8
MSU-N
WINTER SPORTS
Oct. 2015
www.havredailynews.com
Montana State University-Northern Winter Sports Schedules Lights Basketball November Nov. 7 Nov. 13 Nov. 14
vs. Dickinson State Havre, MT - 3:00 pm vs. Benedictine University Las Vegas, NV - TBA vs. Arizona Christian Univ. Las Vegas, NV - TBA December
Dec. 3 Dec. 5 Dec. 28 Dec. 29
vs. Rocky Mountain* Billings, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Montana-Western Dillon, MT -7:30 pm vs. University of Alberta-Augusttana Camrose, AB - 6:00 pm vs. University of Alberta-Augusttana Camrose, AB - 1:00 pm January
Jan. 2 Jan. 3 Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 15
vs. Concordia UniversityEdmonton Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Concordia UniversityEdmonton Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm
Jan. 16 Jan. 22
Jan. 23 Jan. 28 Jan. 30
vs. Lewis-Clark State* Helena, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Montana-Western* Havre, MT -8:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT -7:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 7:30 pm
Skylights Basketball November Nov. 7 Nov. 17 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Nov. 28
February Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 11 Feb. 13
Feb. 18 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Feb. 27
vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 7:30 pm vs. Montana Western* Dillon, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Billings, MT - 7:30 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT -8:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm
* Denotes Conference Games
vs. Dickinson State Havre, MT - 1:00 pm vs. University of Montana Missoula, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Wayland Baptist Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Dickinson State Dickinson, ND - TBA vs. Northwest Indian College Dickinson, ND - TBA
Jan. 16 Jan. 22
Jan. 23 Jan. 28 Jan. 30
February
December Dec. 3 Dec. 5 Dec. 14 Dec. 29 Dec. 30
Rocky Mountain College* Billings, MT - 5:30 pm Montana-Western* Dillon, MT - 5:30 pm Northern New Mexico Havre, MT - 6:00 pm Northern New Mexico Phoenix, AZ - 5:00 pm Arizona Christian University Phoenix, AZ - 5:00 pm January
Jan. 3 Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 15
vs. University of Lethbridge Havre, MT - 4:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana Tech*
Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana-Western* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 5:30 pm
Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 11 Feb. 13
Feb. 18 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Feb. 27
vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 5:30 pm vs. Montana-Western* Dillon, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Billings, MT - 5:30 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm
* Denotes Conference Games
Lights Wrestling November Nov. 7 Nov. 12 Nov. 14 Nov. 19 Nov. 21 Nov. 22
Cowboy Open Laramie, WY - 9:00 am vs. University of Great Falls Great Falls, MT - 7:00 pm vs. North Idaho College Coeur d'Alene, ID - 7:00 pm Southern Oregon Havre, MT - 7:00 pm Cardinal Duals Coeur d'Alene, ID - TBA Spokane Open Spokane, WA - 9:00 am
Dec. 5 Dec. 17 Dec. 20
Jan. 15 Jan. 16 Jan. 22
Battle of the Rockies Duals Great Falls, MT - TBA Battle of the Rockies Open Great Falls, MT - 9:00 am vs. Menlo College Atherton, CA - 6:00 pm Reno Tournament of Champs Reno, NV - 9:00 am
Missouri Valley College Invite Marshall, MO - TBA Missouri Valley College Invite Marshall, MO - TBA vs. Dickinson State University Dickinson, ND - 5:00 pm
Jan. 23
Tyler Plummer Classic Dickinson, ND - 9:00 am February
Feb. 5
vs. Embry Riddle Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. University of Iowa Havre, MT - 7:00 pm West National Qualifying Tournament Prescott, AZ- 9:00 am
Feb. 10
December Dec. 4
January
Feb. 12 Feb. 20
March March 4-5 NAIA National Championships Topeka, KS - All Day
2
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
Lights loaded in wrestling George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com The Montana State UniversityNorthern wrestling team is about to get a brand new season underway. And while there will be some new faces on the mat for the powerful Lights this season, some things remain the same. In particular, the Lights, who fought through an injury-plagued 2014-15 season to finish eighth at last spring NAIA national tournament, are under the leadership of veteran head coach Tyson Thivierge. And, they have a host of experienced wrestlers returning to lead a deep and talented MSU-N squad. “This team has the most depth we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Thivierge said. “We have 30 guys in the room, and it’s been really competitive so far. With the exception of two weight classes, we’re going to be loaded with depth throughout our roster. We had the best recruiting class we’ve had since I’ve been here, and from the bottom, to the middle to the top of our lineup, we’ve got 1-2’s at almost every weight. So this team has a lot of po-
tential. And it’s a really fun group to coach.” The Lights are indeed talented in many weight classes, but one thing is for sure, they are absolutely loaded once again in the upper weights, led by returning All-Americans Garrett DeMers and Toby Cheff. DeMers, now a junior, was a runner up at 197 pounds a year ago, and he’ll start the year ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. Cheff, who was the top heavyweight in the country for much of last season, returns for his senior season after finishing third at the national tourney a year ago. “I think last year really motivated Garrett DeMers,” Thivierge said. “He’s come back a completely different wrestler than last spring. He’s the epitome of a leader right now. He’s verbal in the room, he’s positive with all the young guys. His leadership has just been awesome. And obviously, Toby (Cheff) is the man at heavyweight. It’s senior year and he expects big things from himself this season.” And while DeMers and Cheff are certainly Northern’s big guns in the upper weights, they aren’t alone. Willie Miller also returns, but will drop from 184 to 174. Miller Havre Daily News/File Photo Montana State University-Northern senior heavyweight Toby Cheff, right, is one of two returning NAIA All-Americans for the Lights this season. Northern, under the direction of veteran head coach Tyson Thivierge, is looking to once again compete for an NAIA national championship, and with some of the top returning wrestlers in the country, and a stellar recruiting class, the Lights should have the firepower to do it.
