Sports briefs

Bargewell Earns GWC Co-Player of the Week

Utah Valley junior Dick Bargewell was named the Great West Conference Baseball Player of the Week along with Houston Baptist’s Andrew Taccolini, the league office announced today.

Bargewell was pressed into service and made the most of his chance with a .818 batting average (9-for-11) with two doubles, four runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base.

Replacing UVU’s batting leader Jace Brinkerhoff because of injury, Bargewell increased his average 177 points and also helped preserve a two-run, seventh inning lead against Sac State with a sterling defensive play at third.

Toolson’s Team Wins Portsmouth Invitational Championship

Ryan Toolson scored seven points and assisted on the game-winning bucket in helping the Norfolk Naval Shipyard to a 72-69 win over Sales System LTD in the championship game of the annual Portsmouth Invitational.

Toolson’s assist on a dunk by Alade Aminu put his team up 70-69 with 27 seconds remaining. Then, with his team up three, Toolson secured the final rebound on potential game-tying three as time expired.

Playing a team-high 32 minutes, Toolson had four rebounds and four assists. He averaged 9.0 points per game over the three-game tournament.

Kjar Places Fifth at 2009 US Freestyle Nationals in Vegas

Utah Valley University sophomore Benjamin Kjar (Wolverine Wrestling Club) defeated Ben Ashmore from Arizona State (Sunkist Wresting Club) to place fifth at the US National Championships for freestyle wrestling Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. With the placement at the event Kjar is now an All-American in freestyle.

Kjar, who after only two seasons is now UVU’s all-time victory leader, went 5-2 overall at the two-day event in Las Vegas.

“It was a great tournament for Ben,” UVU head wrestling coach Greg Williams said. “He took on some very tough competitors today and was able to learn from his mistakes and get stronger as the day went on. Now he will have the opportunity to train with the National Team and to become one of the best wrestlers in the country.”

Kjar also defeated one of the top grapplers in the country in the tournament, Zach Sanders from the University of Minnesota. In Kjar’s final matchup with Ashmore, Ben lost the first period 0-1, but battled back to win the next two 2-1 and 5-2 to place fifth.