HAVRE, Mont. — Southern Oregon's hot start to 2018 continued Thursday night with a 26-15 defeat of Montana State-Northern in a Cascade Conference dual at Armory Gymnasium.
Two nights after winning at sixth-ranked Providence (Mont.), the No. 13 Raiders upset the No. 10 Lights the hard way by knocking off four top-15 individuals. Their third straight victory made them 4-2 on the season.
With SOU protecting a 17-15 lead in the 197-pound match, Alejandro Sandoval used a late takedown and a riding-time point to get to overtime against Steeler French — the 15th-ranked 184-pounder in the NAIA — and then won by sudden victory, 7-6.
The Raiders clinched in the heavyweight match, which was a matchup of two regular 197-pounders. Third-ranked Tanner Fischer pinned fifth-ranked Isaac Bartel in 2:36, his fifth win by fall of the season.
The Lights dropped to 6-2 in dual action.
SOU's Trey Long kicked off the night with a 16-9 upset of No. 11 Nick Kunz at 125 pounds. After Northern's Landon Bailey tied it with a decision over Kale Evenson at 133, the Raiders scored 14 unanswered points: No. 4 Devin Poppen (141 pounds) won a marquee matchup with No. 7 Matt Weber, 4-2, Chandler Michael (149) notched a win by 20-5 technical fall over Dylan Veis, and Hunter Hodges (157) won by forfeit.
The Lights took the next three bouts. Ninth-ranked Andrew Bartel (165) and Chris Nile (174) defeated Tanner Canaday and C.J. McKinnis by decision, and Chase Short (184) pinned Max Hane in the second round.
The Raiders went to 9-6 all-time against Northern.
They'll be back on the mats Saturday at the Menlo Invite in Atherton, Calif., and have their next dual on Jan. 11 at Warner Pacific.
Prep Wrestling
Nico Cellini and Zach Adler each won a pair of matches but the Ashland High School wrestling team took two team losses in a three-way dual meet against South Medford and Phoenix, Wednesday at Mountain Avenue Gym.
South Medford beat Ashland 66-10 and Phoenix beat Ashland 48-14.
Against South Medford, Cellini, wrestling at 132 pounds, earned a 14-4 major decision victory over Jake Schwartz, while Adler, wrestling at 220, used a headlock and arm throw to pin senior Michael Cormier in 1 minute, 13 seconds.
Cellini wrapped up his big night with a 4-2 decision over Phoenix’s Elijah Leonis, while Adler earned a technical fall over Phoenix’s Jon Halligan.
“We’re real green, but the young guys are showing lots of heart and that’s all you can ask for,” Ashland coach Adam Turner said.
Also for Ashland, 170-pounder Trevor Fulton pinned his Phoenix opponent in 4:24.
South Medford 66, Ashland 10
106 — Aidan Rania, SM, win by forfeit; 113 — double forfeit; 120 — Brinson Scott, SM, win by forfeit; 126 — Kilian Cosgrove, SM, pinned Dakota Reyburn, 3:07; 132 — Nico Cellini, A, major dec. Jake Schwartz, 14-4.
138 — Andrew Hall, SM, win by forfeit; 145 — Caleb Belden, SM, pinned Rosemary Weston, 1:30; 152 — Josh Beachler, SM, win by forfeit; 160 — Justin Josephson, SM, pinned Noah Cornett, 1:15.
170 — Cole Schumack, SM, pinned Trevor Fulton, 1:15; *182 — Jaxin Kinler-Gossman, SM, pinned Jake Robitz, 2:20; 195 — Ryan Beck, SM, pinned Kane Kennerly, :52; 220 — Zach Adler, A, pinned Michael Cormier, 1:13; 285 — Nate Eli, SM, win by forfeit.
* starting weight
Phoenix 48, Ashland 14
106 — double forfeit; 113 — Ezra DeLuca, P, win by forfeit; 120 — double forfeit; 126 — Yovanni Chavez, P, pinned Dakota Reyburn, 1:31; 132 — Nico Cellini, A, dec. Elijah Leonis, 4-2.
138 — Mike Walker, P, win by forfeit; 145 — Dalton Samis, P, pinned Rosemary Weston, 1:15; 152 — Elijah Santana, P, win by forfeit; 160 — Joey Wilson, P, pinned Noah Cornett, 1:10.
170 — Trevor Fulton, A, wins by pin, 4:24; 182 — Dane Jonson, P, pinned Jake Robitz, :59; 195 — Ryan Brumble, P, pinned Kane Kennerly, 3:33; 220 — Zach Adler, A, tech. fall Jon Halligan, 1:13.
— Joe Zavala contributed to this report.