Athlete of the Month
Caleb “Bubba” Uhlenhopp

Pictures and Content courtesy of Caleb Uhlenhopp and Utah Valley University

A Journey of Resilience: My College Wrestling Career It’s a pleasure to be honored as a College Athlete of the Month by NVSportsLocal. My college wrestling career has been a journey filled with highs and lows, each moment shaping me into the athlete I am today.
The Road to College Wrestling As I kicked off my initial collegiate season, I was itching to get back on the mat. My senior year of high school had ended with a devastating injury—a fracture to my L4 vertebrae—leaving me starved for competition. Finally, my opportunity had arrived.
However, my first college season did not start as I had hoped. In my debut tournament, I went 0-2. That was a tough pill to swallow, but it quickly became a lesson: competing at the collegiate level required a new level of discipline. I could no longer cut weight the lazy way—I had to fully commit to the lifestyle of a Division 1 wrestler. After making the necessary adjustments, I entered my second open tournament with a different mindset. This time, I made it all the way to the finals but fell just a takedown short of victory.
Later in my freshman season, I was given the opportunity to start at 184 pounds in a dual against the Air Force Academy. My first collegiate dual was a battle—I took my opponent into overtime, ultimately losing to a ranked competitor. With that, my first college season came to an end, leaving me hungry for more.
Sophomore Season: Overcoming Setbacks By my second year, I was beginning to grasp what it truly meant to be a collegiate starter. I secured my spot at 174 pounds and was eager to see what the season had in store. Unfortunately, adversity struck early—I injured my LCL in my right knee during my first tournament.
The injury forced me to sit out several duals, including the prestigious Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas—an opportunity I had been looking forward to. The time off was agonizing, and when I finally returned, I found myself stuck in a funk. I consistently had close matches with ranked opponents like Jared Simma from the University of Northern Iowa, but I struggled to break through with big wins.
As the season neared its end, my starting spot was challenged just two weeks before the Big 12 Tournament. I lost the wrestle-off, and with that, my shot at qualifying for the NCAA Tournament faded away. It was a painful moment, but I knew I had to take the experience and use it as fuel for the next season.
A New Era Under Coach Adam Hall: After my second year, the UVU wrestling program announced a major change—a new head coach, Adam Hall, would be taking over. Under his guidance, I dedicated my summer to honing my craft. When the season arrived, I secured my spot once again at 184 pounds and immediately began seeing improvements.
I started my season strong with a victory over Cal State Bakersfield and a Championship win at the Menlo Open. However, my new head coach wasted no time in testing me against some of the best wrestlers in the country.
First, I faced #6 Silas Allred from Nebraska. Though I lost the match, I had a small confidence boost in the third period when I secured a takedown, proving to myself that I could compete at an elite level. Next came #3 Dustin Plott from Oklahoma State, another high-caliber opponent. Despite tough matches, I rebounded with dominant wins against Duke and Presbyterian before taking on #12 Dylan Fishback.
At the Cliff Keen Invitational, I picked up my first ranked win of the year, defeating #12 TJ Stewart in a major upset. However, despite the victory, I fell short of placing. I continued my season with wins over opponents from Oregon State, Missouri, North Dakota State, and Northern Colorado—as well as another ranked win against #25 Dennis Robin from West Virginia
Now, I am preparing for the Big 12 Tournament, with one goal in mind—earning a spot at the NCAA Tournament.
Advice for Incoming College Wrestlers If I could offer advice to any incoming freshman, it would be this: Pour more effort than you think you should into all aspects of your life. As my coach always says, “How you do anything is how you do everything.”
Success in college wrestling isn’t just about the time spent on the mat. It’s about balancing every aspect of your life—academics, nutrition, recovery, and mental discipline. When you take the time to stay on top of your responsibilities, you free yourself to be fully present in practice, in matches, and in competition.
I’d also say this: Keep your head up. The transition to college wrestling is tough. No matter how dominant you were in high school, you will face new levels of difficulty that you’ve never experienced before. When that happens, trust the process. Focus on the little improvements you can make every day. Just 1% better each day is a win. Over time, those small efforts will compound into real, tangible success.
As I move forward in my collegiate career, I carry these lessons with me, knowing that the journey is far from over. With each match, each challenge, and each victory, I continue to grow—not just as a wrestler, but as a person. The best is yet to come.
Here is the link to Caleb’s First Athlete of the Month for NVSportsLocal Caleb Uhlenhopp Bio Part 1