GREAT FALLS – The Electric City will have a national tournament type feel this weekend when the Providence wrestling team hosts the annual Battle of the Rockies, featuring top competition from around the nation.
Among those teams are the Argos themselves, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA as well as the MSU-Northern Lights, ranked No. 3 in the country. Both teams have national championship aspirations and ranked wrestlers at nearly every weight class. They will be tested Friday with four duals before suiting up Saturday for an open tournament at the McLaughlin Center.
“McKendree is a top five team in NCAA Division 2, they’re coming in. We haven’t beat them for the last three or four years,” said Argo wrestling coach Caleb Schaeffer. “Embry-Riddle is a top ten team in the NAIA, Dickinson is a top 15 team. You’re going to have at every weight a top 5 kid in the NAIA.”
Schaeffer called the 2018 Argos the best he’s had in years. Eight wrestlers are ranked in the top 20 in their division, and are have loads of experience.
“Battle of the Rockies is always a fun tournament,” said Argo junior Casey Dobson. “There’s a lot competition. There’s going to be some big matches, and some guys are going to get some good looks and the guys are excited for this weekend.”
The duals kick off Friday at 12 p.m., with the open tournament set for Saturday at 9 a.m.