EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma has 20 national championship trophies on display. An astounding 15 of those came from the wrestling program. That foundation was laid in 1979, 1981, and 1982 when former head coach Eddie Griffin put together a dynasty and set the tone for the best program in the country to accomplish what it has today.
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Looking back at each of those championship teams, this week's Friday Feature arrives on the final of three championships for Griffin, the 1982 wrestling team.
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Griffin entered the 1981-82 season with five returning national champions and seven returning All-Americans.
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"We'll be strong at the weights where we have national champions returning," Griffin said in the school's media guide before the season.
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Good thing that was in half the weights.
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Ronnie James (142 pounds) and Bill Ameen (177) both became two-time national champions in '82. The two also earned the second All-American honors in as many years as did Benny Coleman, who finished fourth at 167 pounds.
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Darren Huff nearly gave Central a third champ. The sophomore had wrestled behind James at 142 but moved down to 134 and earned a second-place finish at the national tournament to earn the first of his eventual two All-American honors.
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Joe Starzenski, a freshman, finished third at 126 pounds, as did sophomore Mike Clark at 158 pounds.
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Those six placers helped the Bronchos to 105 1/2 team points to earn their third national championship in four years. Central stampeded past Adams State yet again, winning by 17 points.
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Central got off to a good start that season, winning its first two duals over New Mexico and Southwest Missouri. The Bronchos lost to Oklahoma State following that but responded with three consecutive dual victories after the OSU match.
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Central did experience a rough patch, which in hindsight built the team into a better and tougher unit, when the Bronchos tied SIU Edwardsville and then lost three straight duals to Navy, Oklahoma, and CSU Bakersfield.
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The Bronchos only lost once more after that – in a return match with Oklahoma State – but also had victories over Northwest Missouri and Adams State.
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In tournament action, Central saw similar results – a lot of placers, some champions, and a bunch of growth.
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The Bronchos had four placers in the no-team scoring Southern Open, took first in the Central Missouri Invitational and had two champs, took first in the Sunshine Open and had three champions, and then took third in the Southwest Missouri Invite and had nine placers.
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Then Central headed to Portland, Oregon for the NAIA national tournament. The Bronchos had become well accustomed to the year's grand finale and six placers and two national champions later, Central had another title.
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