High school wrestling: Utah's top prep wrestlers are ready to rumble

OREM — When the BYU wrestling program finished its last match in February of 2000, many thought that was the end of wrestling opportunities for Utahns to stay home.

After all, it had been nearly 30 years since an NCAA Division I school had actually added wrestling to its athletics department, while programs had been falling at an alarming rate — nearly 300 programs have been cut since 1972 . Colleges and universities were forced to cut a male non-revenue sport in order to comply with Title IX and even up the scholarship ratio. Wrestling suffered.

But that didn't stop wrestling enthusiasts in the Beehive State. They still thought it would be possible to get the sport back into a higher-education setting — enter Utah Valley University, or UVSC back then, and the Utah All-Star Dual.

"The goal was to try and raise enough funds to bring a college wrestling program back to Utah," said one of the event founders and Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation board member, Ross Brunson. "As a result of the Utah wrestling community organizing and coming together along with the success of the wrestling All-Star event, we were able to convince Utah Valley State College to become the first Div. I school to add wrestling in 35 years."

The Wolverines added wrestling as one of its varsity sports in 2003, and after a probationary period, are now eligible to participate in the NCAA tournament. It probably wouldn't have happened without the All-Star Duals.

The All-Star got its humble start as a 28-wrestler, 14-match exhibition at Jordan High School. This year's edition takes place Tuesday night at 7 at the McKay Events Center on the campus of UVU with 64 participants. All funds raised from tickets go to help the Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation.

As part of Utah Valley agreeing to add the wrestling program, the foundation pledged to donate a certain amount to help each year, and the All-Star not only provides wrestling fans with an opportunity to see some of the state's best wrestlers, it is also a fund raiser to keep a wrestling program going in Utah.

"We are very excited and are looking forward to this year's matches," added Brunson. "We would invite the community's support for this valuable and exciting event. We think we are putting on a great exhibition of wrestling and helping out those that love the sport."