Provo, Utah - Utah Valley State College announced Thursday that wrestling will be added to its intercollegiate sports program. The addition brings the school's intercollegiate sport total to 14, putting UVSC in compliance with NCAA Division I requirements.    UVSC will begin a national search for a head coach, and will start wrestling in the 2003-2004 season. Since 1972, the number of NCAA wrestling programs has shrunk from over 600 to 225, with just 87 at the Division I level. UVSC reverses the trend, becoming the 88th Division I program. Brigham Young Univ. was the last university in the state of Utah to offer wrestling before dropping the sport following the 1999-2000 season.    UVSC is looking to become the first Junior College to make a jump straight to NCAA Division I status. The NCAA has given the school permission to conduct the exploratory year of athletics that precedes a six-year provisional request to become a Division I member.    In this, the exploratory year, UVSC will operate as an active member of the association and will attend an orientation session during the 2003 NCAA Convention. At the end of the exploratory year, UVSC must submit a formal confirmation of its intent to become an active Division I member. The confirmation must include a basic strategic plan that provides an outline of how the school will raise money.    As part of the process, all UVSC athletic programs will not be able to compete at their respective NCAA championship events for the full seven years.    The state of Utah has a rich tradition of success in wrestling. Last year four former Utah prep  wrestlers were NCAA All-Americans. Cael Sanderson and Aaron Holker were NCAA Champions. Ryan Lewis was a runner-up, and Justin Ruiz placed fifth.    "We are thrilled to be able to add Wolverine wrestling to our program," said UVSC Director of Athletics Mike Jacobsen. "It's a sport that has great support in the community. It will enrich the school and our athletic program, and provide excellent opportunities for our student athletes to compete."    Sanderson and collegiate wrestling icon Dan Gable were on hand to express their support for Wolverine wrestling and to kick off a national fund-raising drive to help endow the program. "It's all about opportunity," said Gable. "Utah has over 3,500 high school wrestlers, but there has been zero opportunity for them to stay in-state and compete collegiately. I applaud Utah Valley State College and Mike Jacobsen for making the decision to provide this opportunity. I put out a challenge to the wrestling community to make sure this program is a catalyst for others. We want to be able to look down the road ten years and not only say we did it, but we did it right."    Sanderson, a local wrestler from Heber City, was undefeated in his collegiate career, going 159-0 at Iowa State. He was a four-time NCAA champion. "We have shown that there is great wrestling talent here in Utah," said Sanderson. "Now that talent will not have to leave the state. There is a lot of love and a lot of support for the sport here. It's time for everybody to step up and see that this program goes to the top. This is a great decision, and it will be a great program."    Jacobsen indicated that UVSC has received approval from the NCAA to begin the process of earning full Division I status.    In addition to wrestling UVSC offers baseball, basketball, cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, and golf for men. Women's sports include basketball, volleyball, softball, indoor track, outdoor track, cross country and soccer.