No. 1 UCO Hosts No. 8 Adams State Friday

Top-ranked Central Oklahoma enters the stretch run of the 2022-23 season Friday when the Bronchos host long-time rival and No. 8 Adams State for a 5 p.m. showdown at Hamilton Field House.

UCO is 11-1 on the season, having won 30 of its last 31 duals, while the Grizzlies from Alamosa, Colo. are 10-1. The Bronchos are also riding a 15-match home winning streak.

"Adams has a really good team and this will be a big test for us," head coach Toddy Steidley said. "They've got a couple of returning national champions in their lineup along with a bunch of other tough kids and they don't back down.

"We'll have our work cut out for us and our guys need to be ready to wrestle the full seven minutes. We should have most of our main guys back, which is a big plus, but it will still be a battle."

UCO has just two duals left in the regular season, following up Friday's match with a Feb. 12 clash against No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney. The Bronchos will then have two weeks off before hosting the NCAA Division II Super Regional IV Tournament Feb. 26.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The two teams have battled 32 times since the series started on Jan. 16, 1978 with a 19-18 UCO win. The Bronchos own a 26-5-1 lead and have won the last six meetings, including a 29-12 neutral-site victory last year.

The Grizzlies and UCO were huge NAIA rivals throughout the 1970s and '80s, with both capturing eight national titles. Adams finished runner-up behind the Bronchos three times (1979, '81 and '82), while UCO was second to the Grizzlies in 1974.

THE LINEUPS: Here's a look at the probable lineups for Friday's dual, with UCO wrestler listed first:

125 – No. 10 Studd Morris, Jr. (26-5) vs. No. 3 Brendon Garcia, So. (15-3) or Adam Concepcion, RS Fr. (8-9) ; 133 – No. 8 Dylan Lucas, So. (15-3) vs. Isaiah DeLaCerda, Sr. (5-4) or Dale Van Matre, RS Fr. (14-9); 141 – No. 8 Nate Keim, Sr. (17-6) vs. Kieran Thompson, RS Fr. (16-5); 149 – No. 9 Brik Filippo, Sr. (19-7) vs. No. 3 Josiah Rider, Jr. (18-3); 157 – No. 3 Gabe Johnson, RS Fr. (25-5) vs. No. 1 Noah Hermosillo (15-0) or Travis Vialpando, RS Fr. (13-11); 165 – No. 7 Ty Lucas, Sr. (13-8) vs. Aaden Valdez, So. (13-2); 174 – No. 10 Anthony DesVigne, Jr. (24-5) vs. Ryan Rochford, Sr. (3-3); 184 – No. 11 Alex Kauffman, Sr. (8-1) vs. Hunter Tobiasson, So. (14-7) ; 197 – Emmanuel Skillings, RS Fr. (4-1) vs. Ben Tonnessen, So. (13-6); Hvy – No. 2 Shawn Streck, Jr. (17-0) vs. Adam Alvarenga, Jr. (1-5).

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO is scheduled to have its starting lineup back against Adams with the exception of defending national champion Dalton Abney, who is still out with an injury suffered Jan. 7 at the NWCA Division II National Duals.

The Bronchos went without six starters in their last outing, but it didn't matter in a 30-6 road rout of MIAA rival Central Missouri.

Studd Morris continues to lead the team in wins with 26 (26-5), which includes 11 bonus-point victories. He's won five straight and seven of his last eight matches.

Gabe Johnson (25-5) and Anthony DesVigne (24-5) have also reached the 20-win plateau. Johnson has won five straight and nine of his last 10, while DesVigne is also riding a five-match winning streak.

Shawn Streck is UCO's lone unbeaten at 17-0 with a team-high 13 bonus wins. Alex Kauffman is 8-1 and has won eight consecutive matches since opening with a loss in his first action of the season at the National Duals.

Dylan Lucas is slated to see his first action since Jan. 7, while Nate Keim and Ty Lucas should be back after both sat out the last two weeks.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Adams State won its first seven duals of the season, including a 21-18 victory over No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney on Jan. 21, before dropping a 30-20 decision to No. 12 Colorado Mesa last week. The Grizzlies rebounded the next day to beat No. 22 Western Colorado 22-18.

ASU features two returning national champions in 149 Josiah Rider and 157 Noah Hermosillo. The two have switched weights this season after Rider won at 157 last year, while Hermosillo took the title at 149.

Isaiah DeLaCerda was an All-American two years ago for the Grizzlies.

Adams finished fifth in last year's national tournament behind three individual champions.

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Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Junior; 197

Anthony DesVigne: 5' 11"; Junior

Brik Filippo: 5' 8"; Senior; 149

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman: 5' 10"; Senior

Nate Keim: 5' 7"; Senior; 141

Ty Lucas: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Studd Morris: 5' 0"; Junior

Emmanuel Skillings: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Shawn Streck: 6' 1"; Junior; 285

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Junior; 197

Anthony DesVigne
: 5' 11"; Junior

Brik Filippo
: 5' 8"; Senior; 149

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Nate Keim
: 5' 7"; Senior; 141

Ty Lucas
: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Studd Morris
: 5' 0"; Junior

Emmanuel Skillings
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Shawn Streck
: 6' 1"; Junior; 285