Montana State Northern Lights & Skylights Athletics

Helena, MT (Capital HS)
2020…The 2019-20 season was all about the emergence of Nick Kunz!  Nick spent most of the season as a back-up at 133 and recorded a record at 133 of 15-10 (10-4 in NAIA) before moving down to 125.  After moving to 125 in mid-January, Nick compiled a record of 10-1 at 125, which put his overall record at 25-11 for the 2019-20 season.  At 125 Nick Kunz placed 3^rd at the Cascade Conference Championships to earn his 3^rd consecutive trip to the NAIA National Championships.  At the NAIA National Championships, Nick Kunz shocked the bracket as the #10 seed winning all four of his matches to win the National Championship at 125 for 2020.  In his first he upset the #7 seed by a score of 4-2, in the quarters he beat Isaac Crowell of Southeastern University in an overtime that went into the tiebreaker, Nick prevailed 7-5 in 2 OT’s, in the semifinals he avenged his only loss at 125 by beating #6 seeded Riley Siason of Menlo 11-4, and in the finals Nick Kunz upset the #1 ranked and #1 seeded Justin Portillo of Grand View by a score of 4-1.  Nick Kunz holds a record of 79-44 with 31 pins in his career at MSUN. 
2019…Nick was once again was the starter at 125 and was a major force in the NAIA.  His 2018-19 record was 28-13 with 18 pins while placing 1^st at the Trapper Open, 2^nd at Spokane Open, co-3^rd at Battle of the Rockies and 1^st at Tyler Plummer.  Nick qualified for his 2^nd straight trip to the NAIA National Championships by battling back from an early loss at the Cascade Conference Tournament.  At Nationals, he posted a record of 1-2 in the most stacked weight in Des Moines. 
2018…Nick became the starter at 125 as a true freshman and never relinquished his spot.  He compiled a record of 26-20 with 7 pins and placed 4^th at the Trapper Open, 3^rd at the Spokane Open, 3^rd at the Battle of the Rockies and qualified for his first NAIA National Tournament by placing 3^rd at the inaugural Cascade Conference Championships.  Nick narrowly missed out on All-American honors going 2-2 at his first National Championships. 
HIGH SCHOOL...3x Montana State Placer going 2^nd, 3^rd and 5^th.
PERSONAL…Born 3-02-99…Agricultural Technology Major
PARENTS…John and Peggy Kunz