OREM, Utah – Utah Valley wrestling returns to the mat this weekend for three competitions across two different time zones. The Wolverines start with their only non-conference dual of the year with American University on Nov. 17 at 5:00 p.m. MT. The trip will continue Nov. 19 with the Penn Keystone Open at 7:30 a.m. MT, while the redshirts will compete in the Spokane Open at 10:30 a.m. MT.
 
The Wolverines competed well at the Southeast Open to start the year. 197-pounder Evan Bockman went 4-0 and won the 197-weight class at the tournament, with a pair of wins over ranked wrestlers No. 27 Levi Hopkins of Campbell and Franklin & Marshall's No. 30 John Crawford. UVU placed six others on the podium in Salem as Jack Forbes, James Emmer, and Tanner Lofthouse placed fifth. Mark Takara, Ty Smith, and Kase Mauger all finished sixth.
 
At the Mines Rookie Open, 125-pounder Jacob Carson went 3-1 and finished second, the highest place of the day. Jakob Romero finished third after going 4-1 in the tournament and was joined by fellow freshman Trevor Frank with a 4-1 record, with a fifth place. Kael Bennie had the most wins on the day, winning five out of his matches for a fifth-place finish.
 
ABOUT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
The Eagles enter the dual 2-2 with wins over Clarion and Millersville. They have dropped duals to the Big Ten's Maryland and No. 5 Virginia Tech. 125-pounder No. 16 Jack Maida enters this weekend 7-0 and defeated No. 4 Eddie Venresca (Virginia Tech) in their dual on Nov. 12. Max Leete is 5-1 on the year and took first place at the Battle at the Citadel.
 
ALSO COMPETING IN THE PENN KEYSTONE CLASSIC
Appalachian State, Drexel, Duke, Franklin & Marshall, Harvard, Indiana, Penn, Sacred Heart, and Virginia Tech.
 
PRE-SEEDS
Bockman is UVU's highest pre-seed for Utah Valley as he is the No. 1 in his weight class. No. _ Haiden Drury is the No. 3 at 133, and 149-pounder Ty Smith is the No. 4.
 
THE SPOKANE OPEN
The Spokane Open is on Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m. MT. It is an open tournament that will be held at the Podium in Spokane, Wash.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley's next competition will be the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 1^st and 2^nd. It is one of the premier tournaments of the preseason. UVU's home opener is scheduled for Jan. 20 when they welcome in Big 12 foe Wyoming.