OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University's comeback fell short to the University of Northern Colorado, 22-21 on Friday night inside Lockhart Arena. UVU (7-9, 3-4) trailed 16-0 before winning five of the last six matches, including three by bonus points. UNC (10-5, 3-3) led by early wins from ranked wrestlers.
 
Northern Colorado opened the night with four consecutive victories, including three bonus point victories coming from No. 2 Andrew Alirez, Benji Alanis and No. 16 Vinny Zerban. No. 18 Dominick Serrano opened the night with a decision over Kase Mauger.
 
Trailing 16-0, the Wolverines got on the board and continued to win with three consecutive bonus point victories. It started with No. 3 Terrell Barraclough at 165, who went up 3-0 in the first period with a takedown but earned bonus points with his performance in the third, scoring five points with a takedown, escape and riding time. Barraclough finishes the regular season with a 23-1 overall record and 14-0 in duals.
 
The run continued with Mark Takara who scored quickly into the first period before adding three more takedowns over the course of the match. UNC's Aydin Rix-McElhinney would only score on escapes during the match. Takara had a six-point third period with a reversal while adding his fourth takedown of the match.
 
Utah Valley cut into the deficit with the combined eight points to make it 16-8 before Caleb Uhlenhopp came onto the mat. He took a 7-1 lead in the first period that featured a four-point near fall before adding five more in the second period, including when AJ Heeg was called for his first of two stall calls in the bout. The match ended in 6:41 with a 16-1 technical fall.
 
Leading 16-13 the Bears struck back with a pin from Andrew Donahue at 197, he was out to a 7-1 lead in the first period before securing the fall 2:25 into the match.
 
The final two bouts went to the Wolverines, starting with heavyweight Jack Forbes, who after a scoreless first period took a 1-0 lead with an escape and extended the lead in the final period after a technical violation against Jose Valdez. He clinched the match with a takedown in the final period for a 5-1 decision.
 
125-pounder Bridger Ricks took a 3-0 lead in the first period before pulling away with a five point second period on an escape, takedown, and a penalty point. The match went into bonus points with a solid closing by the UVU junior with three takedowns in the third period.
 
 
UP NEXT
The Wolverines will have some time to train for the 2025 Big 12 Championships coming up on Mar. 8-9 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. The Championships will determine the automatic qualifiers for the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia.
 
Full Results
133 - #18 Dominick Serrano (UNC) over Kase Mauger (UVU), DEC 8-2               3-0 UNC
141 - #2 Andrew Alirez (UNC) over #18 Haiden Drury (UVU), MD 12-3               7-0 UNC
149 – Benji Alanis (UNC) over Smokey McClure (UVU), MD 14-4                       11-0 UNC
157 - #16 Vinny Zerban (UNC) over Tanner Frothinger (UVU), TF 18-3 (5:35)     16-0 UNC
165 - #3 Terrell Barraclough (UVU) over Clayton Ulrey (UNC), MD 11-1             16-4 UNC
174 – Mark Takara (UVU) over Aiden Rix-McElhinney (UNC), MD 15-5              16-8 UNC
184 – Caleb Uhlenhopp (UVU) over AJ Heeg (UNC), TF 16-1 (6:41)                     16-13 UNC
197 – Andrew Donahue (UNC) over Kael Bennie (UVU), Fall (2:25)                     22-13 UNC
285 – Jack Forbes (UVU) over Jose Valdez (UNC), DEC 5-1                                  22-16 UNC
125 – Bridger Ricks (UVU) over Bryson Valdez (UNC), TF 18-3 (6:53)                 22-21 UNC
 
Attendance: 1,035
Officials: Ryan Hagan and Don Christensen