UVSC joins wrestling league

OREM — Eight intercollegiate institutions, including Utah Valley State College, have announced the formation of the Western Wrestling Conference. The NCAA Division I wrestling-only alliance will begin competition in the 2006-07 season.

In addition to the Wolverines, the seven other charter members of the WWC are Air Force, Fresno State, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State and Wyoming.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for our wrestling program," said Mike Jacobsen, UVSC's director of athletics. "To be a part of a conference with so many quality programs will only make us better. Our student-athletes have very much looked forward to this day. We will need to step it up and get better in everything we do, but look forward to that challenge."

The WWC will submit its application for formal recognition to the NCAA. The WWC plans to recognize student-athletes on both a weekly and full-season basis. The governance of the WWC will remain primarily with the member institutions.