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Show SPORTS B5 the crowd as he climbed the can't always reach all your WRESTLING podium to receive his All- goals, but when you give it continued from Al American award, and just as your all and try as hard as I being an NCAA All-Amer- Rocky shouted for his wife did, you can't have any reican, more than 17,000 fans Adrian, Kjar wanted his grets. I feel really blessed cheered Kjar on against the wife standing next to him as for accomplishing all that I tournament's No. 5 seed, he credited her for being his did and will never forget my Zachary Sanders of Minne- driving force in his wrestling time here at UVU." sota. The crowd exploded career. Mon-ill's run at the nawith a standing ovation after With the 4-2 record at tional tournament may have Kjar's victory when it was nationals, Kjar finished the been short-lived, but was an announced that he had just 2011 season 30-8 and his opportunity that was almost become UVU's first wres- four-year career at UVU never there. Last year around tling All-American. with a 129-35 record and this time Mon-ill was finish"ESPN was calling it a more wins than any other ing up his last semester in Cinderella story, but I al- Wolverine wrestler. his Bachelor of Social Work ways knew I could do it," Kjar qualified and com- degree, where he would go said Kjar. "From day one peted at nationals with fel- on to walk in the 2010 gradI set the goal of becoming low teammates Flint Ray uation ceremonies. an All-American and after and Justin Mon-ill. Having one year of my upset in the first match Ray, who qualified for NCAA eligibility left, the I remember saying, 'It's nationals for the second 141-pounder made the easy, on' and I used that momen- straight year after winning yet normally difficult decitum through the tournament the 133-pound weight class sion of going back to school to reach the semis. Having at the NCAA Western Re- to receive another degree, all those fans cheering me gional, went 3-2 in his na- accompanied with another on was indescribable and I tional title run. Ray was just full year of training to cut loved every moment of it." one win shy of also earning weight in hopes to reach his Kjar would go on to a All-American status, losing ultimate dream of competing fourth-place finish and was to now two-time All-Ameri- at nationals. the only unseeded wrestler can Mike Grey from Cornell. His extra hard work and to compete in the semifinals. Ray was also the Wolver- determination through his His 4-2 loss to No. 1 seed ines' only wrestler named to final year paid off. Morand nationally known An- the WWC All-Conference rill reached his goal and thony Robles from Arizona first team and finished with also earned WWC AllState was the closest margin a season 25-4 overall record Conference second team of defeat for the two-time and is second all-time at honors, finishing the season 125-pound national cham- UVU with an 86-36 career with a 23-11 record. The pion. record. 141-pounder sits behind Robles, an inspirational Winning back-to-back only Kjar and Ray on the wrestler who was born with conference championships career wins list with a record only one leg, completed his and competing at nationals of 80-49. career with a national title both years, Ray has raised "I knew going into this and was also named ESPN's the bar for the team and all season it would be my last No. 3 Top Overall Athlete future Wolverines who will chance to compete for a shot of the Week for his perfor- step foot on the UVU mat. at nationals," said Morrill. "I mance at nationals. "At the beginning of my wanted to take advantage of Kjar would go on to get career, I set some high goals the opportunity to come back another loud ovation from for myself," said Ray. "You after last year and prove that With one call, season ends one game sooner than hoped By Sterling Gray Asst. News Editor Down 70-71 to South Dakota, UVU's Isiah Williams dribbled the inbounds pass to mid-court before heaving up a desperate shot. The crowd roared as the shot went through but were soon silenced by the referee's whistle. "He was on the line!" the official yelled, pointing at the sideline. Out of bounds, South Dakota ball, two seconds left. And just like that, UVU's tournament hopes were dashed. Although the season came to such a disappointing end, the game was within reach of both teams, as neither had a lead of more than ten points throughout the entire game. Though the final call that negated Williams' final three-point attempt was disputable, in the end the game didn't come down to the last play. Besides neither team having greater than a ten point lead at any point in the game, the lead changed 17 times. The final score, 7270, was not only indicative of a tight game, but also reflective of a highly competitive tournament where the largest margin of victory of all six games was three. In this atmosphere of close competition, South Dakota's win came down to nitty-gritty details. Two key statistical advantages gave South Dakota an edge: their hot three-point shooting (53 percent to the Wolverine's 26 percent) and their rebounding (+7 for the game). The Wolverines led the Great West during the season in both three-point defense and rebounding margin, but South Dakota's ability to attack what should have been strengths did the Wolverines in. South Dakota's hot start in the first half didn't escape the notice of the home team. "We came out sluggish," said Williams. "We didn't play defense very well in the first half. Coach came in and Courtesy of Randy Martin Ben Kjar celebrates after receiving All-American status at nationals. I could do it. The whole experience was so much fun and I'll never forget my time there." When asked what was to come next for the graduating seniors, all three showed interest in coaching or volunteering for UVU in the future and were excited to leave behind the strict diet they've had over the years of their wrestling career. Ray smiled as he described the sleeve of Oreos he enjoyed while Morrill, who had to cut the most weight all season, already went from 141 to 165 pounds in a week. The three seniors went to Philadelphia as unknowns representing Utah Valley's new up-and-coming wrestling program and left with young wrestlers from all over the country asking for autographs and UVU apparel to wear as they cheered on their new role models. This trio of seniors has had a huge role in building the wrestling program at UVU and is now responsible for the Wolverines' national hype in the world of wrestling. F011001 us on FROEBOOK: UlfU REVIEW SPORTS SECT1011 MR. UVU 2011 Shane Maryott/UVU Review Isiah Williams finished season averaging 17.5 points per game. said 'they shot 60 percent' ." The Wolverines were able to better defend in the second half, but they we never able to completely corral South Dakota's backcourt players. The three starting guards made a combined 42 points, and reserve guard Jordan Boots added 11. The stellar guard play didn't escape the notice of Coach Dick Hunsaker. "They have a lot of firepower in their backcourt," he said. South Dakota guard Jake Thomas, who led his team with 21 points, said that he's always felt comfortable shooting in the UCCU Center. "The guys that usually shoot threes on the team — me, Louie and Jordan — we all like this gym. As shoot- ers, we have a nice feel for things here." After the game, Coach Hunsaker gave credit to South Dakota, avoiding any talk about that final controversial call. His only response was that he didn't see it, but the ref "was right on top of it." He did, however, have praise for his opponents. "Congratulations to South Dakota," he said simply. "They're the defending tournament champions, and they played like it." Utah Valley finished the 2010-11 season with a 1911 overall record and 11-1 in conference play, making them regular season champions after being picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll. W ELtOME TO THE JUNGLE PICKUP APPLICATIONS IN SC105 APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 30TH APRIL 1$11 7:00 PM RAGAN THEATRE |