was outstanding for much of last season, but a broken jaw derailed his postseason. Still, the former Chinook star is expecting to have a huge season, just like his teammates in the upper weights. “Willie lost a lot of weight after he broke his jaw and he just couldn’t put it all back on,” Thivierge said. “But he was 26-4 before he got hurt last year, and he’ll be lethal for us this season.” At 165 and 184 pounds, the Lights will have a new look, especially at 165, where fourtime All-American Ethan Hinebauch owned that spot for, seemingly, ever. This season, red-shirt freshman Andrew Bartel will step into the spot, while former Lewistown standout Jim Malone will also compete for time there. At 184, former Carroll College football and Choteau workhorse Jake French will likely get the nod, while former Sidney standout Dace Fisher, who played football for the Lights last season, will also compete for mat time there. “Andrew (Bartel) is ready,” Thivierge said. “He’s a tough kid from Iowa. And he’s very strong. At 184, everybody there is brand new. But it will be a fun one to watch. Jake French is a tough kid with a motor. He loves to attack. And as he gets healthy, he’ll get better and better. But we have a lot of depth at that weight. So it’s going to be interesting.” Depth is something the Lights definitely don’t lack in the upper weights. At heavyweight, Thivierge also landed Taylor Kornoely, the 2015 NJCAA national heavyweight champion at North Idaho College. Kornoely is part of MSU-N’s 2015 recruiting class that
■ See Lights Page 7
7
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
Lights: MSU-N matmen talented and balanced ■ From Page 2 was ranked as one of the best non-NCAA Division I recruiting classes in all of collegiate wrestling. “It’s not every day you get a national champion like him,” Thivierge said. “We’ve got a pretty good situation at heavyweight. Taylor’s ready now, and we’ve got guys like Tyler Adams, Miguel Morales and William Ollinger waiting in the wings, too.” At 197 pounds, Stephen Hyatt, a Kotzebue, Alaska product, appears ready to emerge, while former Havre Blue pony Casey Schaub and Adam Hokenson also look to compete for roles in MSU-N’s loaded upper weights, while another Kotzebue, Alaska native, Zach Haviland, will give the Lights more depth at 174. But it isn’t just the big guys who have Thivierge excited. The Lights have been dominant in the upper weights for years, but now Thivierge sees more balance in his lineup. Senior Riley Miller will be back for the second half of the season at 125 pounds, while red-shirt senior Mhar Caballa is a star in the making at 125. Red-shirt freshmen Quintel Fuchs and Robert Pair only add to Northern’s depth at 125. At 133 pounds, the Lights will start a true freshman either way, but neither Blake Ivie or former Forsyth four-time state champion Matt Weber are wrestling like true freshmen right now. “(133) is an interesting weight for us,” Thivierge said. “We’re going to have a freshman starting there. We’ll most likely move Matt Weber up to 141, but for now, he and Ivie will both vie for that spot. Matt is a tough kid, with a great mentality. And Blake Ivie is a kid who is very much like Cameron Neiss was. Tall, lanky, tough and hard to score on.” At 141 pounds, MSU-N gets back senior Brenton Beard. He was injured for much of last season, and according to Thivierge, is now ready to roll. “He’s a senior now,” Thivierge said of Beard. “He knows what to do. So, when we eventually move Matt up to 141, we’re going to have two really talented kids at that weight.” Another Weber is locked in for the Lights at 149. Brandon Weber, a former three-time Class B-C state champion, red-shirted for MSU-N last season, and he’ll join newcomer Drake Randall to give the Lights yet another loaded weight class. “Brandon was here for half a year last year,” Thivierge said. “And he’s gotten much stronger in that time. He’s a scrapper; he’s got a great wrestling mentality. Brandon is going to be a nightmare matchup for people. Drake Randall is a kid from Lewiston, Idaho, that I’ve known all my life. He comes in here with the mentality of a second or third-year kid. He’s tough as nails, and he's going to make that a very competitive weight class for us.” The Lights will also be competitive at 157 pounds, with the return of junior Tommy Cooper, a national qualifier a year ago. Cooper was a full-time starter for the Lights a season ago, but he’ll have competition from the likes of Logan Foster, Austin Blaede and Brandon Gilham. “Tommy looks really good right now,” Thivierge said. “If he can find his consistency, he’s going to go a long way this year.” And consistency throughout Northern’s lineup will be the key to the Lights’ success,
both in tough duals like they will have against the likes of arch rivals UGF and Southern Oregon, as well as an exciting Feb. 12 dual against the famed Iowa Hawkeyes, as well as all the tough tournaments Northern will attend in the regular season, as well as the postseason next spring. “I feel we’re very balanced,” Thivierge said. “We will be excellent in both duals and tournaments. Duals have always been lopsided for us, but this season, we’ve got the guys in the lower weights to change that.” While duals are exciting and always competitive, it’s the last two tournaments of the year where Northern wants to be great. Thivierge’s goal every year has been to get the Lights back to national championship contention, and while they did that in 2013 and 2014, he wants to see it come to fruition more often. And with the team he’s putting on the mat this season, he feels like the sky is the limit for the Lights. “This is as tight-knit a group as I’ve ever had,” Thivierge said. “It’s been so fun coaching them. They work their butts off every day. They want to get better, and they want to be great. “And I think we’re capable of a lot this season,” he continued. “It’s a deep team. We have 20 guys really vying for 12 spots come the postseason. So that’s a pretty good problem to have as a coach. And we have a little of everything. We have experience, we have No. 1 guys, we have balance throughout our dual lineup, and we have a bunch of young guys who are willing to work hard and try and earn their keep. Winning in this program will always be important, and these guys want to win. They want to do great things. They want to go out and prove they can push the Grand Views and the Southern Oregon’s, and they want to put trophies in the trophy case here. So we have a good thing going here right now.”
Havre Daily News/Stacy Mantle MSU-Northern head wrestling coach Tyson Thivierge once against leads the Lights into a new season. And it's one in which Northern will be an NAIA powerhouse.
