Evan Bockman and Utah Valley University wrestling saw its season come to a close following the junior’s narrow defeat at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Friday.

Bockman, making his third appearance at the pinnacle of college wrestling, was edged by Northern Iowa’s Wyatt Voelker, 3-2, with riding time providing the difference in the match. A second-period escape by Voelker accounted for the match’s only point until the waning seconds, but not before a nearly five-minute delay to adjust the riding time came with 34 seconds left on the clock.

After the riding time was corrected, Bockman created some space with a hip heist to a reversal and briefly had Voelker’s back exposed but for only one count. Voelker was then able to escape to tie the match at 2-2 and then avoided an inside trip attempt by Bockman at the buzzer. Riding time had amassed to 1:13, giving Voelker the point and the win.

“Evan has had a tremendous year. He has improved in some areas that helped him beat quite a few NCAA qualifiers throughout the season,” said UVU head coach Greg Williams. “We are proud of him and how he has represented us all season long. With his work ethic, he will continue to progress and give himself a great opportunity to beat the very best at the championships next year.”

Friday also marked the end of an era for Utah Valley University wrestling and Williams, who last fall announced that he’d retire following the season. Williams received a resounding ovation inside the T-Mobile Center when he was recognized by the public address announcer following the match. Williams’ storied 18 years at Utah Valley has been highlighted by five All-Americans, 46 NCAA qualifiers, and one of the most academically successful and accomplished programs in all of NCAA Division I wrestling.

Adam Hall is set to officially take over the program following the conclusion of the championships and his time as the associate head coach at North Carolina State. NC State is currently in eighth place and has six wrestlers still competing entering Friday night’s session, including semifinalist Trent Hidlay at 197 pounds.

Homers lead UVU softball to win at Grand Canyon

Rachael Brown hit two home runs and drove in five and Halle Morris provided a spark at the plate and in the circle to lead Utah Valley (10-15, 4-2 WAC) to an 8-2 win over the Grand Canyon Lopes (25-8, 4-2 WAC) on Saturday afternoon at GCU Softball Stadium in Phoenix.

Morris pitched four innings, allowing one earned run, to get the win, while also reaching base four times and scoring twice. Morris went 1-for-1 at the dish with a walk, two hit-by-pitches, and an RBI single. Morris also filled in at first base, her first action as a position player this season.

Britney Moreno went 1-for-3 with a home run, and Megan Gibbs went 2-for-3 with an RBI single.

“Rachael has come up clutch in some big situations with runners on,” said head coach Cody Thomson. “Britney’s home run was the spark that we needed to get going. Halle was a difference-maker for us today, being able to play first for us and providing a spark at the plate and in the circle.”

Moreno hit her first home run of the season to help spark the Wolverine offense. After the Lopes plated a run off of a throwing error in the bottom of the first, Moreno’s solo blast leveled the scoring.

After Morris was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth, Brown hit her first of two home runs, an opposite field shot to right that plated pinch runner Laynee Betancur.

Victoria Vasquez and Amber Rodriguez reached to lead off the seventh, but the next two batters were retired and were unable to bring them in or move them over. Morris stepped up and hit a sharp grounder through the left side to bring home Vasquez. Brown then hit a towering shot to left center to put the game away.

The Wolverines will return to action next weekend in Texas with another road series at Abilene Christian. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, with a single game on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast live on WAC International.

Wolverine baseball completes sweep of Bushnell

Utah Valley baseball defeated Bushnell University 6-5 on Saturday at UCCU Ballpark. UVU (11-13) earned its second consecutive weekend series sweep. Four Wolverines recorded multi-hit games in the finale against Bushnell (16-12).

“It was a hard-fought battle with a Bushnell team that was so well coached and gritty. Our guys are learning how to win, and this was a great step forward for our team,” said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.

Bushnell had a three-run seventh inning to take a 5-1 lead but the Wolverines rallied.

The scoring started with a solo home run from Burke Camper that brought UVU back to three at 5-2. It was his seventh of the year and provided a much-needed offensive spark. Calyn Halvorson kept the inning going with a walk, and after he moved to second on a groundout, he scored on an RBI single from Luke Iverson.

Five consecutive hitters reached base in the home half of the eighth, which started with a single by Matthew Schwarz and a Daniel Dickinson double, putting runners on second and third.

Garrett Broussard, who did not start but came in during the second inning, singled just past the shortstop into left field, allowing two runners to score and make it 5-5. A walk to Camper put runners on first and second before Halvorson doubled down the left field line to put UVU in front 6-5.

Junior college transfer Jacob Beltran came in from the bullpen and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to give Utah Valley the sweep. It was the first save for Beltran at UVU. Bailey (1-1) earned the win.

The Wolverines will travel to Provo on Monday, March 25, for a 6 p.m. MT game against BYU. They will then return to WAC play with a three-game series beginning Thursday, March 28, at Abilene Christian.

UVU throwers lead way to start outdoor track season

Utah Valley University track & field wrapped up its opening weekend of the outdoor season with eight new top-10 marks at the Aztec Invitational at San Diego State University. The throwers shined in San Diego, with four UVU top 10s and a victory from Nick Forsyth in the javelin.

Utah Valley is set to host its own invitational next Friday, March 29 at Hal Wing Track & Field. The Wolverines are also slated to send a group to the Stanford Invitational.

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