Utah Valley University Wrestling Team Signs 10 Wrestlers

UVU Wrestling just finished up with their spring recruiting session and they were able to sign some great talent. The Wolverines signed 10 new recruits this spring to add to the three they signed during the fall.

The team’s biggest needs were in the upper two weights at 197 and heavyweight. Josh Wood, a two-time state placer (3rd and 4th) from Modoc High School in California is currently ranked 19th in the country at 215 lbs.. He will compete at 197 for the team next year. Dylan Stadel, Lehi High School, is currently ranked 22nd in the country and was a Utah State Champion and two-time finalist. He has signed on at heavyweight along with Zach Jensen, a fourth place finisher from Copper Hills High School in Utah.

The team filled some depth at 125 lbs., signing two Utah State Champions, Trae Bennett from Freemont High School and Jake Fredrickson from Mountain View High School. At 133 lbs, Utah Valley also inked two standouts in four-time Utah State Champion, Sean Porter from Davis High School, who will return from an LDS Mission in August, and Tucker Ray, a highly regarded Utah State Champion and two-time state finalist who competed for Box Elder this past season at 130 pounds. He will be joining his brothers Flint and Wyatt on the Wolverine squad.

Ikeru Abe, a Utah state runner-up from Viewmont High School has also signed on and will compete at 141 lbs. next season. At 157/165 lbs. Bryar Saddoris, a four-time Nevada State Champion from Spring Creek High School, will look to make an immediate impact on the program. Monte Schmalhaus, Tooele High School, has committed and was a two-time Utah State Champion who went 42-0 this season and 80-3 the past two seasons. He will be looking to compete at 165 lbs. for the Wolverines next year.

Coach Williams is very excited about the new recruits and the direction they will help take the program. “Each of these wrestlers possess the work ethic and attitude to make our program better,” Williams said. “Our practice room just got a lot tougher. There are some potential All-Americans in this group, but I am mostly pleased with the type of individuals they are. They all fit in with the character of our team”