www.havredailynews.com
6
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
Skylights: Northern's season already started ■ From Page 3 Kreycik (5-7), sensational sophomore shooting guard Jacy Thompson (5-6), sophomore point guard Brandy Lambourne (5-5), red-shirt freshmen Peyton Filius (5-6) and Kate Fetterer (5-6), as well as NCAA Division I transfer Tina Doughty (5-10). “We’re probably as deep as we’ve ever been at the guard position since I have been here,” Mouat said. “And we have the potential to be one of the best perimeter shooting teams we’ve had. “Getting Rachelle back is big for us,” he continued. “She was an All-Conference player and is a tremendous defender. Then we have Natalee, Jacy, Molly and Brandy, who all have a ton of experience, and helped us win big games last year. Peyton and Kate did such a great job helping us in practice last year, they did things people never got to see, and the redshirt year was really good for them. And now they’re ready to step up, they’re ready to go. And then we brought in Tina, who was a starter in Division I, so we’ve got great depth there. We’ve got leadership and experience, and the potential to be very, very good on the perimeter.” Of course, Northern was very good on the perimeter a year ago, but the Skylights were absolutely dominating in the paint, thanks to Edwards and company. And that is where Northern will look very different this season. The Skylights return sophomore Makhayla Farmer (6-2) and sophomore Cydney Auzenne (5-10), but Mouat also added a pair of junior transfers to the post. Sierra Richards (6-0) and Jessica Anderson (6-4) will be called upon immediately to help MSU-N transition in the paint, and keep its dominating defensive presence that the Skylights have long been known for. “(Makhayla) Farmer had an outstanding offseason,” Mouat said. “She’s stronger now, and she’s in the best shape of her life. Cyd (Auzenne) is going to play a little of both positions for us this season, and our two new posts, they’ll help us right away. Both Sierra and Jessica were very successful at their junior colleges and we’re looking for them to step in and help us in the post immediately. We might not be as big as we’ve been in the past in the post, but I think we might be a little more ath-
letic and diverse.” And while the Skylights are a new-look team this season, some things certainly remain the same. Northern has been one of the best defensive teams in the NAIA the last few season, and Mouat will want the 2015-16 version to be the same. Offensively, the Skylights will tweak some things based on personnel, but fundamentals and discipline are constants. “Offensively, it’s exciting because we’re going to play a lot of different ways and with a lot of different lineups,” Mouat said. “We have the ability to be very diverse offensively, we have a lot of different options, and that’s really exciting. “Defensively, we are going to do what we do, with some subtle changes,” he continued. “We’ll play very hard and strive to be exactly what we’ve always been defensively. The area we really have to focus on though is rebounding. We have to do a great job on the boards and it isn’t going to be just one person. Everybody has to do a great job on the boards together. That has to be a big emphasis for us.” Leadership and coming together will also be big for the Skylights as they navigate the non-conference season. But, what’s different about this season is the conference schedule is now 18 games, with plenty of quirks, including starting league play in early December. Still, Mouat has assembled another difficult non-conference schedule, and it will certainly help his team prepare for the rigors of Frontier play, including a trip to play the vaunted University of Montana Lady Griz next month in Missoula. And so will the veteran leadership he has on his team. “From a leadership standpoint, we did lose a lot last year,” Mouat said. “Taylor (Cummings) was really the glue for us the last few seasons, and we lost a lot of other really good leaders. But we have a lot of kids back who learned from those leaders, and are ready to take on those roles. These kids, like Rachelle and Natalee, and others, have been part of a lot of special things, and they’re ready for that role now. “As for our schedule, really, because of the 18-game conference season, that’s the meat of our schedule this year,” he continued. “So these
non-conference games are all about getting us prepared for our league, which will be really tough again. And we’ve got some really tough games ahead of us. We’re very excited for the opportunity to go play Montana. They are a legendary program and coach (Robin) Selvig is a legendary coach. We play Wayland Baptist in Phoenix, and they were a national tournament team, and we have a home-and-home with Dickinson State, and they will be much improved this season. So we’ve got some opponents on our schedule these first two months that are going to be very tough and will certainly help prepare us for our league.” While the early games will give the new-look Skylights a chance to get their feet wet, Mouat is excited about the season in general, and is looking forward to seeing what this new MSU-N team can accomplish. “It’s a new start for us,” Mouat said. “We’ve had great practices so far, and this team is very excited about this season. With the depth we have, every player understands that she has to go hard every time she’s on the floor. This team will be about giving great effort for 40 minutes every night. They know how to be competitive, and I’m really excited about the potential this group has. This is a great group to coach, and we’re looking forward to this season.”
Havre Daily News/Roger Miller MSU-Northern junior gaurd Molly Kreycik is a key returning player for the Skylights, who are already three games into their new season.
3
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
New Skylights want the same success George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com Less than seven months ago, the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team was playing in the Elite 8 of the NAIA national tournament. That day was the culmination of a spectacular run by the Skylights. Fast forward to this fall and the Skylights are ready to take the floor once again — albeit with a very different MSU-N squad than the one that won 29 games, reached the Frontier Conference championship game and racked up two wins at the national tournament last season. Gone from last year’s remarkable team are the likes of two-time NAIA All-American and 2015 Frontier Player of the Year A’Jha Edwards, as well as her 18 points and 14 rebounds per game. Gone as well is the leadership and command of All-Conference point guard Taylor Cummings, a three-year starter for the Skylights. And gone is the tough and steady inside presence of stalwarts Megan Feldman and Taybra Teeters, two more players that made up a scintillating Northern roster. Back however, is the veteran leadership at the head coach position, as Chris Mouat returns for 11th season at MSU-N. And while the Skylights are looking like a much different team this fall and winter, than the one that dominated the Frontier a year ago, Mouat says that the cupboard is far from bare, and hopes and expectations are once again high
in his highly successful program. “This team is significantly different,” Mouat said. “We lost a lot of great players and great kids, all of whom were big pieces to our success the last two years, really. So it would be unfair to say we could just replace those kids. “This team, we have new kids and new roles,” he continued. “It’s a new start, and we lost so many kids from a special run. But we still have a lot of talent, we have a lot of depth, and we have leadership. We have a lot of kids who still have that taste in their mouths from last year’s success. They know what it takes to get there, and they want to have that success in their own way.” No question, the Skylights do have talent, depth and experience, despite what graduation did to their roster last spring. Back is All-Conference standout guard Natalee Faupel (5-10) for her junior season. A year ago, Faupel averaged 13 points and shot better than 40 percent from the 3-point-line, and she returns as one of the most dynamic players in the Frontier, if not the NAIA. And Faupel is just the tip of the iceberg for MSUN’s guard-rich squad. The Skylights are also welcoming back senior Rachelle Bennett (5-8). An injury suffered during the 2014 national tournament sidelined Bennett for all of last year, but before that, she was an All-Conference guard, and one of the best lockdown defenders in NAIA basketball. Joining Bennett and Faupel in the backcourt is junior point guard Molly
■ See Skylights Page 6
Havre Daily News/Roger Miller Montana State University-Northern sophomore Jacy Thompson is part of a loaded Skylights team that enters a new season fresh off an Elite 8 appearance in last year's NAIA national tournament.
