OPENING BOUT: The Snow College men's and women's wrestling teams are set to begin their second season as NJCAA-sanctioned sports with the Blue and Orange Scrimmage Friday, October 27 beginning at 6:00 p.m. inside the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. 
 
Last season served as the first time Snow College fielded a men's wrestling program since the 1980s.  It was also the first season for the women's wrestling program, which made history as the first-ever collegiate women's wrestling program in the state of Utah.
 
During the second-ever Blue and Orange Scrimmage, 54 student-athletes – 26 men and 28 women – will compete to determine the 10-person competition teams that will participate in meets once the regular season starts in November.
 
The Orange and Blue Scrimmage will kick off with a tailgate party beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Sevier Valley Center parking lot.  There will be a variety of games including corn hole, Spike Ball, 9-square, and a soccer ball target shoot.  The Snow College Bookstore will have a pop-up shop selling Badger-branded gear and clothing.
 
DON'T CALL IT BEGINNERS LUCK: The first season proved to be a large building block for the two teams moving forward.  Both seasons were filled with success in a variety of different ways.
 
The men's team claimed five dual wins throughout the season.  The Badgers, after starting the season tied for 28^th in the NJCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Poll, climbed as high as 15^th in the nation.  The season ultimately culminated in the NJCAA National Tournament where the Badgers finished in 22^nd place overall amongst the 56-team field.

The women's team saw similar success throughout the year as they climbed as high as fifth in the NJCAA Division I Women's Wrestling Poll.  They also had an impressive showing at the National Tournament as they accumulated 67 points which was good enough to finish in seventh place among the 12-team field.
 
ALL-AMERICANS: Four Badgers between the two teams were named All-Americans following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.  Hayes Dalton was the lone member of the men's team to earn the honors following his performance in the National Tournament.  Dalton finished in sixth place within the 184-pound division and, as a result, was named an All-American.
 
Three members of the women's team earned the honor including Ashlea Larson who competed in the National Championship Bout in the 143-pound division where she would finish as the runner-up.  On her way to the final bout, Larsen defeated the fourth-seeded competitor from Indian Hills Community College as well as the top-seeded wrestler from North Iowa Area Community College.
 
Angella Van Valkenburg also claimed the honors as she finished in fourth place within the 155-pound division.  Despite dropping her first match, she won three bouts in a row to earn the top-five finish.
 
Corrie Williams was the third Badger to place as she also finished in fourth place in the 136-pound division.  She collected three victories along the way to earn All-American honors.
 
WIDE OPEN SPACES: Both teams will play full schedules throughout the winter which will culminate at the NJCAA National Tournament March 1 and 2 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
 
For the men's team, their season begins in a home dual against Western Wyoming Community College Wednesday, Nov. 8.  The Badgers will host a total of five home events throughout the year including duals against Utah Tech University Dec. 6, Northwest College Dec. 9, Otero Junior College Feb. 3, and Trinidad State College Feb. 6.  All home matches will be held inside the Sevier Valley Center on the Snow College Richfield Campus. 
 
The men's team will participate in four different open events throughout the season, the Mile High Open beginning Nov. 10 and the Battle of the Rockies Dec. 1.  They will participate in the Coaches Association Duels in Miami, Oklahoma Jan. 12 and the Apodaca Showdown Duals in Powell, Wyoming Jan. 26.
 
The women's team will kick off their season against a pair of NCAA Division II opponents in Chadron State College and Colorado Mesa University Friday, Nov. 3 in Grand Junction, Colorado.   The Badger's lone home event will take place against Trinidad Community College Monday, Feb. 5.  They have a total of 17 events on the calendar throughout the season including nine two-team duals and eight open-style events.
 
Their first open event will be the Embry Riddle Mile High Open Nov 10 with the Women's West Coast Tournament of Champions to follow Dec. 15-16.  They will participate in the NJCAA Coaches Association Duals Jan. 26 and the Grand View Open Feb. 3.  
 
NEW FACES: The men's team consists of 26 members including 15 incoming freshmen and 11 sophomores, 10 of whom are returners from the 2022-23 season, including All-American Dalton.  Among the 26 student-athletes, 22 come from high schools located in the state of Utah with others coming from Idaho, Nevada, and Alaska.
 
The women's team consists of 28 members and will return seven sophomores from last season including all three All-Americans from a year ago.  The seven returning sophomores will be joined by 21 incoming freshmen.  All but two of the student-athletes come from Utah.
 
For complete schedule information, rosters, and news throughout the season, visit snowbadgers.com.