Iowa won the NCAA wrestling crown last year and the Hawkeyes proved the point by shutting out Utah Valley University 38-0 in a rare collegiate dual meet in Vernal, but those in attendance were more focused on former Uintah Ute Phillip Keddy's return to his hometown mat. Keddy made his Vernal fans happy by beating UVU's Casen Eldredge 9-3 in the 184 pound match. Eldredge is a former Monticello wrestler.

Keddy, a two-time state champion at Uintah, placed fourth last season as a Iowa University junior. He decked Eldredge for a takedown that he gained just before going out-of-bounds, and led 2-1 after one round. He gave Eldredge a neutral and then spun around for a takedown to lead 4-1 early in the second round. Keddy scored several more points and cruised to a six-point win that had his Uintah Ute fans jumping for mat joy upon seeing him as a winner once again on the Ute mat.

Of course Iowa head coach Tom Brands was happy over the shutout win under the spotlight in Vernal.

“Wrestling in Vernal makes sense being that it is Phillip Keddy's hometown, which was a reason to come here. His family saw him in the gym where he wrestled while in high school. We had an open weekend. We choose to do something like this every year,” said Coach Brands. “We are in the middle of the season and this match in Vernal is a big step in getting better.”

Iowa has seven seniors in their lineup that are providing leadership for the defending national champs.

“We have to be ready to go when the clock starts ticking off,” said Coach Brands.

Keddy is the son of Clayton and Lanette Keddy of Vernal and his family was happy to see him back on the mat.

“It was awesome and pretty cool to see him wrestle in Vernal. It was quite an honor that they gave up a home dual to come to Vernal,” said his mother Lanette. “It is neat that there were so many friends here (Vernal) that know him.”

Keddy's dad attended nearby Union High School and is proud of his son.

“It was a great experience and a lot of fun. It was nice to see him on the Uintah mat again. We have been to matches at Iowa and other places where we were close to the action, but not as close as in Vernal,” he said.

Uintah High School head coach Gregg Stensgard was pleased that Coach Brands selected Vernal for the dual meet with UVU.

“It was more Coach Brands giving Keddy the chance to wrestle in front of family and the home crowd. I jumped at it when they (Iowa) offered the match,” Coach Stensgard said.

Another Utah wrestler Luke Lofthouse (Iowa) from Mountain Crest near Logan defeated Josh Wood of UVU 11-5 in 197 pound match. Lofthouse piled up five takedowns in the bout.

In the closest bout of the night, Iowa's Daniel Dennis broke a 5-5 tie with UVU's Flint Ray when riding time sparked him to an one-point win at 133 pounds. The only pin of the night was acquired by Iowa's Brent Metcalf in a 149 pound bout vs. Justin Morrell. Other Iowa tusslers who won matches were Matt McDonough, Montell Marion (19-7), Jake Kerr, Ryan Morningstar (3-1), Jay Borschel (7-2) and Dan Erekson (forfeit).