OREM, Utah — Utah Valley senior defender Toke Amtrup has been named to the Big West Preseason Coaches' Team, the league announced in a press release on Wednesday morning.

The Wolverines were picked to finish third in their debut season in The Big West, with reigning regular season co-champions UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine going one and two respectively atop the poll. Following Utah Valley in third, Cal State Fullerton was picked fourth, with CSUN, Cal State Bakersfield, and Sacramento State rounding out the poll. 

A native of Svendborg, Denmark, Amtrup is the team's leading returner in minutes played from 2025 and is the only Wolverine in this year's squad who started every game last season. Amtrup played all but 77 total minutes in 2025, including the full 90 in each of the last nine games of the season.

Amtrup played a pivotal part in the Wolverines' historic start to the 2025 season, during which Utah Valley shut out its first six opponents, a program record and a WAC record for any point of a season. Amtrup also scored both of his goals — each game-winners — during that stretch, against Gonzaga and Sacramento State. 

As the season gets underway next week, the Wolverines will lean on Amtrup's experience as he is the lone returner on the back line from last season's squad. Three of last season's four departing starters played on the back line, including center back partner Alex Fritcher and wing back Keegan Oyler, who now plays professionally for AC Boise.

Amtrup and the Wolverines have one final tuneup on Friday, August 14 at No. 20/RV Denver, which will not be streamed or have a live stats feed. Utah Valley will then return home to open the regular season against Pacific on Thursday, August 20. Kickoff against the Tigers for the season opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT, and tickets can be purchased at GoUVU.com/GetTix.