This year’s dual schedule includes nine of the top 26 teams in Intermat’s preseason rankings. The Wolverines are slated to wrestle 14 duals, including eight on the Big 12 calendar. The conference will also crown a regular-season champion beginning this season.

“We have a challenging schedule again this year that includes two of the toughest tournaments in the country and eight top-25 dual opponents,” said Hall. “This is by far the deepest team we have had since I have been here, and our schedule reflects our expectations for success. The intention stays the same: to best prepare our guys to win matches at the end of the year. We will continue chasing competition, and I’m excited about the group we’re rolling with.”

After opening with the Cyclones, who finished eighth at last season’s NCAA Championships, Utah Valley will host conference duals against No. 22 West Virginia (Nov. 19), No. 19 Northern Iowa (Feb. 4) and No. 9 Missouri (Feb. 5). The Wolverines will also host Big Ten opponent Wisconsin, No. 27 in the FloWrestling’s preseason rankings, on Dec. 19.Road duals in the Big 12 will take the Wolverines to No. 23 Wyoming (Jan. 22), No. 15 Arizona State (Jan. 30), No. 13 Oklahoma (Feb. 12) and No. 2 Oklahoma State (Feb. 13). Utah Valley will also wrestle non-conference road duals at Northern Colorado (Jan. 24) and No. 26 Little Rock (Feb. 19). Both programs compete in the Pac-12.Utah Valley will open the season at the Clarion Open (Nov.) in one of three tournaments on the schedule. The Wolverines will return to both the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 4-5) and the Southern Scuffle (Jan. 2-3). UVU will also compete at the Wildcat Open at Davidson after competing at the Davidson Duals the previous day.

At the Davidson Duals, the Wolverines are expected to take on former assistant coach Timmy McCall and The Citadel in his first season leading the program. UVU will also face Chattanooga and could possibly add a third dual.

The Big 12 Championships return to Tulsa on Friday and Saturday, March 5-6, at the BOK Center. The 2027 NCAA Championships will be held in St. Louis, March 18-20.

Women’s soccer blanks Weber State

Josie Clawson scored twice, Nixan Jackson recorded three assists and Madeleine Boucher picked up her third shutout of the season as Utah Valley closed out non-conference play with a 3-0 win over in-state rival Weber State on Saturday night at UCCU Stadium.

Utah Valley snapped a two-match skid and improved to 4-4-1 overall, while Weber State fell to 3-5-1.

“We have spent a lot of time talking about execution in the final third, having composure in the final third and creating more dangerous chances,” Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay said. “I thought today we did that, and therefore we were able to find the back of the net three times. I thought Nixan was absolutely fantastic tonight. Obviously, Josie scored a couple of great goals, Quinn got on the end of one, and then we’re pleased with the shutout as well.”

The Wolverines broke through in the 17th minute. Jackson played Quinn Rustand down the right side, where Rustand carried the ball into the box before finding Clawson near the top of the area. Clawson took a touch to create space and fired a shot past the Weber State goalkeeper to give UVU a 1-0 lead.

Clawson completed her brace in the 38th minute. Jackson raced past a Weber State defender down the right flank and drove toward the end line before cutting a pass back toward the top of the six-yard box. Clawson met the service and finished it first time to double the Utah Valley advantage.

The Wolverines added their third goal in the 59th minute. Bailey Peterson kept the ball in play near the right end line and found Jackson, who cut around a Weber State defender before sending a cross into the middle of the box. Rustand met it with a one-touch right-footed finish to give Utah Valley a 3-0 lead.

Jackson finished the night with assists on all three UVU goals, matching a career single match high.

Utah Valley outshot Weber State 13-8 and held a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal. Clawson and Rustand led the Wolverines with three shots apiece, with all three of Clawson’s attempts on frame.

Boucher and the UVU back line made the three-goal advantage stand, recording the Wolverines’ third shutout of the season. Boucher made four saves to earn the clean sheet.

The victory wraps up Utah Valley’s non-conference schedule. The Wolverines will now begin their first season of Big West Conference play, opening league action at home against Cal State Bakersfield on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT at UCCU Stadium, with the match broadcast live on ESPN+.

Men’s cross country has strong finish at McNichols Invite

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Utah Valley had a strong performance at the John McNichols Invitational, finishing ahead of several nationally recognized programs at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.

The men’s team finished above eight preseason top-30 teams, including Big West rival CBU, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Louisville, as well as Power 4 schools Indiana and Purdue. They finished eighth overall, led by Sila Kiplagat. The sophomore finished 19th overall in 24:06.05.

“[Sila] started well and finished really well,” said Head Coach Scott Houle. “He’s going to continue to do some really great things for us.”

The other top finishers for the Wolverines were Alex Hartshorn (50th), Trey Despain (54th), Mark Boyle (63rd), and Wyatt Mortenson (79th).

The women’s team finished 11th overall, also finishing above CBU as well as Air Force who began the season ahead of UVU in the Mountain Region poll. Caren Kipsirat was the highest finishing Wolverine of the race, finishing 11th individually in 20:13.8.

“She [Caren] is starting to gain more momentum and we are so proud of her,” said Houle, “It was a good day for us, and it was well worth this trip. We will be back here in a few weeks for prenationals and hope to see some more teams and continue our trend.”

Reagan Doman also finished in the top 25, running 20:42.9 and finishing 24th. The other top runners were Rozlyn Stowe (61st), Sophia Biesinger (72nd), and Mazee Frentheway (128th).

The Wolverines will have the next week off, before heading to Cedar City for the Color Country Invitational on Oct. 3rd.