4
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
Talented Lights ready for a new season George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com In college basketball, change is inevitable, and last season, the Montana State University-Northern Lights went through plenty of change. It didn’t matter much, though, as the Lights still had plenty of success on the court. Still, change continues to come to the Lights, who finished 19-13 a year ago, and tied for third in the Frontier Conference with a 7-7 record. And once again, the Lights’ roster suffered some key losses, and will go through some change as they embark on a brand new season. While the MSU-N roster has again gone though some changes, including the loss of four-year starter and three-time All-Conference standout Corbin Pearson, a member of Northern’s exclusive 1,000-point club, one thing that remains constant is the Lights are led by a veteran head coach who, in 13 seasons, has led MSU-N to 275 wins, five Frontier Conference titles, five NAIA tournament appearances and nine 20-win seasons. Entering his 14th year at the helm of the Lights, head coach Shawn Huse is excited about the upcoming season. “Any time you start a new year, there’s pluses and minuses you have to get worked out,” Huse said. “And this team is no different. We lost some very experienced guys. We lost a great leader in Corbin Pearson. And we’ve brought in quite a few new guys to fill some roles. So, I think right now, the plus is, we have more bodies and more height than we’ve had at the forward spot in the past. The minus to that is, they’re all new and still have to gain Lights’ basketball experience. But overall, I really like this team so far. It’s early, but they are working hard and they are coming together really well, on and off the court.” Pearson and Nick Blount are MSU-N’s biggest losses from last year’s team, as they combined to score 22 points per game. However, Northern does return four players who were all in the starting lineup at one time or another a year ago. Headlining that group are seniors Trevail Lee (5-9) and Warren Edmonson (6-2). Lee scored 11 points per game, while Edmonson averaged 12 and was MSU-N’s top 3-point shooter. Both players earned Frontier AllConference honors, and Huse will count on
them to lead the Lights in the backcourt this season. Also back at the shooting guard spot is sophomore Dylan Tatarka. As a red-shirt freshman, Tatarka (6-2) blossomed into a great role player for the Lights a year ago, and he’ll look to increase that role this season. Rounding out the returning starters is senior forward K.J. Rech (6-6), who is MSUN’s top returning rebounder, while reserve forward Nikola Ivanovic (6-6) also returns. Sophomore guard Brett Thompson (6-1) and red-shirt freshman Kevin Oberweiser (6-1) round out MSU-N’s list of returnees. “We have a solid group of returning guys, who have a lot of experience and will bring valuable leadership to this team,” Huse said. “Those guys understand Northern basketball, and we’ll lean on them to help all the new guys get adjusted.” Northern does have plenty of new talent on the roster this season, and while even of those players will be called upon to help the Lights right away. In the post, MSU-N has added plenty of length, including transfers David Straughter (6-5) and William Walker (6-6). Straughter is an excellent swingman, who can score in a variety of ways, while Walker comes to Northern from former Frontier rival Westminster College, where he averaged seven points and four rebounds a year ago. While young, the Lights also got much bigger in the post with the additions of freshmen Seth Christiaens (6-10), Ryan Reeves (6-9) and Justin Dunsmore (6-6), all of whom are expected to add to Northern’s depth in the post. Northern also has depth additions at the guard spot in the form of transfers Tyler Chandler (6-2) and Badhasa Margasa, a pair of junior college standouts who will give MSU-N plenty of extra firepower on both ends of the floor. The Lights once again have a balanced mix of veteran returnees and talented newcomers, and Huse said things are coming together quickly and, while there is still a long way to go, he really likes how his group has bonded thus far. “This is an interesting group,” Huse said. “They seem to be gelling quickly, their communication in practice has been really good. If they even just keep that going all season, they’ll be fine. Of course, it’s going to be a process. We’re going to make mistakes, and
Havre Daily News/File Photo Montana State University-Northern senior Trevail Lee will help lead a new-look Lights team into an exciting 2015-16 season. Lee was All-Conference a season ago.
5
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
Men's Hoops: Lights have plenty of talent ■ From Page 4 it will take time to gel on the court in competition, but with how much chemistry this team seems to have right, that’s a really good place to start.” Gelling by the start of Frontier play, which comes early this season, is the goal. And no matter how many key returnees, or newcomers Northern has, the expectation never changes. The Lights will play the Northern brand of basketball Huse has been coaching now for over a decade — on both ends of the floor. “I think we have the potential to be really balanced on offense,” Huse said. “We have a lot of threats at a lot of different positions, and we’ll be able to play different styles against different teams. It’s no secret that we have had a lot of success over the years with mid-sized to smaller forwards, and this year, that might be a little different because of the height we’ve added. We’ll still play the small ball on offense we’re used to playing, but we can also play a little more traditional basketball, too. This team has the potential to be very versatile on offense.” Defensively, it will be business as usual for the Lights, who have led the Frontier in scoring defense in each of the last six seasons. Northern will be a gritty, in-your-face defensive team that goes all out on that end for 40 minutes. “No question,” Huse said. “We want to be as tough to score on as we’ve always been. That mind set never changes. That’s Lights basketball. So we’ll be a team that gives a great defensive effort every night, we’ll battle for the hustle plays and loose balls, and we’ll be
able to adapt to the different styles of play we go up against. That doesn’t change, and that’s what we’ll strive to be defensively again this season.” And the season is now for the new-look Lights. Northern’s non-conference schedule includes this weekend’s trip to Canada, as well as a home stretch against Warner-Pacific, Portland Bible College and Dickinson State. The Lights will also play tough games in Las Vegas, as well as close out the non-conference schedule with home games against Concordia University-Edmonton. And that’s all to get ready for the tough Frontier Conference, which starts in early December, but heats up for good in January. Still, non-conference games, or conference showdowns, the Lights don’t look ahead. Early in the season, or in the dead of winter, Northern just wants to improve, get better each and every day, and build momentum for the stretch run in February. That’s been the formula for success over the years, and like many other things about MSU-N basketball, that doesn’t change. “Even with the changes to the conference schedule, our approach isn’t any different,” Huse said. “We’re going to work hard every day. We’ll play these non-conference games, which will be tough, and see how much better we can get before the conference games start. “We’re working in a lot of new guys and there will be growing pains,” Huse added. “So we can’t look to far ahead or jump the gun. We just want to get better every day. That’s the goal.”
