UVU grapplers hope to move up

OREM – Coming off their best season in school history means only one thing to the wrestlers at Utah Valley University — there is plenty of work left to do.

The hunger is strong among the Wolverines to prove that their program is no flash in the pan. They want to turn heads and show that UVU is a program on the rise.

"Our expectations are high," Wolverines head coach Greg Williams said. "Most of our guys are back. This will be the most experienced team we've had here at Utah Valley since the program began."

Among the experienced grapplers back on the mat for Utah Valley are Ben Kjar, Flint Ray and Brad Darrington — the school's first-ever qualifiers for the NCAA Division I Championships.

All three wrestlers are ranked in numerous preseason top 25 polls. Kjar is ranked as high as 11th in the 125 lb. class. Ray is as high as 13th at 133. Darrington checks in as high as 16th at 174.

The Wolverines' roster includes a total of seven returning starters from last season. Such experience is new to a team used to relying on tons of underclassmen to fill out each weight.

Williams said having seasoned wrestlers to lead the team has made a huge difference in preparing for a new season.

"It carries a lot of weight," Williams said. "Those guys have been there. They know what it takes. They know what they need to do to get better and the other guys will look at them as an example of what they need to be doing."

Utah Valley put itself on the map a year ago with a solid season that included an upset victory over Pac-10 wrestling power Boise State. The Wolverines believe they have what it takes to build one of the top programs in the nation, especially being in a state like Utah rich with collegiate wrestling talent.

And UVU is eager to prove that it not only can qualify for the NCAA tournament, but that it can also make a ton of noise once it goes there.

"There's definitely a more positive attitude," Ray said. "We're starting to get the mental attitude that we know we can be good."

That attitude, according to Ray, will bring bigger results.

"Last year, we had a good attitude but we didn't know we could be good," the senior said. "This year, there's a knowledge in the room that we can be good. We know what we can do."