If it wasn't for the ridiculous discontinuation of Boise State wrestling and the uncalled for, unjustified and borderline criminal discontinuation of Fresno State wrestling, three of Utah Valley's best wrestlers might be competing for their original schools. Thankfully what these schools didn't want, Utah Valley did, and the Broncos & the Bulldog's losses become the Wolverines gains.
Throughout the history of Utah Valley wrestling, they have yet to put anyone in the NCAA finals or to crown anyone an individual NCAA champion. I believe the 2021-2022 gives them an opportunity to achieve this monumental moment.
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| 125 Taylor Lamont Junior Record: 76-20 NCAA: 18'R12, 20'NQ, 21'5th BIG 12: 18'3rd, 20'8th, 21'2nd CKLV: 18'1st RENO: 20'3rd |
You know the beautiful thing about parity and the fact that so many at the same weight class are so even with one another? It makes it extraordinarily fun to watch on the mat! What makes it suck, is trying to predict what will happen. By this point, everyone must think that I think about anyone at 125 lbs is capable of being Spencer Lee's opponent in the NCAA finals. Truth is, yeah, I do! Everyone's beaten everyone else. Everyone is capable of beating everyone else. NCAA finalist Brandon Courtney defeated Lamont in a 2-1 tiebreaker. I see no reason to think that Lamont couldn't have won that if the two met again. On top of it, Lamont owns two victories over Sam Latona of Virginia Tech by 7-4 and 4-1 scores.
He did lose in the BIG 12 finals last season to Northern Iowa's Brody Teske, and he'll have to contend with Teske again this season for top honors within the conference. The Wolverines first NCAA finalist? Yes, that is a possibility.
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| 133 Haiden Drury Freshman Record: 9-7 |
He'd still be a Bulldog if it wasn't for the selfish, underhanded actions of Terry Tumey. Nevertheless, as mentioned what Fresno State loses, Utah Valley gains. With wins such as an 11-7 decision over Northern Colorado's Mosha Schwartz and a 2-0 victory over Job Greenwood of Wyoming, I see Drury having a pretty respectable season which should result in NCAA qualification.
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| 149 Cameron Hunsaker Sophomore Record: 21-25 NCAA: 21'NQ BIG 12: 21'WC |
The BIG 12 is pretty loaded this year at 149 lbs. Nevertheless I still say that Hunsaker fits somewhere within it. As far as I'm concerned I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the BIG 12 is awarded 8 allocations and all 8 place-winners + even an at large go to the NCAA's. As of right now I see Hunsaker finishing 6th-7th range.
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| 165 Demetrius Romero Senior Record: 100-38 NCAA: 18'NQ, 19'R12, 21'6th BIG 12: 18'6th, 19'1st, 20'1st CKLV: 18'R12, 19'3rd |
I'll never stop being ticked off about Boise State dropping their wrestling program. Yet on the other hand, good. Utah Valley has been committed to growing their wrestling program and building it to new heights and they deserve a guy like Romero. They've earned a right to put the white and green on a representative that could win them their first NCAA title. It'll be a darkhorse performance if it does happen, but it can happen. Romero has the talent.
As to the BIG 12, I see him winning his third conference title, but he cannot overlook Keegan O'Toole of Missouri or Travis Wittlake of Oklahoma State. Not only are they threats to his BIG 12 title, but they themselves are NCAA champion material.
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| 184 Hunter Cruz Sophomore Record: 26-15 Midlands: 20'R12 |
Probably don't need to say this again, but I'm going to anyway. Terry Tumey is such an idiot. Ah, with that out of my system, may I say that I think transfer Hunter Cruz is another NCAA qualifier for the Wolverines this season. Again, hate the reason as to why, but I think it is cool that Drury and Cruz have wrestled on two different college teams together.
To solidify belief that Cruz does qualify for the NCAA's this season, he owns a 6-4 victory over Princeton's Travis Stefanik.
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125- 2nd
133 - NQ
141 - DNQ
149 - NQ
157 - DNQ
165 - Champion
174 - DNQ
184- NQ
197 - DNQ
HWT - DNQ
5 NCAA qualifiers and an opportunity to make history by putting two in the finals, with one that could even win the whole thing. Not only would such accomplishments be great for Utah Valley, it'd be great for West coast wrestling as a whole.
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