■ See Men's Hoops Page 5
Havre Daily News/File Photo Montana State University-Northern senior K.J. Rech is one of four returning starters for the Lights and what is otherwise a new-look Northern roster. The Lights were picked to finish fifth in the Frontier Conference this season.
www.havredailynews.com
4
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
Talented Lights ready for a new season George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com In college basketball, change is inevitable, and last season, the Montana State University-Northern Lights went through plenty of change. It didn’t matter much, though, as the Lights still had plenty of success on the court. Still, change continues to come to the Lights, who finished 19-13 a year ago, and tied for third in the Frontier Conference with a 7-7 record. And once again, the Lights’ roster suffered some key losses, and will go through some change as they embark on a brand new season. While the MSU-N roster has again gone though some changes, including the loss of four-year starter and three-time All-Conference standout Corbin Pearson, a member of Northern’s exclusive 1,000-point club, one thing that remains constant is the Lights are led by a veteran head coach who, in 13 seasons, has led MSU-N to 275 wins, five Frontier Conference titles, five NAIA tournament appearances and nine 20-win seasons. Entering his 14th year at the helm of the Lights, head coach Shawn Huse is excited about the upcoming season. “Any time you start a new year, there’s pluses and minuses you have to get worked out,” Huse said. “And this team is no different. We lost some very experienced guys. We lost a great leader in Corbin Pearson. And we’ve brought in quite a few new guys to fill some roles. So, I think right now, the plus is, we have more bodies and more height than we’ve had at the forward spot in the past. The minus to that is, they’re all new and still have to gain Lights’ basketball experience. But overall, I really like this team so far. It’s early, but they are working hard and they are coming together really well, on and off the court.” Pearson and Nick Blount are MSU-N’s biggest losses from last year’s team, as they combined to score 22 points per game. However, Northern does return four players who were all in the starting lineup at one time or another a year ago. Headlining that group are seniors Trevail Lee (5-9) and Warren Edmonson (6-2). Lee scored 11 points per game, while Edmonson averaged 12 and was MSU-N’s top 3-point shooter. Both players earned Frontier AllConference honors, and Huse will count on
them to lead the Lights in the backcourt this season. Also back at the shooting guard spot is sophomore Dylan Tatarka. As a red-shirt freshman, Tatarka (6-2) blossomed into a great role player for the Lights a year ago, and he’ll look to increase that role this season. Rounding out the returning starters is senior forward K.J. Rech (6-6), who is MSUN’s top returning rebounder, while reserve forward Nikola Ivanovic (6-6) also returns. Sophomore guard Brett Thompson (6-1) and red-shirt freshman Kevin Oberweiser (6-1) round out MSU-N’s list of returnees. “We have a solid group of returning guys, who have a lot of experience and will bring valuable leadership to this team,” Huse said. “Those guys understand Northern basketball, and we’ll lean on them to help all the new guys get adjusted.” Northern does have plenty of new talent on the roster this season, and while even of those players will be called upon to help the Lights right away. In the post, MSU-N has added plenty of length, including transfers David Straughter (6-5) and William Walker (6-6). Straughter is an excellent swingman, who can score in a variety of ways, while Walker comes to Northern from former Frontier rival Westminster College, where he averaged seven points and four rebounds a year ago. While young, the Lights also got much bigger in the post with the additions of freshmen Seth Christiaens (6-10), Ryan Reeves (6-9) and Justin Dunsmore (6-6), all of whom are expected to add to Northern’s depth in the post. Northern also has depth additions at the guard spot in the form of transfers Tyler Chandler (6-2) and Badhasa Margasa, a pair of junior college standouts who will give MSU-N plenty of extra firepower on both ends of the floor. The Lights once again have a balanced mix of veteran returnees and talented newcomers, and Huse said things are coming together quickly and, while there is still a long way to go, he really likes how his group has bonded thus far. “This is an interesting group,” Huse said. “They seem to be gelling quickly, their communication in practice has been really good. If they even just keep that going all season, they’ll be fine. Of course, it’s going to be a process. We’re going to make mistakes, and
Havre Daily News/File Photo Montana State University-Northern senior Trevail Lee will help lead a new-look Lights team into an exciting 2015-16 season. Lee was All-Conference a season ago.
5
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
Men's Hoops: Lights have plenty of talent ■ From Page 4 it will take time to gel on the court in competition, but with how much chemistry this team seems to have right, that’s a really good place to start.” Gelling by the start of Frontier play, which comes early this season, is the goal. And no matter how many key returnees, or newcomers Northern has, the expectation never changes. The Lights will play the Northern brand of basketball Huse has been coaching now for over a decade — on both ends of the floor. “I think we have the potential to be really balanced on offense,” Huse said. “We have a lot of threats at a lot of different positions, and we’ll be able to play different styles against different teams. It’s no secret that we have had a lot of success over the years with mid-sized to smaller forwards, and this year, that might be a little different because of the height we’ve added. We’ll still play the small ball on offense we’re used to playing, but we can also play a little more traditional basketball, too. This team has the potential to be very versatile on offense.” Defensively, it will be business as usual for the Lights, who have led the Frontier in scoring defense in each of the last six seasons. Northern will be a gritty, in-your-face defensive team that goes all out on that end for 40 minutes. “No question,” Huse said. “We want to be as tough to score on as we’ve always been. That mind set never changes. That’s Lights basketball. So we’ll be a team that gives a great defensive effort every night, we’ll battle for the hustle plays and loose balls, and we’ll be
able to adapt to the different styles of play we go up against. That doesn’t change, and that’s what we’ll strive to be defensively again this season.” And the season is now for the new-look Lights. Northern’s non-conference schedule includes this weekend’s trip to Canada, as well as a home stretch against Warner-Pacific, Portland Bible College and Dickinson State. The Lights will also play tough games in Las Vegas, as well as close out the non-conference schedule with home games against Concordia University-Edmonton. And that’s all to get ready for the tough Frontier Conference, which starts in early December, but heats up for good in January. Still, non-conference games, or conference showdowns, the Lights don’t look ahead. Early in the season, or in the dead of winter, Northern just wants to improve, get better each and every day, and build momentum for the stretch run in February. That’s been the formula for success over the years, and like many other things about MSU-N basketball, that doesn’t change. “Even with the changes to the conference schedule, our approach isn’t any different,” Huse said. “We’re going to work hard every day. We’ll play these non-conference games, which will be tough, and see how much better we can get before the conference games start. “We’re working in a lot of new guys and there will be growing pains,” Huse added. “So we can’t look to far ahead or jump the gun. We just want to get better every day. That’s the goal.”
