Bockman Looks for a Podium Finish at NCAA Championships

OREM, Utah — Evan Bockman finished this year at 20-7 and was ranked the entire season. He enters the tournament as the No. 20 seed in the 197-pound field. The two-time NCAA qualifier will look to pick up his first NCAA Tournament victory.

"My expectations going into the tournament is to get on the podium. That's what we train for, and it's been a goal of mine for a long time. I know that if I go out there and wrestle my best, then I'll get there," said Evan Bockman.

In his first year at UVU, he finished 14-11 on the season and had a podium finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational with victories over No. 19 Jacob Kozer (Navy) and Northern Colorado's No. 22 Alan Cothier. He picked up a second win over Cothier at the Big 12 Championships last year on his way to a seventh-place finish and an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships, where he finished 0-2.

The Alaska native this year led UVU in victories and finished fourth at this year's Cliff Keen Invitational with wins over No. 16 Gavin Hoffman (Ohio State) and a second victory over No. 24 Koser. He entered January at 15-4 after a 3-0 performance at the Purdue Duals, including a major decision over NCAA qualifier and No. 24 seeded Levi Hopkins of Campbell.

"Evan has been consistent all season and has shown he can compete against the best in the country. His win over Batisda in the 5th place match at the Big 12's was a nice momentum booster heading into the NCAA championships. He is looking great in practice and is ready to compete," said UVU head coach Greg Williams.

At this year's Big 12 Tournament, he lost to No. 3 seeded Yonger Bastida of Iowa State in his first match before victories over Northern Iowa's Noah Glaser and No. 8 seeded Austin Cooley. He dropped a match to Luke Surber (OSU) to fall into the fifth-place match. He avenged his two earlier losses to Bastida with a 3-2 decision.

Bockman will open up the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a fourth matchup with Iowa State's Bastida.