Jan.
4, 2005: Deseret Morning News
Wrestling's 'Welcome' Mat: All-Star
Prep Event and Fundraiser Benefits New UVSC Program
By Michael Black
OREM — The Utah Amateur wrestling
Foundation will hold its annual All-Star wrestling
fund-raiser tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Utah Valley State
College's McKay Events Center.
The rewards of the event come in many
different parts.
For the wrestling fan, the event is a
chance to see some of the state's best grapplers in
action; an opportunity to watch a nationally recognized
Cyler Sanderson or Dallin Norton of Wasatch. One can get
first-hand experience seeing the quickness of a two-time
state champion in Shay Lawrence of Viewmont or Tyson
Thompson of Lehi.
Just viewing the abilities of the best
wrestlers is a one-time-a-year chance.
For the small-community fans, it is the
time to see how the smaller schools' top athletes measure
up against the bigger schools' best. The 5A-4A team takes
on the 3A-2A-1A squad in a points competitions almost like
a dual meet.
But as Ross Brunson, one of the lead
supporters of the event has said, "the goal of the Utah
Amateur wrestling Foundation has been to increase
opportunities for the sport of wrestling."
The main method that the All-Star matches
have done this is at the ticket office. All proceeds for
the event go toward UVSC wrestling —— a new wrestling
program that began last year; the first new program
started in over 30 years at the collegiate level. It was
because of the UAWF's promise to contribute financially
that UVSC was able to begin its program, and thus new
opportunities were created for Utah wrestlers.
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