EDMOND – David James took over as Central Oklahoma's head wrestling coach before the 1982-83 season, inheriting a program that had won the previous two NAIA national championships.
James' first team, plagued by season-long injuries, finished fifth nationally. But James quickly got the UCO dynasty back on track and he would go on to guide the Bronchos to 12 national titles during a storied career.
The first of the James-led championships came in 1983-84 and is the focus of this week's Friday Feature.
That senior-laden squad – paced by the dominating duo of Ronnie James and Benny Coleman - was ranked No. 1 all season and enjoyed great success throughout.
The Bronchos went 11-5-1 in duals, going 4-5-1 against Division I teams while blowing past seven non-DI opponents. UCO also won the Central Missouri Invitational behind five individual champions and had three individual winners in a runner-up showing at the DI-dominated Southwest Missouri Invitational.
Central blistered Adams State 37-6 on Feb. 11 to end the regular season and then had three weeks to prepare for the NAIA National Championships, which were held March 1-3 at Hamilton Field House.
"Physically we're about as ready as we'll ever be, so now it's just a matter of getting mentally squared away," James told the Vista before the tournament. "The layoff we had since our last match really helped us physically. We were pretty well banged up to that point, so the rest was beneficial."
That was bad news for the rest of the tournament field.
UCO sent a full 10-man contingent to nationals and seven placed in the top four in earning All-America honors. The Bronchos collected 122 ¼ points in cruising to their fourth national title in six years, finishing 33 points ahead of second-place Jamestown (N.D.).
Coleman overwhelmed the 177-pound field in winning his second national title and Jack O'Connor – the only non-senior among UCO's placers – captured the 158-pound crown. Central also got runner-up finishes from Darren Huff (134) and Mark Allen (150), while James (142) and Mickey McCowan (118) took third and Gary Astle (167) fourth.
The top-seeded Coleman was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler after scoring four first-period falls and beating the No. 2 seed 7-0 in the finals. He finished the season 35-3 with 21 falls in becoming a four-time All-American.
O'Connor was easily the biggest surprise of the tournament after entering the three-day meet unseeded and a 9-9-1 record. He knocked off the No. 6 seed 3-1 in the first round, followed with a 14-5 second-round rout, beat the No. 3 seed 2-1 in the quarterfinals, edged the No. 11 seed 5-4 in the semis and capped his upset-filled run with a 5-4 victory over the No. 1 seed in the gold medal bout.
Huff was the favorite at 142 and coasted into the finals with four easy wins before falling in a late scoring flurry. The 10th-seeded Allen upended the Nos. 3, 6 and 7 seeds in making the championship match, then lost to the No. 1 seed.
James entered the tournament looking for his fourth national championship, something only two other individuals had accomplished in the NAIA. He was upset by unseeded Tim Molitor of Southwest Minnesota 3-2 in the quarterfinals, but rebounded with four consolation wins and beat Molitor 6-5 in the third-place match. James ended the season with a 41-4 record.
McGowan rolled into the semifinals before dropping a close decision there, then came back strong to claim third. The eighth-seeded Astle also lost a tough semifinal match, but it was his 8-7 consolation semifinal win that clinched the team title.
"Our seniors really pulled us through, especially Gary Astle," James told the Oklahoman after the tournament. "His team leadership this year had a lot to do with us winning this national championship. I'd see him coming in at 7 a.m., paying the price, working hard, and he finishes fourth. I think that's an honor for him to be the fourth-best 167-pounder in the NAIA."
Central's 122 1/4-point total was the second-highest in NAIA history, behind only the 155 ½ points the Bronchos racked up in 1981. And the 1984 championship was just a hint of what was to come for NAIA opponents over the next few years.
