OREM, Utah – Utah Valley wrestling returns to the mat after some time off for the holidays and will kick off Big 12 duals with a pair of ranked foes. UVU will face No. 4 Iowa State on Friday, Jan. 12, at 4:00 p.m. MT, and No. 13 Northern Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6:00 p.m. MT.
Both duals will be streamed, with the dual against No. 4 ISU airing on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and No. 13 UNI on FloWrestling. Live results will be available via Trackwrestling.
The Wolverines are coming off their highest finish at the Reno Tournament of Champions after scoring 76 points for a fourth-place finish. No. 28
Jacob Armstrong won the 184-pound weight class in the tournament. 141-pounder
Haiden Drury placed second after going 4-1 on the day.
Caleb Uhlenhopp and
Mahonri Rushton took home fifth place in their respective divisions. In his first action of the season, heavyweight
Chase Trussell finished 4-2 and earned sixth place.
ABOUT NO. 4 IOWA STATE
The Cyclones enter the dual with an 8-1 overall record in duals. They are led by No. 4 David Carr at 165, a four-time NCAA qualifier and a 2023 NCAA runner-up. At heavyweight No. 3, Yonger Bastida is undefeated (15-0) and has been bumped up a weight class since last season. Ten are ranked in the national polls for ISU, who are coming off a 39-3 dual victory over California Baptist last weekend.
ABOUT NO. 13 NORTHERN IOWA
The Panthers are led by No. 1 at 184 Parker Keckeisen, who is 15-0 on the year. UVU's Armstrong will look to even the season score with Keckeisen in Saturday night's dual. No. 6 Cael Happel is 11-4, and No. 8 Ryder Downey is 9-4 at 157, winning the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week Award last week. The Wolverines are 1-5 all-time against UNI and fell last year in Orem 34-9 despite picking up victories at 174 from
Demetrius Romero and 197 by
Evan Bockman.
WOLVERINES IN THE RANKINGS
Utah Valley had two in the rankings this week. At 197 pounds, Bockman was highest ranked at No. 19 by WIN. He added two additional rankings with 22 and 24 in the Flo/InterMat polls. Armstrong continues to be ranked and is currently 31/28 in Flo/InterMat.
The Wolverines as a team received votes in this week's National Wrestling Coaches Association poll for the first time this season.
UP NEXT
Tickets are now on sale for all UVU home duals. The home schedule starts on Jan. 20 with No. 30 Wyoming at 6:00 p.m. MT. The Wolverines are home for three duals in February, starting with North Dakota State on Feb. 2 and South Dakota State on Feb. 3. The home slate wraps up with California Baptist on Feb. 24.
