Jan. 18, 2012
OREM, Utah - The Utah Valley University wrestling team will hit the road this weekend to begin its Western Wrestling Conference portion of its schedule. The Wolverines will first travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take on Air Force Thursday at 7 p.m. and then will head up to Laramie, Wyo., to face No. 12 Wyoming Saturday at 7 p.m.
Live video will be streamed online for both duals. Fans can find links to them at GoAirForceFalcons.com for Thursday's match and WyomingAthletics.com for Saturday.
The Wolverines are 3-4 on the season and are coming off a 19-18 home win over Boise State last Thursday. Later in the week, UVU then dropped two duals at the Lone Star Duals as it fell to No. 11 Oklahoma and Chattanooga.
A year ago, the Wolverines finished third in the WWC with a 3-2 record. Utah Valley's three victories came against Air Force, Northern Colorado and South Dakota State. This season, UVU will face all six other WWC institutions for the first time in school history.
The Air Force Academy will enter Thursday with a 3-3 overall record and a 0-1 clip in WWC action. Last weekend, AFA also competed at the Lone Star Duals and went an even 2-2 at the event with wins over Brown and Central Baptist and losses to Chattanooga and Harvard.
Junior 149-pounder Cole VonOhlen, who is the reigning WWC Wrestler of the Week, leads the Falcons on the year. VonOhlen is currently ranked third in the country at 149 pounds and is 22-2 for the season.
All-time the Wolverines lead the series 5-3 over Air Force. UVU has also won the last three meetings, including a 23-20 win in Orem last season.
The University of Wyoming is 2-2 overall on the season and won't begin its conference season until Saturday's dual with UVU. All of the Cowboys duals have been against ranked opponents so far on the year and their two victories came over No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 17 Oregon State. The `Pokes two losses were to No. 1 Oklahoma State and No. 7 Nebraska.
Senior 184-pounder Joe LeBranc, who is the top-ranked wrestler in the nation, leads Wyoming this year. LeBlanc is a three-time All-American and is 18-1 so far this season. In all five of UW's 10 probable starters are ranked nationally.
The Cowboys lead the all-time series 6-1 over UVU. The Wolverines' lone victory did come in Laramie however as they defeated the `Pokes 26-19 on Jan. 21, 2006.
Following this week's competition, Utah Valley will return home to face conference foe Northern Iowa Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. The dual will mark UNI's first-ever trip to Orem.
