Jan. 15, 2011

Photo Gallery

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Utah Valley University wrestling team picked up dual victories over Appalachian State (19-16) and The Citadel (18-15) Saturday at the Lone Star Duals in Arlington, Texas. UVU also wrestled well against the No. 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers on the day but dropped match 22-12.

The Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 WWC) were led on the day by their four lightweights as they group combined to go an impressive 12-0. Going a perfect 3-0 on the day for UVU was 125-pounder Benjamin Kjar (ranked 14th), 133-pounder Flint Ray (ranked 14th), 141-pounder Justin Morrill and 149-pounder Josh Wilson.

"The key is about progressing and I feel like that is what we are doing," UVU head coach Greg Williams said. "Some of our younger guys like Josh Wilson, Trevor Rupp and others are really improving and doing what we are asking them to do. Our older guys are wrestling solid and moving in the right direction as we head in to the remainder of our conference schedule."

The Wolverines picked up their first win of the duals against The Citadel. UVU worked ahead early and got out to a 15-0 advantage with four consecutive wins from Kjar (10-4), Ray (10-6), Morrill (7-1) and Wilson (fall). Wilson picked up his win via fall just 1:48 into the match over The Citadel's Derek Royster.

Following a slight 7-4 win by the Bulldogs Pierre Frazile over Richard Winger to put The Citadel on the scoreboard, UVU 165-pounder Jeb Clark answered for the Wolverines by wrestling a near flawless match to defeat the 10th-ranked Turtogtokh Luvsandorj by decision 5-3. The victory by Clark over Luvsandori avenged an earlier season loss against the ranked foe and gave UVU an 18-3 lead at the time.

The final four bouts of the dual then went to The Citadel but Clark's win and Wilson's fall proved to be the difference makers as the Wolverines held on to win 18-15.

In the nightcap against Appalachian State bonus points proved to be the difference in the match as the Wolverines once again won by three. Each team won five bouts apiece but UVU managed to win three bouts by bonus points to win 19-16.

Kjar was the first to do just that as he won his match over the Mountaineers Tony Gravely by tech fall, 18-3. Following back-to-back decision victories from Ray and Morrill, Wilson scored a 12-4 major decision over Russ Benner to put the Wolverines up 15-0 once again.

After two Mountaineer decisions, 174-pounder Brad Darrington picked up a big 9-1 major decision win for UVU over Carter Downs to give the Wolverines the 19-6 lead. Appalachian State then won the final three matches of the dual to make the final score much closer.

In the first dual of the day, UVU got off to a hot start against the nationally ranked Huskers, as the Wolverines won the first four bouts to take an impressive 12-0 lead. During the four straight decisions Kjar (6-1), Ray (2-0), Morrill (6-3) and Wilson (4-0) picked up the victories to jump-start UVU.

Nebraska countered however as it managed to win the final six matches to take the dual 22-12, including one by major decision and one by fall. One of the Husker wins included a victory from the No. 1 165-pounder in the nation, Jordan Burroughs as he defeated Clark by major decision 21-8.

Despite finishing with a 1-2 record on the day UVU's Clark had a very successful day on the mat as he picked up a big win over the 10th ranked 165-pounder from The Citadel and wrestled well against three ranked opponents. Clark narrowly lost to 17th ranked Kyle Blevins from Appalachian State, 3-1, and also made the No. 1 wrestler in the country from Nebraska really work for a bonus point win over him as Burroughs just scored a major decision.

"We wrestled well against Nebraska," Williams added. "With our full lineup we feel like we could've won the match. I also feel like our guys are improving and some are starting to get their confidence at this level where they know that they can do well."

UVU will be back on the mat next Saturday, Jan. 22, at home in Orem when it welcomes the No. 24 Wyoming Cowboys at 7 p.m. The Western Wrestling Conference dual will be televised locally on UVU-TV.

FINAL RESULTS:
#16 Nebraska 22, Utah Valley 12
125 - #14 Benjamin Kjar (UVU) dec. over Shawn Nagel (NU), 6-1
133 - # 14 Flint Ray (UVU) dec. over Ridge Kiley (NU), 2-0
141 - Justin Morrill (UVU) dec. over Mike Koehnlein (NU), 6-3
149 - Josh Wilson (UVU) dec. over Ross Grande (NU), 4-0
157 - Tyler Koehn (NU) dec. over Richard Winger (UVU), 4-0
165 - #1 Jordan Burroughs (NU) major dec. over Jeb Clark (UVU), 21-8
174 - Caleb Kolb (NU) dec. over Brad Darrington (UVU), 4-2
184 - #11 Josh Ihnen (NU) dec. over Casen Eldredge (UVU), 6-1
197 - Andy Johnson (NU) dec. over Trevor Rupp (UVU), 7-2
285 - #11 Tucker Lane (NU) fall over Christian Denny (UVU), 2:38

Utah Valley 18, The Citadel 15
125 - #14 Benjamin Kjar (UVU) dec. over Richard Alarcon (Cit.), 10-4
133 - #14 Flint Ray (UVU) dec. over Tyler Sim (Cit.), 10-6
141 - Justin Morrill (UVU) dec. over Jordan Dix (Cit.), 7-1
149 - Josh Wilson (UVU) fall over Derek Royster (Cit.), 1:48
157 - Pierre Frazile (Cit.) dec. over Richard Winger (UVU), 7-4
165 - Jeb Clark (UVU) dec. over #10 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Cit.), 5-3
174 - J.C. Oddo (Cit.) dec. over Brad Darrington (UVU), 7-1
184 - Justin Sparrow (Cit.) dec. over Casen Eldredge (UVU), 2-1
197 - Kelby Smith (Cit.) dec. over Trevor Rupp (UVU), 6-5
285 - Josh Tuck (Cit.) dec. over Christian Denny (UVU), 5-1

Utah Valley 19, Appalachian State 16
125 - #14 Benjamin Kjar (UVU) tech fall over Tony Gravely (App. St.), 18-3
133 - #14 Flint Ray (UVU) dec. over Chris Johnson (App. St.), 9-6
141 - Justin Morrill (UVU) dec. over Mike Kessler (App. St.), 5-2
149 - Josh Wilson (UVU) major dec. over Russ Benner (App. St), 12-4
157 - John Blakely (App. St.) dec. over Richard Winger (UVU), 8-4
165 - #18 Kyle Blevins (App. St.) dec. over Jeb Clark (UVU), 3-1
174 - Brad Darrington (UVU) major dec. over Carter Downs (App. St.), 9-1
184 - Austin Trotman (App. St.) major dec. over Casen Eldredge (UVU), 15-5
197 - Paul Glover (App. St.) dec. over Trevor Rupp (UVU), 5-4
285 - Mark Tyson (App. St.) dec. over Christian Denny (UVU), 2-0