EMU Open Results | UVU's Team Results at the EMU Open

Nov. 16, 2013

YPSILANTI, Mich. -The Utah Valley University wrestling team went 1-2 at the Eastern Michigan Duals on Saturday in Ypsilanti, Mich. UVU picked up a 29-12 victory over Gardner-Webb but fell to Michigan State, 21-18, and Ohio, 26-13.

"We wrestled well at times but we lost some situations that we had the advantage in," said head coach Greg Williams. "We will clean that up and get our starters back at 133 and 174 and will be a better team. I thought that Bracken Nipko did a great job going up a weight and filling in for us at 133 however."

Sophomore Jade Rauser, who is currently ranked 12th at 125 pounds, and senior Avery Garner (141 pounds) led the way for the Wolverines (1-3) as they both went a perfect 3-0 on Saturday. 

Rauser won one of his three bouts by fall and the other two by major decision, while Garner recorded two wins via decision and one by fall.

In the opening dual of the day against the Spartans (2-1), a forfeit by UVU at 174 pounds was the difference as Michigan State took the contest, 21-18. Despite giving MSU a free six points, Utah Valley still almost won the dual as it held an 18-6 lead after the first six bouts. Michigan State rallied late, however, by winning the final four matches to take the contest by three points.

The dual with MSU actually entered the final match of the contest tied at 18-all and No. 9 Mike McClure of Michigan State managed to barely squeak past No. 20 Adam Fager of Utah Valley, 3-2. 

In the second dual of the afternoon, UVU fell to an Ohio Bobcat (3-0) club that has currently been receiving votes for the top-25, 26-13. Rauser, redshirt freshman Bracken Nipko (133), Garner and sophomore Chase Cuthbertson (157) all picked up wins for the Wolverines in the contest. Cuthbertson had the biggest win of the bout as he upset the 16th-ranked Spartak Chino 14-12. Chino wrestled for the Bobcats at the NCAA Championships last season.

After winning four of the first five bouts against Ohio, UVU held an early 13-4 lead over the Bobcats. But after a pin at 165 and a forfeit at 174, Ohio erased the deficit and took a 16-13. UVU junior Ethan Smith(184) and sophomore Derek Thomas (197) both gave it all they had against ranked foes in the next two bouts but in the end No. 7 Cody Walters and No. 16 Phil Wellington each defeated Smith and Thomas by just a point apiece.

In Utah Valley's final contest of the Eastern Michigan Duals against Gardner-Webb (1-6), it took care of business by winning seven of the 10 bouts to take the dual, 29-12. UVU jumped out to a quick 14-0 advantage over GWU after four matches as Rauser, Nipko, Garner and sophomore Trevor Willson (149) all picked up wins. After back-to-back decision victories by the `Runnin Bulldogs at 157 and 165 followed by a forfeit at 174 Gardner-Webb made things interesting as it trailed just 14-12. UVU's upper weights answered the call, however, as Smith, Thomas and Fager all won their bouts to seal the victory for the Wolverines. Smith defeated his GWU counterpart by decision, while Thomas and Fager both pinned theirs.

Utah Valley also had four other wrestlers in competition at the Eastern Michigan Open on Saturday in Ypsilanti as well and junior 141-pounder Sam Mecham led the way by placing second in his weight class. Mecham won his first three bouts of the tournament including a first-period fall over Michigan State's Christian Olanowski in the quarters. After a 1-0 victory over Northern Illinois' Sal Annoreno in the semis, Mecham's day finally came to an end with a tech fall loss to Gardner-Webb's Christopher Vassar in the finals.

Also in action at the open tournament for the Wolverines were freshmen Abel Gomez (184) and Richard Larsen (heavyweight) as well as sophomore Logan Addis (157). Gomez posted a 2-2 outing at the tourney while both Addis and Larsen each went 0-2. 

The Wolverines will now have two weeks off before heading to Palo Alto, Calif., to take part at the Stanford Duals on Nov. 30. UVU will face. No. 13 Nebraska as well as Bakersfield and the host Cardinal that day. 

Michigan State 21, Utah Valley 18 
125: No. 12 Jade Rauser (UVU) pinned Brenan Lyon (MSU), 00:48 (UVU, 6-0)
133: Garth Yenter (MSU) dec. Bracken Nipko (UVU), 5-3 (UVU, 6-3)
141: Avery Garner (UVU) pinned Brian Gibbs (MSU), 2:21 (UVU, 12-3)
149: Joe Johnson (MSU) dec. Trevor Willson (UVU), 2-0 (UVU, 12-6)
157: Chase Cuthbertson (UVU) dec. Roger Wildmo (MSU), 7-6 (UVU, 15-6)
165: Curtis Abner Cook (UVU) dec. MSU, 1-0 (UVU, 18-6)
174: Nick Kaczanowski (MSU) won by forfeit (UVU, 18-12)
184: John Rizqallah (MSU) dec. Ethan Smith (UVU), 5-3 (UVU, 18-15)
197: Luke Jones (MSU) dec. Derek Thomas (UVU), 12-5 (Tied, 18-18)
285: No. 9 Mike McClure (MSU) dec. No. 20 Adam Fager (UVU), 3-2 (MSU, 21-18)

Ohio 26, Utah Valley 13
125: No. 12 Jade Rauser (UVU) maj. dec. KeVon Powell (Ohio), 13-4 (UVU, 4-0)
133: Bracken Nipko (UVU) dec. Thomas McLaughlin (Ohio), 6-0 (UVU, 7-0)
141: Avery Garner (UVU) dec. Noah Forrider (Ohio), 4-3 (UVU, 10-0)
149: Tywan Claxton (Ohio) maj. dec. Trevor Willson (UVU), 9-1 (UVU, 10-4)
157: Chase Cuthbertson (UVU) dec. No. 16 Spartak Chino (Ohio), 14-12 (UVU, 13-4)
165: Harrison Hightower (Ohio) pinned Curtis Abner Cook (UVU) (UVU, 13-10)
174: Marshall Willet won by forfeit (Ohio, 16-13)
184: No. 7 Cody Walters (Ohio) dec. Ethan Smith (UVU), 2-1 (Ohio, 19-13)
197: No. 16 Phil Wellington (Ohio) dec. Derek Thomas (UVU), 3-2 (Ohio, 22-13)
285: No. 10 Jeremy Johnson (Ohio) maj. dec. No. 20 Adam Fager (UVU), 14-1 (Ohio, 26-13)

Utah Valley 29, Gardner-Webb 12
125: No. 12 Jade Rauser (UVU) maj. dec. Cortex Starkes (GWU), 11-0 (UVU, 4-0)
133: Bracken Nipko (UVU) maj. dec. Victor Blasucci (GWU), 8-0 (UVU, 8-0)
141: Avery Garner (UVU) dec. Ryan Mosley (GWU), 3-1 (UVU, 11-0)
149: Trevor Wilson (UVU) dec. Tyler Ziegler (GWU), 6-0 (UVU, 14-0)
157: Kyle Ash (GWU) dec. Chase Cuthbertson (UVU), 5-4 (UVU, 14-3)
165: Austin Trott (GWU) dec. Curtis Abner Cook (UVU), 7-0 (UVU, 14-6)
174: Brett Stein (GWU) won by forfeit, (UVU, 14-12)
184: Ethan Smith (UVU) dec. Gary Jones (GWU), 3-1 (UVU, 17-12)
197: Derek Thomas (UVU) pinned Terry Henderson (GWU), 1:02 (UVU, 23-12)
285: Adam Fager (UVU) pinned Aaron Rabin (GWU), 1:23 (UVU, 29-12)