For Douglas standout wrestler Nico Barker, it seemed familiarity was key when it came down to choosing where he'd go for college.
The two-time state qualifier was looking for a small campus with easy access to professors and a wrestling program that was known as much for its competitiveness as it was for its tradition, much like what he had in high school.
So when former Carson High coach Tyson Thivierge came calling about wrestling for his program at Montana State Northern, it was a fairly easy decision.
"The coach from Carson had gone up to be the head coach at that school last year and I started hearing from him toward the end of this season," Barker said. "I pretty much knew where I was going to go from that point. It was going to be there or somewhere a lot like it."
What he'll get at Northern is a program that has produced six national championships and 29 All-Americans in the past 15 years. Plus, he'll have a coach that already has a pretty high opinion of him.
"Nico was a state runner-up this year and a state qualfier last year," Thivierge said. "He has a lot of potential and will be battling for a starting spot next season.
"I'm really excited about Nico and he has a ton of potential on the mat. I've known Nico and his family for a few years as he competed for Douglas and I was in Carson.
"The two schools are huge rivals and I always enjoyed watching him wrestle. He's got the kind of mentality that we look for here."
Barker wrestled in the 130 and 140-pound weight classes in his junior and senior years respectively and is expected to slide into the 133-pound class in college.
"I'm psyched," Barker said. "With this program, I'll have a shot at a national title.
"I knew from my first visit there. I really liked the campus, it was pretty small and I like it that way. They have a good drafting program, which is what I want to do and it seems like you can get a lot more personal relationships with your professors."
The Lights compete in the NAIA and their season will begin in October.
