Final Results  | MatShots Photo Gallery

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Despite a major decision from Derek Thomas and decisions from No. 20 Chasen Tolbert and Jade Rauser, the Utah Valley University wrestling fell in Western Wrestling Conference action to South Dakota State at Frost Arena on Friday night by a score of 27-10.
 
The Wolverines drop to 2-7 overall and 1-2 in conference duals with the loss while SDSU improves to 10-7 and 3-1 in the WWC with the victory.
 
"Chasen and Jade did a great job of taking care of business and solidifying their rankings. Derek did a good job tonight as well," said head coach Greg Williams. "We gave up too many points at the end of the periods and especially at the end of the match. Losing all three matches at 165-184 in the final 10 seconds shows a lack of toughness in those situations on our part. We need to see an improvement there if our guys want to reach their goals."
 
With UVU trailing 3-0, Tolbert got the Wolverines going with a 10-3 decision over SDSU's Isaac Andrade at 125 pounds. Tolbert controlled the match as he recorded a reversal, two takedowns, a pair of penalty points due to Andrade's stalling, an escape point and a riding time point. The 20th-ranked Wolverine improves to 13-5 with the victory.
 
Rauser then gave the Wolverines a brief 6-3 lead as he followed with a 9-5 decision over Brance Simms at 133. Holding a 5-1 advantage entering the third period, the two-time NCAA qualifier for Utah Valley managed to stave off a late comeback attempt from Simms with an escape, takedown and riding time point of his own to win the bout by four points. Rauser upped his team-best record to 18-6 with the victory.
 
The Jackrabbits then struck back by taking the next six bouts to put the contest away. Following a pair of falls and a decision by the Jacks, UVU found itself right in three straight matches from 165-184. Freshman Dalton Harmon fell by a mere point to John Nething II at 165, while senior Ethan Smith found himself on the wrong end of a 5-3 overtime contest to David Kocer at 174 and junior Ross Taylor dropped a 10-8 bout to Brady Ayers at 184.
 
Thomas then answered for UVU in the final match of the evening with a 17-3 major decision over SDSU's Hunter Weddington at 197, but it came a little too late as the Wolverines dropped the dual by 17 points.
 
As a whole, South Dakota State won seven of the 10 bouts on the night including two by fall.
 
The loss marked just the second all-time setback to the Jacks, however, as UVU still holds an 8-2 series advantage between the two teams.
 
UVU will look to bounce back on Saturday night, as it will continue the road trip at No. 24 North Dakota State at 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT. Following Saturday's conference clash with NDSU, the Wolverines will return home to face Northern Colorado in their regular season finale on Feb. 14. 
 
Final Results: South Dakota State 27, Utah Valley 10
285: J.J. Everard (SDSU) over Jordan Karst (UVU), Dec. 6-3
125: #20 Chasen Tolbert (UVU) over Isaac Andrade (SDSU), Dec. 10-3
133: Jade Rauser (UVU) over Brance Simms (SDSU), Dec. 9-5
141: Lucas Zilverberg (SDSU) over Matthew Ontiveros (UVU), Fall 4:53
149: Alex Kocer (SDSU) over Trevor Willson (UVU), Dec. 3-0
157: #7 Cody Pack (SDSU) over Jared Harris (UVU), Fall 1:45
165: John Nething II (SDSU) over Dalton Harmon (UVU), Dec. 5-4
174: David Kocer (SDSU) over Ethan Smith (UVU), SV-1 5-3
184: Brady Ayers (SDSU) over Ross Taylor (UVU), Dec. 10-8
197: Derek Thomas (UVU) over Hunter Weddington (SDSU), MD 17-3