Dec. 27, 2010

OREM, Utah - The Utah Valley University wrestling team will travel to Greensboro, N.C., to compete at UNC Greensboro's Southern Scuffle on Wednesday and Thursday. This year will mark the first trip to the UNCG Southern Scuffle for the Wolverines.

Last season, UVU traveled to UNC Greensboro and competed head-to-head in dual action against the Spartans. The Wolverines defeated UNCG 21-17 and went a perfect 3-0 on that road trip against the Spartans, NC State and Gardner-Webb.

This season the Wolverines are led by 2009-10 NCAA Qualifiers and seniors Flint Ray (133-pounds) and Benjamin Kjar (125-pounds) who are ranked 12th and 14th respectively by InterMat. With Ray forced to sit out the scuffle with an injury he sustained at the Las Vegas Invite, UVU will look to another NCAA Qualifier to compete for a title at 174-pounds in junior Brad Darrington who is returning to action this week.

Thirty-two teams from all around the nation will descend upon the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center on Dec. 29-30 for the right to claim the 2010 UNCG Southern Scuffle title. Live video of the two-day event can be found by visiting UNCGSpartans.com or by CLICKING HERE.

This year's field will be highlighted by Cornell, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll. Minnesota (No. 3) and Penn State (No. 4) are also ranked in the top-10 and will be at the tournament this year. In all, there will be six of the top-25 programs in attendance this year as Oregon State (No. 13), Michigan (No. 15) and Kent State (No. 23) will also be there. Not just ranked teams will be in attendance at the scuffle as over six dozen ranked wrestlers are expected to vie individual championships.

Following the Southern Scuffle, UVU will return home for its first dual of the season when it locks heads with Western Wrestling Conference foe Northern Colorado on Jan. 7. The following day on Jan 8, the Wolverines will host the annual UVU Open.