LAS VEGAS – Utah Valley wrestling started the 42^nd annual Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Wolverines recorded a pair of upsets in their first matches of the day when Caleb Uhlenhopp upset 2024 All-American TJ Stewart from Virginia Tech and 133-pounder Kase Mauger topped No. 23 Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) by decision.
 
Uhlenhopp took an early 3-0 lead with a first-period takedown before Stewart responded to tie the bout in the second period. It was the second of two escapes for UVU redshirt sophomore that gave him a 5-4 edge before he held on in the third period. In the round of 16, he fell to a Big 12 foe, Nathan Haas (California Baptist), before his day ended when he lost to Stanford's Tye Monteiro.
 
Against the ninth-seeded Strickenberger, Mauger scored first and jumped out to a 3-0 lead and extended the lead out to 4-0 after stalling was called against the West Virginia NCAA qualifier, who only scored one point in the bout, that came on an escape in the second period. Mauger had rematches against two opponents he faced during non-conference duals. He first fell to No. 19 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) before Oklahoma State's Reece Witcraft ended his run at the tournament.
 
No. 4 Terrell Barraclough was upset in his first-round matchup against No. 28 Jack Thomsen (Northern Iowa). After holding an early lead, UNI's 165-pounder rebounded to score on three takedowns. He advanced through his first consolation match with a major decision over Ohio's Jack Lledo. In the evening's second session, he won his first match in the consolation round of eight over No. 28 Cesar Allen (Columbia) by a 12-0 major decision.
 
In his final match of the night, Barraclough defeated four-time All-American No. 3 Sammy Sasso of Ohio State. It was only Sasso's 13^th loss of his collegiate career. After a scoreless first period, Barraclough took a 4-0 lead after an escape and a takedown. He earned the riding time point for the 5-0 win.
 
No. 15 Haiden Drury also fell in his first-round matchup to Cornell's Josh Saunders in a hard-fought 4-2 decision. Saunders scored with a first-period takedown. Drury took some shots but was not able to break through. In his consolation matches, he cruised past CSU Bakersfield's Hayden Zinkin and Oregon State's Nash Singleton. He continued to cruise through the consolation rounds, earning a 4-0 decision.
 
Drury fell in his final match of the night he went up against NCAA qualifier Sergio Lemley after the two fought to a scoreless first period, it was tied at one heading the third period, when Lemley scored the bouts' only takedown. 
 
At 149, Tanner Frothinger won his opening match by technical fall with a 20-3 win in 4:28 over Purdue's Isaac Ruble. He fell to Stanford's No. 10 Jaden Abas in a rematch for Stanford's dual by-tech fall. His run ended in the tournament by Appalachian State's Kaden Keiser via fall.
 
Bridger Ricks, Ryker Fullmer, Mark Takara, Kael Bennie, and Jack Forbes all finished the day 0-2.
 
Barraclough will return to the mat tomorrow, working through the consolation rounds. He will open the day with Michigan freshman No. 12 Brock Mantanona.
 
Results
 
125-     Bridger Ricks              (0-2)
R32     #8 Eddie Ventrsca (Virginia Tech) over Bridger Ricks (UVU), DEC 5-0
C16     Sylayman Bah (Columbia) over Bridger Ricks (UVU), 2-1 SV
 
133 -    Kase Mauger               (1-2)
R32     Kase Mauger (UVU) over #23 Jett Strickenberger (WVU), DEC 6-1
R16     #19 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) over Kase Mauger, (UVU), MD 10-0
C16     Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma State) over Kase Mauger, (UVU), MD 14-4
 
141 -    #15 Haiden Drury       (3-2)
R32     Josh Saunders (Cornell) over #15 Haiden Drury (UVU), DEC 4-2
C16     #15 Haiden Drury (UVU) over Hayden Zinkin (CSUB), DEC 8-1
C16     #15 Haiden Drury (UVU) over Nash Singleton (Oregon State), DEC 5-1
C8       #15 Haiden Drury (UVU) over Emilio Ysaguirre Jr. (Arizona State), DEC 4-0
C8       #6 Sergio Lemley (Michigan) over #15 Haiden Drury (UVU), 4-1 SV
 
149 -    Tanner Frothinger       (1-2)
R32     Tanner Frothinger (UVU) over Isaac Ruble (Purdue), TF 20-3 (4:28)
R16     #10 Jaden Abas (Stanford) over Tanner Frothinger (UVU), TF 18-2 (2:29)
C16     Kaden Keiser (App State) over Tanner Frothinger (UVU), Fall (2:14)
 
157 -    Ryker Fullmer             (0-2)
R32     #21 Rafael Hipolito (Virginia Tech) over Ryker Fullmer (UVU), MD 13-3
C16     Caleb Fish (Oklahoma State) over Ryker Fullmer (UVU), TF 18-3 (6:08)
 
165 -    #4 Terrell Barraclough (3-1)
R32     #28 Jack Thomsen (Northern Iowa) over #4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU), DEC 10-5
C16     #4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU) over Jack Lledo (Ohio) MD 13-1
C8       #4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU) over #28 Cesar Alvan (Columbia), MD 12-0
C8       #4 Terrell Barraclough (UVU) over #3 Sammy Sasso (Ohio State), DEC 5-0
 
174 -    Mark Takara                (0-2)
R32     #11 Simon Ruiz (Cornell) over Mark Takara (UVU), MD 10-0
C16     #29 Brody Conley (WVU) over Mark Takara (UVU), Fall 5:30
 
184 -    Caleb Uhlenhopp        (1-2)
R32     Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU) over #12 TJ Stewart (Virginia Tech), DEC 6-5
R16     #33 Nathan Haas (California Baptist) over Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU), DEC 9-3
C16     Ty Monteiro (Stanford) over Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU), Fall (2:15)
 
197 -    Kael Bennie                (0-2)
R32     #10 Luke Geog (Ohio State) over Kael Bennie (UVU), TF 15-0 (1:55)
C16     #26 Camden McDanel (Nebraska) over Kael Bennie (UVU), TF 18-3 (6:38)
 
HWT - #33 Jack Forbes          (0-2)
R32     BYE
R16     #5 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) over #33 Jack Forbes (UVU), Fall (3:42)
C16     David Mower (Oregon State) over #33 Jack Forbes (UVU), MD 8-0