feb. 9

Feb. 11

Feb. 16

Feb. 18

Feb. 24

Feb. 25

vs. Rocky Mountain* Billings, MT - 5:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Dillon, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 6:30 pm vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Univ. of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 5:30 pm vs. UM-Western* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm

February

* Denotes Conference Games

Lights Wrestling November Nov. 5

Nov. 9

Nov. 11

Nov. 16

Nov. 19

Nov. 20

Cowboy Open Laramie, WY - 9:00 am vs. Univ. of Great Falls Harve, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Eastern Oregon Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Northwest College Laurel, MT - 7:00 pm Cardinal Duals Coeur d'Alene, ID - TBA Spokane Open Spokane, WA - 9:00 am

December Dec. 2

Battle of the Rockies Duals

Dec. 3

Dec. 15

Dec. 18

Great Falls, MT - TBA Battle of the Rockies Open Great Falls, MT - 9:00 am vs. Southern Oregon Sweet Home, OR - 7:00 pm Reno Tournament of Champs Reno, NV - 9:00 am January

Jan. 12

Jan. 20

Jan. 21

Jan. 28

vs. Dickinson State Havre, MT - 7:00 pm Missouri Valley Invite Marshall, MO - TBA Missouri Valley Invite Marshall, MO - TBA Tyler Plummer Classic

Dickinson, ND - 9:00 am February

Feb. 2

Feb. 8

Feb. 20

vs. Embry Riddle Prescott, AZ - 7:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls Great Falls, MT - 7:00 pm West National Qualifying Tournament Redding, CA- 9:00 am March

March 3-4 NAIA National

Championships

Topeka, KS - All Day