Arizona State defeats UVU Wrestling

Kenzie Jones, Sports Editor, @KenzieScribbler

On Friday night the Utah Valley wrestling team was faced off in a non-conference dual vs. Arizona State. The meet opened with the Wolverines taking three straight wins, but ultimately ended in the home team’s favor, 22-15, at Well Fargo Arena in Tempe, Arizona.

Despite Jade Rauser, Matthew Ontiveros, Trevor Willson, and Chasen Tolbert all picking up wins for the Wolverines and combined with UVU (0-3) building a 12-0 the Sun Devils (3-1) used wins in the next six bouts to secure the win.

The dual kicked off at 133 pounds when Rauser came up against Cord Coronado. Just 2:38 into the match Coronado fell earning Rauser and the Wolverines six early points. The fall marks Rauser’s third in the season so far with all three coming in the opening period.

Next up for UVU was Ontiveros (141)who trailed behind against Mech Spraggins, but used riding time combined with a late takedown to force overtime. It was in that extra time that Ontiveros picked up an escape to earn the 8-7 win.

Little time was waisted by Willson in scoring against Matt Kraus, getting a takedown and 3-point nearfall in the first minute of the 149 pound bout. Eventually the bout was tied at 6-6 by Kraus in  the third period. Willson turned right back around by picking up an escape followed by a takedown in the warning seconds and took the 9-6 win. It was here that Utah Valley gained their 12-0 lead.

From there Arizona took over with a string of wins. Those started at 157 pounds with Joel Smith scoring a major decision over Logan Addis, 18-7. Next at 165 pounds, Jacen Petersen held off a late charge by Dalton Harmon to win 8-4.

The final bout of the night was at 125 pounds. Tolbert used a late takedown of Ares Carpio in both the second and third periods to secure a 5-1 victory. The win moves Tolbert’s record to 7-1 for the early season.

The gentlemen Wolverines will stay in the Phoenix area to face off against Grand Canyon on Saturday night. The match will mark the final chance to work out the kinks before the team heads to the Cliff Keen Invitational on December 5-6 in Las Vegas.