Feb. 4, 2011

Play-by-Play of Results

BOISE, Idaho - Benjamin Kjar and Justin Morrill picked up big victories over ranked opponents Friday night to lead Utah Valley at Boise State in front of 3,396 fans but the No. 9 Broncos managed to defeat UVU 32-6.

Last season UVU (3-3, 1-1 WWC) was able to topple the then eighth ranked Broncos (10-2-1, 5-0-1 Pac-10) 22-20 in Orem, but this year in Boise BSU managed to win eight of the 10 matches, including two by forfeit, to pick up the victory.

"We wrestled better than the final score shows and overall I felt like our guys competed," UVU head coach Greg Williams said. "Judging from how we wrestled against Wyoming to here against Boise, I felt like our intensity was up and that our conditioning was better. This match was a good indicator of what we need to do this next month to get ready for the postseason."

The dual began at 141 pounds and Morrill got the Wolverines off to a good start as he defeated No. 15 Levi Jones 5-4 in 2OT. The match was tied at 4-all at the end of regulation. Morrill had a chance for a late takedown in the first sudden victory period but just couldn't secure it as the bout went to a second overtime. Morrill managed to score when he broke Jones' hold to win the contest in the second OT.

The win for Morrill was his third over a ranked opponent on the season and also kept his undefeated streak alive in the 2011 calendar year.

Following the opening Wolverine victory, the Broncos went on to win the next seven decisions, including forfeits at 157 and heavyweight to put the dual away. BSU's Jason Chamberlain, ranked second nationally, beat UVU 149-pounder Josh Wilson 8-3 and Jeb Clark (165 lbs.) fell to Kurt Swartz 5-2. At 174 pounds Brad Darrington gave up a takedown to No. 14 Jake Swartz with mere seconds remaining to drop a 6-4 bout. UVU's Casen Eldredge (184 lbs.) was defeated by the top-ranked Kirk Smith 22-8 and Trevor Rupp was slightly edged by No. 20 Matt Casperson, 3-2.

Utah Valley then broke the drought when the 13th ranked Kjar picked up a huge win over the 14th ranked Alan Bartelli, 3-2. Kjar found himself trailing Bartelli 1-0 in the third period but the Wolverine senior managed to score three points when it mattered the most to pick up the important win. The win upped Kjar to 20-4 on the year and a perfect 6-0 in duals.

The final bout of the evening pitted two more ranked grapplers going head-to-head as No. 13 Flint Ray for UVU challenged his former workout partner when he wrestled for the Broncos during his freshman season in No. 2 Anderw Hochstrasser. Hochstrasser got the best of Ray, defeating him 19-5. The defeat was just Ray's second of the year and both his losses this season have come by the hands of Hochstrasser.

The Wolverines will be back in action Friday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m., when they host the Air Force Academy in the Activity Center. That dual will be UVU's final home contest of the season and it will also be televised locally on UVU-TV.

FINAL RESULTS
141 - Justin Morrill (UVU) dec., #15 Levi Jones (BSU), 5-4 {2OT}
149 - #2 Jason Chamberlain (BSU) dec., Josh Wilson (UVU), 8-3
157 - #2 Adam Hall (BSU) wins by forfeit
165 - Kurt Swartz (BSU) dec., Jeb Clark (UVU), 5-2
174 - #14 Jake Swartz (BSU) dec., Brad Darrington (UVU), 6-4
184 - #1 Kirk Smith (BSU), major dec., Casen Eldredge (UVU), 22-8
197 - #20 Matt Casperson (BSU) dec., Trevor Rupp (UVU), 3-2
HWT - J.T. Felix (BSU) wins by forfeit
125 - #13 Benjamin Kjar (UVU) dec., #14 Alan Bartelli (BSU), 3-2
133 - #2 Andrew Hochstrasser (BSU) major dec., #13 Flint Ray (UVU), 19-5