UVU's Rauser & Tolbert Finish One Win Shy at CKLV Invite

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Utah Valley University juniors Jade Rauser and Chasen Tolbert finished their 2014 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational runs one win shy of placing on Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The pair of UVU grapplers were the lone Wolverines to advance to the second day at the prestigious tournament as the each competed in Saturday morning's consolation quarterfinals.

"Jade and Chasen had some good wins at this tournament," said head coach Greg Williams. "Chasen wrestled his last couple of matches with back spasms and showed a lot of toughness continuing to wrestle."

After dropping his final bout on Friday night against the No. 4 seed and seventh-ranked Josh Martinez of Air Force, Tolbert opened up against the 11 seed and 20th-ranked Zeke Moisey of West Virginia in the consolation quarters on Saturday morning. The bout went back-and-forth but Moisey managed to walk away with a 14-10 decision over the 125-pound Wolverine to eliminate Tolbert from the tournament. Tolbert, who won his first two matches to reach Friday's quarterfinal, finished the competition with a 2-2 record, which included a 4-1 upset victory over the five seed and eighth-ranked David Terao of American.

Rauser had a tougher draw in the 133-pound consolation quarterfinal on Saturday as he faced off against the two seed and eighth-ranked Johnni DiJulius of Ohio State. Rauser dropped the contest by technical fall, 19-3, to the two-time NCAA qualifier for the Buckeyes. Rauser, who previously placed eighth at the 2012 CKLV Invitational at 125 pounds, finished his 2014 run with a 3-2 clip.

Both Rauser and Tolbert entered the competition seeded, as Rauser earned the 11 seed at 133 pounds and Tolbert the 12 at 125.

Seven other Wolverines participated at the renowned tournament but had their 2014 runs cut short on Friday. Senior Ethan Smith (174) and juniors Logan Addis (157) and Ross Taylor (184) led the way by all going 2-2 while junior Derek Thomas (197) and freshmen Matthew Ontiveros (141), Dalton Harmon (165) and Jordan Karst (285) each went 0-2.

The Wolverines will now be off until Dec. 21 when they'll travel to Reno, Nevada, for the Reno Tournament of Champions. Following that tournament, Utah Valley will return home to host the annual UVU Open on Jan. 10 in the PE Building.

Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Results

125 pounds

• First Round: No. 12 Chasen Tolbert (UVU) over Trey Andrews (UNC), Fall 4:24
• Second Round: No. 12 Chasen Tolbert (UVU) over No. 5 David Terao (American), Dec. 4-1
• Quarterfinals: No. 4 Josh Martinez (AFA) over No. 12 Chasen Tolbert (UVU), Dec. 8-4
• Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 11 Zeke Moisev (WVU) over No. 12 Chasen Tolbert (UVU), Dec. 14-10

133 pounds

• First Round: Deondre Wilson (North Idaho) over No. 11 Jade Rauser (UVU), Dec. 8-7
• Consolation Second Round: No. 11 Jade Rauser (UVU) over No. 6 Josh Terao (American), Dec. 14-7
• Consolation Third Round: No. 11 Jade Rauser (UVU) over Ryan Osleeb (Harvard), Fall 2:36
• Consolation Fourth Round: No. 11 Jade Rauser (UVU) over Cory Stainbrook (WVU), Dec. 7-5
• Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 2 Johnni DiJulius (Ohio St.) over No. 11 Jade Rauser (UVU), TF 19-3

141 pounds

• First Round: David Walker (AFA) over Matthew Ontiveros (UVU), Dec. 2-1
• Consolation First Round: Bryce Weatherston (North Idaho) over Matthew Ontiveros (UVU), Dec. 10-4

157 pounds

• First Round: Chad Pyke (NC State) over Logan Addis (UVU), Major Dec. 14-5
• Consolation Second Round: Logan Addis (UVU) over Garrett Adams (Western St.), Major Dec. 10-2
• Consolation Third Round: Logan Addis (UVU) over No. 6 Markus Scheidel (Columbia), Inj. Default
• Consolation Fourth Round: Steven Hernandez (Boise St.) over Logan Addis (UVU), Dec. 5-3

165 pounds

• First Round: Justin Kresevic (Ohio St.) over Dalton Harmon (UVU), Dec. 4-3
• Consolation Second Round: Tyrel White (Columbia) over Dalton Harmon (UVU), Dec. 6-2

174 pounds

• First Round: No. 12 Nate Jackson (Indiana) over Ethan Smith (UVU), Dec. 8-2
• Consolation Second Round: Ethan Smith (UVU) over Josh VanTine (UNC), Major Dec. 13-4
• Consolation Third Round: Ethan Smith (UVU) over Josef Johnson (Harvard), Dec. 8-1
• Consolation Fourth Round: No. 10 Kurtis Julson (NDSU) over Ethan Smith (UVU), Dec. 8-1

184 pounds

• First Round: No. 11 Austin Gabel (Va. Tech) over Ross Taylor (UVU), Major Dec. 17-5
• Consolation First Round: Ross Taylor (UVU) over Horacio Vialpondo (UNC), Dec. 9-3
• Consolation Second Round: Ross Taylor (UVU) over Adrian Mack (Western Wyo.), Fall 4:36
• Consolation Third Round: No. 2 Kenny Courts (Ohio St.) over Ross Taylor (UVU), Major Dec. 17-6

197 pounds

• First Round: Trent Noon (UNC) over No. 7 Derek Thomas (UVU), Fall 3:21
• Consolation Second Round: Jared Bartel (UNI) over No. 7 Derek Thomas (UVU), 11-4

285 pounds

• First Round: No. 6 Evan Knutson (NDSU) over Jordan Karst (UVU), Dec. 10-3
• Consolation Second Round: Alex Encarcion (CSUB) over Jordan Karst (UVU), Dec. 8-7