WRESTLING: A number of Wolverines began their 2009-10 seasons Saturday as they competed at the Northwest College Open in Powell, Wyo. Freshman Monte Schmalhaus (165-lbs.) led the way for UVU placing second overall while redshirt-freshman Richard Winger (157-lbs.) placed third.

Schmalhaus, a true-freshman from Tooele, began his collegiate career on Saturday for the Wolverines on a high note as he went 2-1 and finished second in the 165-pound weight division. Schmalhaus won his first two matches, one by decision and one by major decision, which secured him a spot in the finals. In a tight championship match Schmalhaus fell by score of 6-4 to Wyoming's Patrick Martinez.

In the 157-pound tournament, Utah Valley's Winger finished the night going an impressive 5-1, giving him the third place finish. Winger's lone loss came in the second round by the hands of his teammate Abner Cook, a freshman who was competing unattached for UVU at the open. After the loss to Cook, Winger battled back by winning his next four matches in a row, including two by fall.

Three other Wolverine grapplers finished the day going 2-2 apiece, as redshirt-freshman Wyatt Ray (141-lbs.), freshman Josh Wood (197-lbs.), and freshman Dylan Stadel (Hwt.) all did. Freshman Jake Fredrickson (125-lbs.) also competed for UVU, finishing 1-2 at the open.

Cook and freshman Marty Calrson led the way for all athletes competing unattached for UVU as they both finished placing second in their respective weight divisions. Cook (157-lbs.) was undefeated at 4-0 heading into the championship until falling by the score of 4-2 to Great Falls' Ross Mosher. Carlson (141-lbs) also found himself sitting with a perfect 4-0 day until he fell in the championship bout 11-8 to Northern Colorado's Casey Cruz.

Other freshmen that competed unattached at the open for UVU on Saturday were Connor Morgan (133-lbs., 2-2), Sean Porter (141-lbs., 4-2), Ikeru Abe (149-lbs., 3-2), Sylvan Johnson (149-lbs., 1-2), Clay Frost (149-lbs., 3-2), Colton Kiernan (174-lbs., 1-2), and Zac Jensen (Hwt., 2-2).

All of UVU's grapplers will be in action next Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyo. The Wolverines will then have their first duals of the season at UNC Greensboro and against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 19 in Greensboro, N.C.