OREM, Utah – Utah Valley wrestling will open the 2023-2024 season at a pair of tournaments this weekend. The starters will be heading to the Southeast Open in Salem, Va., while the non-starters and redshirts will open the season at the Rookie Open, hosted by the Colorado School of the Mines.
FloWrestling will have a stream off the Southeast Open, with the tournament starting at 7:00 a.m. MT. Live results will be available through Flo Arena. The Mines Rookie Open will have live results available through Track Wrestling.
Utah Valley returns four previous NCAA qualifiers, starting with two-time qualifier at 197,
Evan Bockman, the redshirt junior season after leading UVU in wins with 21 last year. He finished 1-2 at the NCAA Tournament, earning his first victory over Hofstra's Trey Rogers.
2022 NCAA qualifier
Haiden Drury returns to the mat this season after going 4-1 last season before suffering a season-ending injury. 2011 qualifier
Ty Smith and 2023 qualifier
Isaiah Delgado will both start the season at 149 for the Wolverines.
THE SOUTHEAST OPEN FIELD
Joining Utah Valley in the tournament is No. 2 Virginia Tech. No. 19 Oregon State, Campbell, Chattanooga, Davidson, Franklin and Marshall, Morgan State, Ohio, Virginia, VMI, and West Virginia. The tournament will feature a Freshman/Sophomore and an Open Division.
THE MINES ROOKIE OPEN FIELD
The Mines Rookie Open is hosted by the Colorado School of the Mines in Golden, Colorado. The tournament will feature UVU, Air Force, Northern Colorado, Northwestern, Adams State, Augustana College, Chadron State, Colby Community College, Colorado Mesa, Northeastern Junior Collge, Northwest Kansas Technical College, Otero Junior College, New Hampshire, Utah Tech, and Western Wyoming College.
RANKINGS
UVU has four in the national rankings as they prepare to open the season. Bockman is currently the highest ranked at No. 12 by FloWrestling, with Drury coming in at No. 15 by InterMat. Delgado joined the FloWrestling ranks when they expanded the poll to 33, and he came in at No. 28. Heavyweight
Jayden Woodruff, who missed last season, came in at No. 32 by InterMat.
FULL RANKINGS
| |
FloWrestling |
InterMat |
| Bockman |
12 |
15 |
| Drury |
24 |
15 |
| Delgado |
33 |
NR |
| Woodruff |
NR |
32 |
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will compete next on Friday, Nov. 17 in their only non-conference dual of the year in Washington D.C. against American University. The Wolverines will then travel to Philadelphia for the Penn Keystone Classic on Nov. 19, while redshirts and non-starters will be at the Spokane Open.
