The Utah Valley University wrestling team concluded its weekend road trip with a 30-6 victory over Grand Canyon in dual action Saturday night at the GCU Arena. The Wolverines won eight of the 10 matches on the evening, including three by bonus points.

Juniors Jade Rauser (133 pounds) and Chasen Tolbert (125) led the way by winning their respective bouts by fall and technical fall, while senior Ethan Smith picked up a major decision for UVU (1-3) at 174 pounds.

"It was great for the team to go out and get a win," head coach Greg Williams said. "Our energy has been great in our previous matches. We fell short in that area for a couple of matches tonight. It was our number one goal this year to stay active through the whole match so we will visit that area on Monday. We were aggressive to get shots in most of our matches. If we can keep doing that and get better at finishing them, we will be very competitive by the end of the season."

GCU (0-3) was the first team to get on the board as Uzo Owuama managed to outlast freshman Matthew Ontiveros by a score of 4-2 at 141 pounds in the opening contest of the dual. Utah Valley answered right back, however, by winning the next four bouts to take a 13-3 advantage. Sophomores Trevor Willson (149) and Logan Addis (157), freshman Dalton Harmon and the senior Smith picked up wins during the spurt. Willson (8-4), Addis (8-5) and Harmon (5-2) won by decision while Smith defeated the Antelopes' Trey Ronayne by a score of 11-3 (major decision).

After Austin Gaun picked up a controversial 9-8 decision for GCU over junior Ross Taylor at 184 pounds, the Wolverines once again struck back by winning the final four matches to seal the 30-6 victory.

With the Wolverines holding a 13-6 advantage after six bouts, junior Derek Thomas started the final four-match winning streak with a 6-4 decision over Marcus Haughian. Thomas managed to break a 4-4 tie late in the third period with a clutch takedown to secure the win. Redshirt freshman Jordan Karst then followed with a 3-2 win over GCU's Evan Lancelot at heavyweight thanks to a third-period reversal coupled with a riding time point.

In the final two matches of the night, Tolbert dominated GCU's Jacob Reyes with a 17-0 second-period technical fall over him, while Rauser capped the dual by pinning Godwin Nyama-Cutler late in the third period (6:46). Tolbert racked up a number of points en route to the tech fall while the two-time NCAA qualifier Rauser, who was leading Nyama-Cutler by a score of 10-4 in the third, managed to get the Antelope foe on his back in the center of the mat to secure the fall over him.

"Chasen, Jade and Trevor were all very aggressive and had some great wins this weekend," Williams said.

After going 1-1 on the weekend with the victory over GCU and a 22-15 setback to Arizona State on Friday, UVU next step of dual action to compete at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 5-6. The Wolverines won't wrestle another dual meet until Jan. 17, when they'll welcome Western Wrestling Conference foe Wyoming to town.

Utah Valley 30, Grand Canyon 6

141: Uzo Owuama (GCU) dec. Matthew Ontiveros (UVU), 4-2

149: Trevor Willson (UVU) dec. Austin Uecker (GCU), 8-4

157: Logan Addis (UVU) dec. Chayse Jackson (GCU), 8-5

165: Dalton Harmon (UVU) dec. Casey Larson (GCU), 5-2

174: Ethan Smith (UVU) major dec. Trey Ronayne (GCU), 11-3

184: Austin Gaun (GCU) dec. Ross Taylor (UVU), 9-8

197: Derek Thomas (UVU) dec. Marcus Haughian (GCU), 6-4

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HWT: Jordan Karst (UVU) dec. Evan Lancelot (GCU), 3-2

125: Chasen Tolbert (UVU) tech. fall (3:29) Jacob Reyes (GCU), 17-0

133: Jade Rauser (UVU) fall (6:46) Godwin Nyama-Cutler (GCU)

James Warnick is an assistant sports information director at Utah Valley University. For more information about Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.

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