USAFA, Colo. – Utah Valley University wrestling fell on Friday night to the United States Air Force Academy 23-18 at Clune Arena. UVU (2-5, 1-5) won four straight bouts from 133-157 weights and later added their fifth win of the night at 197 pounds from No. 16 Evan Bockman. Air Force (4-6, 2-5) broke a 14-14 tie with a win from No. 9 Sam Wolf and clinched the dual on a victory by No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson.
 
"Most of our guys wrestled well tonight. We knew it may come down to bonus points. Unfortunately, Air Force had more than we did," said UVU head coach Greg Williams.  
 
Tucker Owens earned the night's first win after a 9-2 decision to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead before Utah Valley quickly took control of the dual. 133-pounder Kase Mauger used a 12-point opening period to get out to a 12-1 victory over Bubba Wright before adding a takedown and a four-point near fall for a 19-2 tech fall. The win moved Mauger to 5-6 on the year, and his two dual victories have earned bonus points for the Wolverines.
 
Haiden Drury put the Wolverines in front 8-3 with a 7-1 win over Air Force's Garrett Kuchan. He used a five-point third period, including scoring on an escape and a takedown, to secure the win.
 
Utah Valley tallied 13 escapes on the night, and 149-pounder Isaiah Delgado trailed 8-4 in the second period before coming from behind with an escape and a takedown to tie the bout at 8-8. The 2023 NCAA qualifier, Delgado, then scored the final five points of the match on his third escape and takedown of the period while holding a riding time advantage for a 13-8 decision.
 
Alex Emmer took the mat at 157, with Utah Valley holding an 11-3 lead. His match remained scoreless until the third period, when he scored on a reversal and added a riding time point for a 3-0 win.
 
The Falcons turned some momentum while trailing 14-3 in the dual, starting at 165 with bonus point victories by No. 13 Giano Petrucelli recording a tech fall, and Noah Blake with a pin soon tied the dual at 14-14 with three matches left.
 
Air Force regained their first lead since 3-0 at 17-14 when No. 9 Sam Wolf picked up a 9-5 decision over Mahonri Rushton.
 
Bockman improved to 14-5 overall and 6-1 in duals with his third major decision of the year. He used a first-period takedown to go up 3-0 and went up 7-0 after adding an escape and takedown in the second. He put the bout away with a takedown in the third and added a riding time point for the 11-1 win.
 
Utah Valley held a narrow lead at 18-17 heading to the night's last match with No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson facing off with Colorado native Jack Forbes. It was the second-ranked Hendrickson who secured the dual for Air Force with a pin.
 
Utah Valley returns to the mat tomorrow for a dual with No. 18 Northern Colorado at 6:00 p.m. MT from Bank of Colorado Arena. They will then have a break from dual action until Saturday, Feb. 24, at 11:00 a.m. MT when they host California Baptist. It will be the final home match for the UVU seniors and head coach Greg Williams.
 
Full Results
125 - Tucker Owens (Air Force) over Yusief Lillie (UVU), DEC 9-2                                       AF 3-0
133 - Kase Mauger (UVU) over Bubba Wright (Air Force), TF 19-1 (4:31)                           UVU 5-3
141 - Haiden Drury (UVU) over Garrett Kuchan (Air Force), DEC 7-1                                  UVU 8-3
149 – Isaiah Delgado (UVU) over Joe Fernau (Air Force), DEC 13-8                                    UVU 11-3
157 – James Emmer (UVU) over Brooks Gable (Air Force) DEC 3-0                                    UVU 14-3
165 – No. 13 Giano Petrucelli (Air Force) over Tanner Lofthouse (UVU), TF 20-4 (4:43)   UVU 14-8
174 – Noah Blake (Air Force) over Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU), Fall (2:09)                           Tied 14-14
184 – No. 9 Sam Wolf (Air Force) over Mahonri Rushton (UVU), DEC 9-5                            AF 17-14
197 – No. 16 Evan Bockman (UVU) over Calvin Sund (Air Force), MD 11-1                      UVU 18-17
HWT – No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) over Jack Forbes (UVU), Fall (1:26)               AF 23-18