■ See Men's Hoops Page 5
Havre Daily News/File Photo Montana State University-Northern senior K.J. Rech is one of four returning starters for the Lights and what is otherwise a new-look Northern roster. The Lights were picked to finish fifth in the Frontier Conference this season.
www.havredailynews.com
6
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
Skylights: Northern's season already started ■ From Page 3 Kreycik (5-7), sensational sophomore shooting guard Jacy Thompson (5-6), sophomore point guard Brandy Lambourne (5-5), red-shirt freshmen Peyton Filius (5-6) and Kate Fetterer (5-6), as well as NCAA Division I transfer Tina Doughty (5-10). “We’re probably as deep as we’ve ever been at the guard position since I have been here,” Mouat said. “And we have the potential to be one of the best perimeter shooting teams we’ve had. “Getting Rachelle back is big for us,” he continued. “She was an All-Conference player and is a tremendous defender. Then we have Natalee, Jacy, Molly and Brandy, who all have a ton of experience, and helped us win big games last year. Peyton and Kate did such a great job helping us in practice last year, they did things people never got to see, and the redshirt year was really good for them. And now they’re ready to step up, they’re ready to go. And then we brought in Tina, who was a starter in Division I, so we’ve got great depth there. We’ve got leadership and experience, and the potential to be very, very good on the perimeter.” Of course, Northern was very good on the perimeter a year ago, but the Skylights were absolutely dominating in the paint, thanks to Edwards and company. And that is where Northern will look very different this season. The Skylights return sophomore Makhayla Farmer (6-2) and sophomore Cydney Auzenne (5-10), but Mouat also added a pair of junior transfers to the post. Sierra Richards (6-0) and Jessica Anderson (6-4) will be called upon immediately to help MSU-N transition in the paint, and keep its dominating defensive presence that the Skylights have long been known for. “(Makhayla) Farmer had an outstanding offseason,” Mouat said. “She’s stronger now, and she’s in the best shape of her life. Cyd (Auzenne) is going to play a little of both positions for us this season, and our two new posts, they’ll help us right away. Both Sierra and Jessica were very successful at their junior colleges and we’re looking for them to step in and help us in the post immediately. We might not be as big as we’ve been in the past in the post, but I think we might be a little more ath-
letic and diverse.” And while the Skylights are a new-look team this season, some things certainly remain the same. Northern has been one of the best defensive teams in the NAIA the last few season, and Mouat will want the 2015-16 version to be the same. Offensively, the Skylights will tweak some things based on personnel, but fundamentals and discipline are constants. “Offensively, it’s exciting because we’re going to play a lot of different ways and with a lot of different lineups,” Mouat said. “We have the ability to be very diverse offensively, we have a lot of different options, and that’s really exciting. “Defensively, we are going to do what we do, with some subtle changes,” he continued. “We’ll play very hard and strive to be exactly what we’ve always been defensively. The area we really have to focus on though is rebounding. We have to do a great job on the boards and it isn’t going to be just one person. Everybody has to do a great job on the boards together. That has to be a big emphasis for us.” Leadership and coming together will also be big for the Skylights as they navigate the non-conference season. But, what’s different about this season is the conference schedule is now 18 games, with plenty of quirks, including starting league play in early December. Still, Mouat has assembled another difficult non-conference schedule, and it will certainly help his team prepare for the rigors of Frontier play, including a trip to play the vaunted University of Montana Lady Griz next month in Missoula. And so will the veteran leadership he has on his team. “From a leadership standpoint, we did lose a lot last year,” Mouat said. “Taylor (Cummings) was really the glue for us the last few seasons, and we lost a lot of other really good leaders. But we have a lot of kids back who learned from those leaders, and are ready to take on those roles. These kids, like Rachelle and Natalee, and others, have been part of a lot of special things, and they’re ready for that role now. “As for our schedule, really, because of the 18-game conference season, that’s the meat of our schedule this year,” he continued. “So these
non-conference games are all about getting us prepared for our league, which will be really tough again. And we’ve got some really tough games ahead of us. We’re very excited for the opportunity to go play Montana. They are a legendary program and coach (Robin) Selvig is a legendary coach. We play Wayland Baptist in Phoenix, and they were a national tournament team, and we have a home-and-home with Dickinson State, and they will be much improved this season. So we’ve got some opponents on our schedule these first two months that are going to be very tough and will certainly help prepare us for our league.” While the early games will give the new-look Skylights a chance to get their feet wet, Mouat is excited about the season in general, and is looking forward to seeing what this new MSU-N team can accomplish. “It’s a new start for us,” Mouat said. “We’ve had great practices so far, and this team is very excited about this season. With the depth we have, every player understands that she has to go hard every time she’s on the floor. This team will be about giving great effort for 40 minutes every night. They know how to be competitive, and I’m really excited about the potential this group has. This is a great group to coach, and we’re looking forward to this season.”
Havre Daily News/Roger Miller MSU-Northern junior gaurd Molly Kreycik is a key returning player for the Skylights, who are already three games into their new season.
3
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
New Skylights want the same success George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com Less than seven months ago, the Montana State University-Northern women’s basketball team was playing in the Elite 8 of the NAIA national tournament. That day was the culmination of a spectacular run by the Skylights. Fast forward to this fall and the Skylights are ready to take the floor once again — albeit with a very different MSU-N squad than the one that won 29 games, reached the Frontier Conference championship game and racked up two wins at the national tournament last season. Gone from last year’s remarkable team are the likes of two-time NAIA All-American and 2015 Frontier Player of the Year A’Jha Edwards, as well as her 18 points and 14 rebounds per game. Gone as well is the leadership and command of All-Conference point guard Taylor Cummings, a three-year starter for the Skylights. And gone is the tough and steady inside presence of stalwarts Megan Feldman and Taybra Teeters, two more players that made up a scintillating Northern roster. Back however, is the veteran leadership at the head coach position, as Chris Mouat returns for 11th season at MSU-N. And while the Skylights are looking like a much different team this fall and winter, than the one that dominated the Frontier a year ago, Mouat says that the cupboard is far from bare, and hopes and expectations are once again high
in his highly successful program. “This team is significantly different,” Mouat said. “We lost a lot of great players and great kids, all of whom were big pieces to our success the last two years, really. So it would be unfair to say we could just replace those kids. “This team, we have new kids and new roles,” he continued. “It’s a new start, and we lost so many kids from a special run. But we still have a lot of talent, we have a lot of depth, and we have leadership. We have a lot of kids who still have that taste in their mouths from last year’s success. They know what it takes to get there, and they want to have that success in their own way.” No question, the Skylights do have talent, depth and experience, despite what graduation did to their roster last spring. Back is All-Conference standout guard Natalee Faupel (5-10) for her junior season. A year ago, Faupel averaged 13 points and shot better than 40 percent from the 3-point-line, and she returns as one of the most dynamic players in the Frontier, if not the NAIA. And Faupel is just the tip of the iceberg for MSUN’s guard-rich squad. The Skylights are also welcoming back senior Rachelle Bennett (5-8). An injury suffered during the 2014 national tournament sidelined Bennett for all of last year, but before that, she was an All-Conference guard, and one of the best lockdown defenders in NAIA basketball. Joining Bennett and Faupel in the backcourt is junior point guard Molly
■ See Skylights Page 6
Havre Daily News/Roger Miller Montana State University-Northern sophomore Jacy Thompson is part of a loaded Skylights team that enters a new season fresh off an Elite 8 appearance in last year's NAIA national tournament.
