Bronchos Ready For National Tourney

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A long season comes to its conclusion this weekend at the 2023 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Central Oklahoma will be one of the leading contenders for the team title.

The top-ranked Bronchos are searching for the program's 16th national championship – and the first since 2007 – behind 10 individual qualifiers, nine of whom are seeded in the top eight at their weight.

"We accomplished our main goal at the regional in qualifying all 10 of our guys, but that doesn't mean anything once the tournament starts," head coach Todd Steidley said. "There's a lot of parity in Division II with a of bunch of great teams and every weight is loaded."

Preliminary- and first-round action begins at 10 a.m. at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse, with the quarterfinals and two rounds of consolations at 5 p.m. The tournament resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. with the semifinals and conclusion of all consolation matches, then concludes with the championship finals at 7 p.m.

"We just need to worry about ourselves and be ready to wrestle every time we step on the mat," Steidley said. "Take each match as it comes, not look ahead and be ready to respond if something doesn't go our way.

"It's going to be a big challenge, but our guys are looking forward to it. This is what we've worked and prepared for since September. Now it's time to let loose and have some fun."

ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT: UCO is the only team with a full 10-man contingent, though No. 2 Lander is right behind with nine. No. 6 West Liberty and No. 9 Pittsburgh-Johnstown both have eight qualifiers.

T-No. 3 St. Cloud State -- which has won five of the last seven titles -- and defending champion and No. 7 Nebraska-Kearney qualified six apiece. Other top contenders are expected to be T-No. 3 Wisconsin-Parkside (five qualifiers), No. 5 Adams State (five), No. 8 Gannon (seven) and No. 10 Indianapolis (seven).

There are 18 individuals at each of the 10 weights for a total of 180 qualifiers.

UCO IN THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT: The Bronchos have long had one of the most successful programs in the nation, having claimed 15 national championships -- eight in NAIA (1979, '81, '82, '84, '85, '86, '87 and '89) and seven since joining NCAA Division II in 1990 (1992, '93, '94, '95, '02, '03 and '07).

UCO has also had nine national runner-up finishes in four different divisions – AAU (1935), NCAA Division I (1936), NAIA (1974 and '88) and NCAA Division II (1990, '91, '96, '00 and '22).

Central has had 38 top-four national tournament finishes in its 69-year history, including 34 in the last 50 years.

The Bronchos were runner-up to Nebraska-Kearney in last year's national tournament, their best finish since winning the title in 2007.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO finished 12-1 in duals this season, losing only to St. Cloud State (19-16) in the NWCA Division II National Duals finals.

The Bronchos set a tournament scoring record in running away with the prestigious Midwest Classic crown in December and captured their third straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association dual title.

UCO rolled to their third consecutive Super Regional IV championship Feb. 26 at Hamilton Field House in Edmond, racking up 169.5 points to finish 38.5 ahead of runner-up Indianapolis.

The Bronchos had seven individual champions, two runners-up and one third-place finisher in that dominating performance, going 32-3 with 18 bonus-point wins in the tournament.

UCO's 10 qualifiers enter the final weekend with a combined 221-52 record, including 109 bonus wins.

Here's a look at each of Central's 10 national qualifiers.

125 Studd Morris, Jr. – Making national tournament debut and is seeded sixth with 32-5 record that includes 16 bonus wins (10 majors, five falls, one tech) … Brings 11-match winning streak into the national tourney … Went 4-0 in winning regional title to qualify, notching a fall, two major decisions and 3-1 finals victory … Is 7-3 against national tournament opponents this season, including 6-5 victory over first-round foe Brandon Mendoza of Tiffin at the Midwest Classic … Won the Dan Harris and Drury open titles while finishing runner-up at the Lindenwood Open and fifth at the Midwest … First year as full-time starter for the Bronchos and has a 69-19 career record.

133 Dylan Lucas, So. – Making national tournament debut and is seeded eighth with 18-5 record that includes 15 bonus wins (six majors, five falls, four techs) … Qualified with championship effort at Super Regional IV Tournament, recording three bonus wins … Opened with second-period fall, then had back-to-back 8-0 major decisions … Was ranked second nationally after earning Outstanding Wrestler honors in winning the Midwest Classic in December, but went 1-4 during one stretch in falling out of rankings … Is 5-2 against national tournament opponents … Captured Dan Harris and Drury open titles and was runner-up at the Lindenwood Open … Juco national runner-up at 149 in 2017 for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, then was out of wrestling until coming to UCO this season.

141 Nate Keim, Sr. – Seeded sixth with 22-6 record that includes nine bonus wins (four falls, four majors, one tech) and enters weekend with 10-match winning streak … Won Super Regional IV title in earning second trip to national tourney … Was seeded third at regional, but knocked off No. 2 seed Taylor Jokerst of Maryville 6-5 in semifinals and upset No. 1 Peter Kuster of Drury 3-2 in finals … In his fifth year as the starter at 141, carrying an 89-37 career record … Is 4-4 against national tournament opponents, having lost three times to Kuster … Beat first-round opponent Grayston DiBlasi of Colorado School of Mines twice during the Midwest Classic …Qualified for national tournament with regional runner-up showing in 2019 and then finished fourth the next three years in just missing out … Won Drury Open title while coming in fifth at Lindenwood Open and sixth at the Midwest.

