UCO Heads to National Duals

No. 13-ranked Central Oklahoma resumes the 2018-19 season this weekend when the Bronchos journey to Louisville, Ky. to compete in the NWCA Division II National Duals at the Kentucky Expo Center.

UCO – which hasn't wrestled since the Midwest Classic on Dec. 15-16 -- opens the two-day, 16-team double-elimination tournament at 10 a.m. (Oklahoma time) Friday against Gannon. The Bronchos are 2-0 in duals, while the Golden Knights from Erie, Pa. are 1-0.

Other first-round matches pit top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney against No. 18 Indianapolis, No. 2 St. Cloud State against Seton Hill, No. 3 Notre Dame against Wisconsin-Parkside, fourth-rated Pittsburgh-Johnstown against No. 14 Fort Hays State, No. 5 McKendree against Limestone, seventh-ranked Wheeling Jesuit against No. 8 Lindenwood and No. 21 Upper Iowa against West Liberty State.

Live stats for all the matches will be available at trackwrestling.com.

Central will face the Wheeling Jesuit-Lindenwood winner/loser in its second match Friday.

"It's going to be a great event," third-year head coach Todd Steidley said. "The break came at a good time for our guys and they've been working really hard to get ready. We're looking forward to seeing how we stack up against some of the best teams in the country."

The Bronchos have a 2-0 series lead over Gannon, winning 43-3 in 2003 and 26-6 in 2005. Both those meetings were first-round matches in the NWCA Division II National Duals.

UCO finished sixth in last year's tournament, bouncing back from a first-round loss to McKendree to win three straight consolation matches before falling to Notre Dame 19-12 in the fifth-place match. St. Cloud State is the defending champion.

Here's a look at UCO's lineup for the weekend: 125 – Noah McQuigg, So. (8-5) and Tanner Cole, RS Fr. (0-0); 133 – Rio Zamora, Jr. (9-6) and Von Gray, RS Fr. (7-8); 141 – Nate Keim, RS Fr. (11-3) and Will Steltzlen, Sr. (0-0); 149 – Brik Filippo, RS Fr. (11-3); 157 – Dayton Garrett, So. (8-5); 165 – Wyatt Jordan, Jr. (7-3); 174 – Devin Crawl, Jr. (3-2); 184 – Heath Gray, So. (15-1); 197 – Colton Looper, Sr. (12-3); Hvy – Blake Berryhill, So. (15-4).

Heath Gray and Looper are both ranked fourth nationally, while Berryhill is eighth. Gray's 15-1 record includes 12 bonus-point wins and Looper has a team-best seven falls, one more than Berryhill.

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Players Mentioned

Blake Berryhill: 6' 3"; Sophomore; 285

Tanner Cole: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman; 133/141

Brik Filippo: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman; 149

Dayton Garrett: 5' 10"; Junior; 157

Heath Gray: 5' 11"; Sophomore; 174

Von Gray: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman; 133

Nate Keim: 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman; 141

Colton Looper: 5' 8"; Senior; 197

Noah McQuigg: 5' 5"; Sophomore; 125

Rio Zamora: 5' 7"; Junior; 133

Players Mentioned

Blake Berryhill
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; 285

Tanner Cole
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman; 133/141

Brik Filippo
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman; 149

Dayton Garrett
: 5' 10"; Junior; 157

Heath Gray
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; 174

Von Gray
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman; 133

Nate Keim
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman; 141

Colton Looper
: 5' 8"; Senior; 197

Noah McQuigg
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; 125

Rio Zamora
: 5' 7"; Junior; 133