UVSC is still considering league options

OREM — When will UVSC find a conference? That's the million-dollar question.

Rumors have surfaced that UVSC could be in the midst of forming a conference with other independent schools at the Division I level.

While athletic director Mike Jacobsen said various independent schools have weighed the pros and cons of forming a league, he added, "I don't think it is feasible to form a conference. We have not had any offers, and we are still trying to find someone who wants us."

But what Jacobsen did say is being discussed seriously is forming a baseball-only conference with schools from a conference like the Big Sky.

Also being discussed earnestly is getting the softball and wrestling programs into a softball-only and wrestling-only conference.

"Those three are all in the works and being talked about fairly seriously," Jacobsen said. "These are all quick fixes for people who want to participate in certain sports."

The softball-only league is called the Pacific Coast Conference. If the conference accepts Utah Valley, they would compete against the likes of Portland State, Sacramento State, St. Marys, Loyola Marymount and San Diego.

"It's a very good softball conference," UVSC softball coach Todd Fairbourne said.

The wrestling conference would also be solid. According to Wolverine wrestling coach Cody Sanderson, the conference would consist of five existing Division I members (Fresno State, Wyoming, Air Force, Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois) and four independent schools (UVSC, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State and South Dakota State).

Northern Colorado wrestling coach Jack Maughan is the one who has spearheaded the move to form a conference.

"This could be a strong wrestling conference," Sanderson said. "It would take time before we were at the level of the Big 10/Big 12 but I think we could be one of the premiere conferences in a short period of time."

Sanderson said a timetable on the formation of the wrestling conference is still not certain.

"As soon as we get clearance (from the NCAA) we could organize it and compete that exact year," he said. "The worst-case scenario is that this conference would be established once we are no longer provisional status with the NCAA. Eventually this will be our conference. From what I understand, all the athletic directors are OK with it."