Brik Filippo, Sr. – Seeded eighth with 23-9 record that includes 14 bonus wins (six techs, four majors, four falls) … Earned third trip to national tournament with third-place regional finish … Opened with 15-0 and 17-0 technical falls before falling in semifinals, then rebounded with second-period fall and 15-0 technical fall to claim third … Returning All-American, finishing fifth last year … Is 2-6 vs. national qualifiers this season … Four-year starter with 94-30 career record … Qualified for national meet in 2020, but didn't compete after COVID forced cancelation, and then again last year … Won Drury Open title while finishing fourth at the Lindenwood Open and sixth at the Midwest Classic.

Gabe Johnson, RS Fr. – Seeded third with 30-5 record that includes 11 bonus wins (five techs, four majors, two falls) and enters weekend with 10-match winning streak … Won regional title to earn second national tournament berth … Went 3-0 at regional, opening with 16-0 technical fall before posting 6-1 and 6-0 wins … Is 5-2 against national tournament opponents this season, with losses to No. 1 seed Noah Hermosillo of Adams State (11-9) and No. 2 Nick Novak of St. Cloud State (6-5) … National qualifier at 149 as true freshman in 2021, retaining season of eligibility due to COVID … Redshirted last year before returning to lineup at 157 this season … Runner-up in Drury Open and Midwest Classic and placed third in Lindenwood Open … Has 36-9 career record.

Ty Lucas, Sr. – Seeded seventh with 17-10 record that includes four bonus wins (two techs, two majors) … Four-time national qualifier and two-time All-American … Advanced to nationals with runner-up showing at Super Regional IV Tournament … Opened with 17-0 technical fall and 12-2 major decision, then pulled out 3-1 sudden-victory win before falling 3-1 in finals … Is 7-5 against national tourney opponents this season … Qualified for nationals in 2020 and was named All-American by NWCA after tournament was canceled by COVID … Was fifth-place national finisher in 2021, then qualified again last year … Fifth-year starter with 83-32 career record … Finished third at Midwest Classic and sixth at Lindenwood Open.

Anthony DesVigne, Jr. – Making first national tournament appearance and is seeded fifth with 28-6 record that includes 13 bonus wins (five techs, five majors, three falls) … Qualified with title-winning effort at Super Regional IV Tournament, going 3-0 in that event … Opened with 6-0 shutout, had second-period fall in semifinals and cruised to 8-1 finals win … Is 5-2 against national tournament opponents and went 3-0 against national qualifiers while at 184 earlier this season … Has 17-5 record at 174 and went 11-1 at 184 … Runner-up in both Lindenwood and Drury opens at 174 … Won Dan Harris Open title and runner-up at Midwest Classic at 184 … In first season as full-time starter and has 57-29 career record.

Alex Kauffman, Sr. – Unseeded with 10-4 record that includes two bonus wins (one fall, one major) … Returning All-American who earned repeat trip to nationals with regional runner-up finish … Started regional with 8-1 and 3-2 wins before falling to McKendree's Josh Jones 3-2 in finals … Missed first semester of action, not making season debut until the NWCA Division II National Duals in early January … Is 1-4 vs. national tournament opponents this season … Beat preliminary-round opponent Cade Mueller of Augustana in first round of national tourney last year when both were at 174, then lost to Mueller in first outing this season at NWCA National Duals … Earned All-America honors last year with sixth-place finish … Two-time junior college All-American … Has 39-12 career record with the Bronchos.

Dalton Abney, Jr. – Defending national champion seeded first with 19-2 record that includes nine bonus wins (four falls, four techs, one major) … Three-time All-American making fourth national tournament appearance … Went 4-0 in winning second straight regional title in advancing to nationals … Started with 18-2 technical fall and first-period fall before posting 4-0 and 2-0 shutouts in final two matches … Had 40-match winning streak stopped at NWCA Division II National Duals with overtime loss to Indianapolis' Derek Blubaugh, then lost to St. Cloud State's Dominic Murphy in UCO's finals loss after suffering early injury … Missed the next six weeks before returning at the regional and beat Blubaugh 2-0 in finals … Went 6-2 against national tournament qualifiers during regular season … Earned All-American honors from NWCA in 2020 after national tournament was canceled by COVID, then was runner-up in 2021 before winning title last year to cap 26-0 season … Has 70-6 career record with 36 bonus wins.

Shawn Streck, Jr. – Seeded first with 22-0 record that includes 15 bonus wins (nine falls, six majors, one tech) … Captured second straight Super Regional IV title, going 3-0 with first-period fall, major decision and 2-1 finals victory … Is 6-0 vs. national tournament qualifiers this season … Earned All-America honors last year with sixth-place finish after injury defaulting last two matches following semifinal loss to eventual champion … Missed first month of season recovering from that injury … Won titles at Drury Open and Midwest Classic … Division I national qualifier at Purdue in 2018, then was out of wrestling until coming to UCO last year … Has 34-2 career record with 24 bonus wins.

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Players Mentioned

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman: 5' 10"; Senior

Ty Lucas: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Dylan Lucas: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Alex Kauffman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Ty Lucas
: 5' 9"; Senior; 157

Dylan Lucas
: 5' 6"; Sophomore