Topeka, Kan.- The last time two Montana State University-Northern wrestlers won individual titles on the same night, it was 12 years ago when three Lights did it. The wait however, is over. On Saturday night in Topeka, Kansas, Northern senior Ben Stroh, and sophomore Brandon Weber both won NAIA national championships for the Lights.
Stroh capped a brilliant season at Northern by edging top-ranked Chuck Sharon of Campbellsville in the 184-pound title bout Saturday night. Stroh erased a 3-2 deficit and won a 6-5 decision, finishing off one of the greatest wrestling careers in Hi-Line history.
Earlier in the evening, Weber, who came to Northern a year ago, beat top-seeded Cam Tassari of Lindsey Wilson in a thriller. Down 2-0 early, Weber won a 4-2 decision in sudden victory overtime, a capper to an incredible season as well.
As a team, the Lights, despite placing just two grapplers, and having just five wrestlers in the field, finished a solid eighth with 53.5 points. Northern got team points from all five of its wrestlers, while Grand View won its sixth straight national title with a record 234.5 points.
2017 NAIA National Championships Results for Montana State-Northern
141 - 7 Matt Weber (20-10) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - 7 Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 20-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - 10 Jayce Carr (Campbellsville (Ky.)) 25-8 won by decision over 7 Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 20-10 (Dec 11-6)
Cons. Round 2 - 7 Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 20-10 won by tech fall over 9 Matt Landgraff (Oklahoma City) 19-9 (TF-1.5 5:00 (17-1))
Cons. Round 3 - Kevin Kelly (Benedictine (Kan.)) 13-6 won by decision over 7 Matt Weber (Montana State-Northern) 20-10 (Dec 8-7)
157 - 2 Brandon Weber (27-5) placed 1st and scored 24.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - 2 Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 27-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - 2 Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 27-5 won by fall over Tucker Russo (Reinhardt (Ga.)) 25-16 (Fall 4:34)
Quarterfinal - 2 Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 27-5 won by fall over 10 Chandler Michael (Southern Oregon) 19-15 (Fall 3:49)
Semifinal - 2 Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 27-5 won by decision over 3 Hunter Hodges (Southern Oregon) 27-10 (Dec 5-1)
1st Place Match - 2 Brandon Weber (Montana State-Northern) 27-5 won in sudden victory - 1 over 1 Cam Tessari (Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)) 39-3 (SV-1 4-2)
165 - Drake Randall (13-12) place is unknown and scored 0.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Whittle (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 16-12 won by fall over Drake Randall (Montana State-Northern) 13-12 (Fall 2:15)
Cons. Round 1 - Drake Randall (Montana State-Northern) 13-12 won by decision over Brok Williams (Oklahoma City) 21-13 (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 2 - Khaldoon Rashid (Great Falls (Mont.)) 24-11 won by decision over Drake Randall (Montana State-Northern) 13-12 (Dec 12-7)
184 - 1 Ben Stroh (45-2) placed 1st and scored 24.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - 1 Ben Stroh (Montana State-Northern) 45-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - 1 Ben Stroh (Montana State-Northern) 45-2 won by fall over Kyle Delaune (Cumberland (Tenn.)) 22-13 (Fall 1:29)
Quarterfinal - 1 Ben Stroh (Montana State-Northern) 45-2 won by fall over 9 Joshua Chiles (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 26-11 (Fall 0:58)
Semifinal - 1 Ben Stroh (Montana State-Northern) 45-2 won by decision over 4 Michael Pixley (Grand View (Iowa)) 27-3 (Dec 6-4)
1st Place Match - 1 Ben Stroh (Montana State-Northern) 45-2 won by decision over 3 Chuck Sharon (Campbellsville (Ky.)) 27-2 (Dec 6-5)
285 - 4 Taylor Kornoely (24-6) place is unknown and scored 3.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - 4 Taylor Kornoely (Montana State-Northern) 24-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - 4 Taylor Kornoely (Montana State-Northern) 24-6 won by major decision over Brian Ervin (Briar Cliff (Iowa)) 16-14 (MD 12-4)
Quarterfinal - 5 Demetrius Thomas (Williams Baptist (Ark.)) 36-4 won by major decision over 4 Taylor Kornoely (Montana State-Northern) 24-6 (MD 10-1)
Cons. Round 4 - 10 Justin Smith (Missouri Valley) 29-16 won by decision over 4 Taylor Kornoely (Montana State-Northern) 24-6 (Dec 10-3)
STORY BY GEORGE FERGUSON, Havre Daily News
