No. 1 UCO Returns To Action Saturday

Top-ranked Central Oklahoma returns to the mat Saturday when the Bronchos travel to Kearney, Neb. to meet a pair of top-25 opponents in the Midwest Duals.

UCO, 7-0 on the season, will take on No. 13 Adams State (2-2) and No. 21 Western Colorado (2-4) in the all-day event at Buffalo County Fairgrounds. The Bronchos open against the Mountaineers at 9 a.m. before meeting the Grizzlies at 11 a.m.

The Bronchos haven't competed since beating No. 2 St. Cloud State in the finals of the NWCA Division II National Duals on Jan. 7 in Louisville, Ky. Last week's scheduled home showdown with No. 3 McKendree was canceled due to health and safety concerns.

"We haven't wrestled in awhile and our guys are ready to get back at it," head coach Todd Steidley said. "I'm anxious to see how we do since we've missed a lot of practice time the last couple of weeks.

"We're going against two solid teams and need to be ready to go, especially since we have a target on our backs now. It should be two good duals and we're looking forward to competing again."

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: Central went 4-0 in Louisville and have now won 13 duals in a row. The Bronchos routed No. 9 Findlay, No. 15 Colorado Mesa and unranked Newberry in making the finals before knocking off the four-time defending champion Huskies 19-14 to end their NCAA-record 77-match winning streak.

Tanner Cole (133), Brik Filippo (149), Ty Lucas (157) and Hunter Jump (165) all went 4-0 at the National Duals, while Heath Gray (184) and Dalton Abney (197) were both 3-0.

Cole, Heath and Abney are all ranked No. 1. Filippo and Lucas are rated third, Nate Keim (141) is fourth and Paxton Rosen (125) eighth.

Abney (13-0), Lucas (12-0) and Gray (5-0) are undefeated for the season. Abney has six falls among his seven bonus-point wins, while Lucas has six bonus wins and Gray three.

Gray returned after a nearly two-month absence at the National Duals to record two major decisions and a 10-3 win in his three outings. The defending national champion is riding a 46-match winning streak, tied for the third-longest in school history.

Filippo leads the starting lineup in wins with 18 (18-2), including nine bonus victories. Rosen is 17-4 with 10 bonus wins and Keim 15-4 with seven bonus.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: Western Colorado has two ranked individuals in 133 Patrick Allis (fourth) and 141 Dean Noble (ninth).

UCO owns a big 18-5 advantage in the series, including a 32-12 triumph in last year's Midwest Duals.

Adams State is led by four top-10 individuals, all in the first five weights. Noah Hermosillo is fourth at 149, Josiah Rider sixth at 157, Isaiah De La Cerda ninth at 125 and Jonathan Andreatta ninth at 133.

The Bronchos lead the rivalry 25-5-1 and have won the last five meetings between the two.

UP NEXT: UCO returns home Jan. 30 to host Central Missouri for a 2 p.m. dual at Hamilton Field House. All former Broncho wrestlers are invited to attend that match in celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the program being reinstated.

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Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman; 197

Tanner Cole: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Brik Filippo: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 149

Heath Gray: 5' 11"; Junior; 184

Nate Keim: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 141

Ty Lucas: 5' 9"; Sophomore; 157

Hunter Jump: 6' 2"; Freshman

Paxton Rosen: 5' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman; 197

Tanner Cole
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Brik Filippo
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 149

Heath Gray
: 5' 11"; Junior; 184

Nate Keim
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; 141

Ty Lucas
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; 157

Hunter Jump
: 6' 2"; Freshman

Paxton Rosen
: 5' 3"; Junior