2
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
www.havredailynews.com
Lights loaded in wrestling George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com The Montana State UniversityNorthern wrestling team is about to get a brand new season underway. And while there will be some new faces on the mat for the powerful Lights this season, some things remain the same. In particular, the Lights, who fought through an injury-plagued 2014-15 season to finish eighth at last spring NAIA national tournament, are under the leadership of veteran head coach Tyson Thivierge. And, they have a host of experienced wrestlers returning to lead a deep and talented MSU-N squad. “This team has the most depth we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Thivierge said. “We have 30 guys in the room, and it’s been really competitive so far. With the exception of two weight classes, we’re going to be loaded with depth throughout our roster. We had the best recruiting class we’ve had since I’ve been here, and from the bottom, to the middle to the top of our lineup, we’ve got 1-2’s at almost every weight. So this team has a lot of po-
tential. And it’s a really fun group to coach.” The Lights are indeed talented in many weight classes, but one thing is for sure, they are absolutely loaded once again in the upper weights, led by returning All-Americans Garrett DeMers and Toby Cheff. DeMers, now a junior, was a runner up at 197 pounds a year ago, and he’ll start the year ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. Cheff, who was the top heavyweight in the country for much of last season, returns for his senior season after finishing third at the national tourney a year ago. “I think last year really motivated Garrett DeMers,” Thivierge said. “He’s come back a completely different wrestler than last spring. He’s the epitome of a leader right now. He’s verbal in the room, he’s positive with all the young guys. His leadership has just been awesome. And obviously, Toby (Cheff) is the man at heavyweight. It’s senior year and he expects big things from himself this season.” And while DeMers and Cheff are certainly Northern’s big guns in the upper weights, they aren’t alone. Willie Miller also returns, but will drop from 184 to 174. Miller Havre Daily News/File Photo Montana State University-Northern senior heavyweight Toby Cheff, right, is one of two returning NAIA All-Americans for the Lights this season. Northern, under the direction of veteran head coach Tyson Thivierge, is looking to once again compete for an NAIA national championship, and with some of the top returning wrestlers in the country, and a stellar recruiting class, the Lights should have the firepower to do it.
was outstanding for much of last season, but a broken jaw derailed his postseason. Still, the former Chinook star is expecting to have a huge season, just like his teammates in the upper weights. “Willie lost a lot of weight after he broke his jaw and he just couldn’t put it all back on,” Thivierge said. “But he was 26-4 before he got hurt last year, and he’ll be lethal for us this season.” At 165 and 184 pounds, the Lights will have a new look, especially at 165, where fourtime All-American Ethan Hinebauch owned that spot for, seemingly, ever. This season, red-shirt freshman Andrew Bartel will step into the spot, while former Lewistown standout Jim Malone will also compete for time there. At 184, former Carroll College football and Choteau workhorse Jake French will likely get the nod, while former Sidney standout Dace Fisher, who played football for the Lights last season, will also compete for mat time there. “Andrew (Bartel) is ready,” Thivierge said. “He’s a tough kid from Iowa. And he’s very strong. At 184, everybody there is brand new. But it will be a fun one to watch. Jake French is a tough kid with a motor. He loves to attack. And as he gets healthy, he’ll get better and better. But we have a lot of depth at that weight. So it’s going to be interesting.” Depth is something the Lights definitely don’t lack in the upper weights. At heavyweight, Thivierge also landed Taylor Kornoely, the 2015 NJCAA national heavyweight champion at North Idaho College. Kornoely is part of MSU-N’s 2015 recruiting class that
■ See Lights Page 7
7
MSU-N
October 2015
WINTER SPORTS
Lights: MSU-N matmen talented and balanced ■ From Page 2 was ranked as one of the best non-NCAA Division I recruiting classes in all of collegiate wrestling. “It’s not every day you get a national champion like him,” Thivierge said. “We’ve got a pretty good situation at heavyweight. Taylor’s ready now, and we’ve got guys like Tyler Adams, Miguel Morales and William Ollinger waiting in the wings, too.” At 197 pounds, Stephen Hyatt, a Kotzebue, Alaska product, appears ready to emerge, while former Havre Blue pony Casey Schaub and Adam Hokenson also look to compete for roles in MSU-N’s loaded upper weights, while another Kotzebue, Alaska native, Zach Haviland, will give the Lights more depth at 174. But it isn’t just the big guys who have Thivierge excited. The Lights have been dominant in the upper weights for years, but now Thivierge sees more balance in his lineup. Senior Riley Miller will be back for the second half of the season at 125 pounds, while red-shirt senior Mhar Caballa is a star in the making at 125. Red-shirt freshmen Quintel Fuchs and Robert Pair only add to Northern’s depth at 125. At 133 pounds, the Lights will start a true freshman either way, but neither Blake Ivie or former Forsyth four-time state champion Matt Weber are wrestling like true freshmen right now. “(133) is an interesting weight for us,” Thivierge said. “We’re going to have a freshman starting there. We’ll most likely move Matt Weber up to 141, but for now, he and Ivie will both vie for that spot. Matt is a tough kid, with a great mentality. And Blake Ivie is a kid who is very much like Cameron Neiss was. Tall, lanky, tough and hard to score on.” At 141 pounds, MSU-N gets back senior Brenton Beard. He was injured for much of last season, and according to Thivierge, is now ready to roll. “He’s a senior now,” Thivierge said of Beard. “He knows what to do. So, when we eventually move Matt up to 141, we’re going to have two really talented kids at that weight.” Another Weber is locked in for the Lights at 149. Brandon Weber, a former three-time Class B-C state champion, red-shirted for MSU-N last season, and he’ll join newcomer Drake Randall to give the Lights yet another loaded weight class. “Brandon was here for half a year last year,” Thivierge said. “And he’s gotten much stronger in that time. He’s a scrapper; he’s got a great wrestling mentality. Brandon is going to be a nightmare matchup for people. Drake Randall is a kid from Lewiston, Idaho, that I’ve known all my life. He comes in here with the mentality of a second or third-year kid. He’s tough as nails, and he's going to make that a very competitive weight class for us.” The Lights will also be competitive at 157 pounds, with the return of junior Tommy Cooper, a national qualifier a year ago. Cooper was a full-time starter for the Lights a season ago, but he’ll have competition from the likes of Logan Foster, Austin Blaede and Brandon Gilham. “Tommy looks really good right now,” Thivierge said. “If he can find his consistency, he’s going to go a long way this year.” And consistency throughout Northern’s lineup will be the key to the Lights’ success,
