Jan. 5, 2008

SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The Utah Valley wrestling team went 1-3 on Saturday at the Lone Star Duals and now sit at 5-5 in duals this season.

Benjamin Kjar (125 pounds) and Sam Allen (149 pounds) both won three out of the four matches they wrestled on the day for the Wolverines

Against #14 Wisconsin, the Wolverines fell 28-7 with Benjamin Kjar and Marc Fenwick picking up wins for UV. Kjar defeated Drew Hammen by major decision, 13-4 and Fenwick topped Matt Maciag in a 6-3 decision.

Despite losing eight of 10 matches against the Big 10 Badgers, Utah Valley lost four of those matches by four points or less, including Jeff Newby's 3-2 decision against Kyle Ruschell.

In the second dual of the day, against Brown, Kjar pinned Mike Piccimilo (1:53) before Brown tied the team score at six with consecutive decision wins.

Allen then scored a 10-2 major decision win over Bryan Tracy to put the Wolverines up 10-6, but from there Utah Valley was unable to win again. Three of the final six matches were decided by three points or less, but they all went Brown's way as the Wolverines fell 30-10.

The afternoon saw Utah Valley pick up its first win of the day, 21-18 in a tight match against Oklahoma City University. Kjar and Nathan Gardner both won by tech fall while Gehrhart Vuksinick, Mark Dennis and Billy Green also won by decision for UV. Green's win came over Jeremy Johnson in an 8-4 score to give the Wolverines the narrow 21-18 victory.

In the final dual, Eastern Michigan won six of the 10 match-ups to top Utah Valley 21-12. Jeffrey Newby, Allen, Ramsey Nijem and Billy Green, who won for the second time on the day, all earned victories by decision for the Wolverines.

Next weekend Utah Valley will host the 1st Utah Valley Open in the Shurian Family Activity Center.

For complete results click HERE and then click on each specific dual.

Eastern Michigan 21, Utah Valley State 12
125 lbs. – Andrew Novak (EMU) dec. Benjamin Kjar (UVSC) 6-3
133 lbs. – Sean Clair (EMU) tech. fall Logan Wilson (UVSC) 17-0
141 lbs. – Jeffrey Newby (UVSC) dec. Zach Donofrio (EMU) 8-6
149 lbs. – Sam Allen (UVSC) dec. David Pienaar (EMU) 6-0
157 lbs. – Cory Mancuso (EMU) maj. dec. Nate Kearsley (UVSC) 12-1
165 lbs. – Justin Brandel (EMU) dec. Garthart Vuksinick (UVSC) 5-3
174 lbs. – Ramsey Nijem (UVSC) dec. Don Funk (EMU) 9-5
184 lbs. – Charlie Pienaar (EMU) dec. Casen Eldredge 5-1
197 lbs. – John McClure (EMU) dec. Mark Dennis (UVSC) 3-0
285 lbs. – Billy Green (UVSC) dec. David Wade (EMU) 4-3, 3OT