NIC WRESTLING: Cardinals fall in opener in Montana

HAVRE, Mont. — North Idaho College’s Ben Mitchell, a sophomore from Mead High, had one of the Cardinals’ two wins, getting an escape early in the third period and held off Montana State-Northern’s Connor Harris for a 6-5 decision in their 157-pound bout on Friday.

Montana State-Northern, an NAIA program, beat the Cardinals 40-7 in the debut of interim coach Derrick Booth, a former NIC and Post Falls High wrestler.

Brant Porter, a returning All-American, won by a 12-4 major decision for NIC at 141 pounds.

“Both Ben and Brant battled hard,” Booth said. “Overall, there is a ton to work on. We’ll be back in the (wrestling) room Monday working to get better.”

NIC is scheduled to face Linfield next Saturday at 3 p.m. in Yakima, Wash.

125 — Tanner Cook, Northern, md. Kobi Johnson, 12-1. 133 — Brennan McDermott, Northern, p. Zach Lopez, 1:22. 141 — Brant Porter, NIC, md. Colin Silverthorn, 12-4. 149 — Martin Wilkie, Northern, md. Kanaipono Tapia, 9-0. 157 — Benjamin Mitchell, NIC, d. Connor Harris, 6-5. 165 — Devin Crawford, Northern, tf. Lane Reardon, 16-0. 174 — NaKoda Siegel, Northern, p. Kaden Krouse, 3:00. 184 — Austin Vanek, Northern, p. Ethan Miller, 1:41. 197 — Carl Hansen, Northern, p. Kyle Caldwell, 4:34. 285 — Rylan Moldenhauer, Northern, d. Bradley Whitwright, 8-7.