both in tough duals like they will have against the likes of arch rivals UGF and Southern Oregon, as well as an exciting Feb. 12 dual against the famed Iowa Hawkeyes, as well as all the tough tournaments Northern will attend in the regular season, as well as the postseason next spring. “I feel we’re very balanced,” Thivierge said. “We will be excellent in both duals and tournaments. Duals have always been lopsided for us, but this season, we’ve got the guys in the lower weights to change that.” While duals are exciting and always competitive, it’s the last two tournaments of the year where Northern wants to be great. Thivierge’s goal every year has been to get the Lights back to national championship contention, and while they did that in 2013 and 2014, he wants to see it come to fruition more often. And with the team he’s putting on the mat this season, he feels like the sky is the limit for the Lights. “This is as tight-knit a group as I’ve ever had,” Thivierge said. “It’s been so fun coaching them. They work their butts off every day. They want to get better, and they want to be great. “And I think we’re capable of a lot this season,” he continued. “It’s a deep team. We have 20 guys really vying for 12 spots come the postseason. So that’s a pretty good problem to have as a coach. And we have a little of everything. We have experience, we have No. 1 guys, we have balance throughout our dual lineup, and we have a bunch of young guys who are willing to work hard and try and earn their keep. Winning in this program will always be important, and these guys want to win. They want to do great things. They want to go out and prove they can push the Grand Views and the Southern Oregon’s, and they want to put trophies in the trophy case here. So we have a good thing going here right now.”
Havre Daily News/Stacy Mantle MSU-Northern head wrestling coach Tyson Thivierge once against leads the Lights into a new season. And it's one in which Northern will be an NAIA powerhouse.
www.havredailynews.com
8
MSU-N
WINTER SPORTS
Oct. 2015
www.havredailynews.com
Montana State University-Northern Winter Sports Schedules Lights Basketball November Nov. 7 Nov. 13 Nov. 14
vs. Dickinson State Havre, MT - 3:00 pm vs. Benedictine University Las Vegas, NV - TBA vs. Arizona Christian Univ. Las Vegas, NV - TBA December
Dec. 3 Dec. 5 Dec. 28 Dec. 29
vs. Rocky Mountain* Billings, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Montana-Western Dillon, MT -7:30 pm vs. University of Alberta-Augusttana Camrose, AB - 6:00 pm vs. University of Alberta-Augusttana Camrose, AB - 1:00 pm January
Jan. 2 Jan. 3 Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 15
vs. Concordia UniversityEdmonton Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Concordia UniversityEdmonton Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm
Jan. 16 Jan. 22
Jan. 23 Jan. 28 Jan. 30
vs. Lewis-Clark State* Helena, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Montana-Western* Havre, MT -8:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT -7:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 7:30 pm
Skylights Basketball November Nov. 7 Nov. 17 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Nov. 28
February Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 11 Feb. 13
Feb. 18 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Feb. 27
vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 7:30 pm vs. Montana Western* Dillon, MT - 7:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Billings, MT - 7:30 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT -8:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 8:00 pm
* Denotes Conference Games
vs. Dickinson State Havre, MT - 1:00 pm vs. University of Montana Missoula, MT - 7:00 pm vs. Wayland Baptist Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Dickinson State Dickinson, ND - TBA vs. Northwest Indian College Dickinson, ND - TBA
Jan. 16 Jan. 22
Jan. 23 Jan. 28 Jan. 30
February
December Dec. 3 Dec. 5 Dec. 14 Dec. 29 Dec. 30
Rocky Mountain College* Billings, MT - 5:30 pm Montana-Western* Dillon, MT - 5:30 pm Northern New Mexico Havre, MT - 6:00 pm Northern New Mexico Phoenix, AZ - 5:00 pm Arizona Christian University Phoenix, AZ - 5:00 pm January
Jan. 3 Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 15
vs. University of Lethbridge Havre, MT - 4:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana Tech*
Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana-Western* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Great Falls, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Carroll College* Helena, MT - 5:30 pm
Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 11 Feb. 13
Feb. 18 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Feb. 27
vs. Montana Tech* Butte, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Lewiston, ID - 5:30 pm vs. Montana-Western* Dillon, MT - 5:30 pm vs. Rocky Mountain College* Billings, MT - 5:30 pm vs. University of Great Falls* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Carroll College* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Lewis-Clark State* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. Montana Tech* Havre, MT - 6:00 pm
* Denotes Conference Games
Lights Wrestling November Nov. 7 Nov. 12 Nov. 14 Nov. 19 Nov. 21 Nov. 22
Cowboy Open Laramie, WY - 9:00 am vs. University of Great Falls Great Falls, MT - 7:00 pm vs. North Idaho College Coeur d'Alene, ID - 7:00 pm Southern Oregon Havre, MT - 7:00 pm Cardinal Duals Coeur d'Alene, ID - TBA Spokane Open Spokane, WA - 9:00 am
Dec. 5 Dec. 17 Dec. 20
Jan. 15 Jan. 16 Jan. 22
Battle of the Rockies Duals Great Falls, MT - TBA Battle of the Rockies Open Great Falls, MT - 9:00 am vs. Menlo College Atherton, CA - 6:00 pm Reno Tournament of Champs Reno, NV - 9:00 am
Missouri Valley College Invite Marshall, MO - TBA Missouri Valley College Invite Marshall, MO - TBA vs. Dickinson State University Dickinson, ND - 5:00 pm
Jan. 23
Tyler Plummer Classic Dickinson, ND - 9:00 am February
Feb. 5
vs. Embry Riddle Havre, MT - 6:00 pm vs. University of Great Falls Havre, MT - 7:00 pm vs. University of Iowa Havre, MT - 7:00 pm West National Qualifying Tournament Prescott, AZ- 9:00 am
Feb. 10
December Dec. 4
January
Feb. 12 Feb. 20
March March 4-5 NAIA National Championships Topeka, KS - All Day