Dahsauni Lyday set a school record in 2022-23, joining a long list of big accomplishments for the Bronchos. [UCO Photo Services]

General 6/28/2023 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

RECORD YEAR

Central Oklahoma's Standout Student-Athletes Continue Traditions Of Excellence

EDMOND – The 2022-23 school year is behind us, but before we move into 2023-24, UCO athletics is taking a look back at what was a record year for the Bronchos.

For track & field, softball, tennis and wrestling, student-athletes in those programs and the teams themselves put together record performances. Several other sports like volleyball, men's basketball, and baseball saw top performances too, with teams and student-athletes making a serious push for new school records.

We start with track & field, more specifically field, on a Saturday morning in Norman at OU's annual and traditionally challenging John Jacobs Invitational. Dahsauni Lyday, who had already put together a standout career with All-MIAA honors, stepped up for her turn in the shot put as she had 30 times previously for the Bronchos. But this time would be different.

Lyday threw 13.29 meters, then 13.96 meters, then 14.03 meters. Then on her fourth throw, 14.19 meters. She not only hit a career best, not only hit an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark, but she set a UCO school record. No other Broncho in school history has thrown the shot put as far as Lyday did April 21.

Also this spring, Nikki Boyar and the UCO women's tennis team were earning a trip to the NCAA tournament. Boyar, who returned for a fifth year using her COVID eligibility extension, added and added and added to her career win totals. The Texan and two-time All-American who came to Central Oklahoma in 2018, compiled 160 wins in her career – 74 in singles competition and 86 in doubles competition – more than any other Broncho in school history. She went 27-13 this season in leading Central back to nationals.

Spring tends to be a highly successful season at Central, and that was the case again earlier this year. The UCO softball team opened the 2023 season ranked in the top 10 in the preseason coaches' poll. The team had their usually high expectations, but what followed exceeded them. This season, the Bronchos set team records for games played (62), wins (54), runs scored (427), and home runs (80). And the 16 strong squad had some individual accolades too.

Terin Ritz went 27-3 in the circle for a school record .900 winning percentage. In just two seasons, Ritz stands as the leader in career winning percentage at .868, with a 33-5 record. Amelya Huggins drew her 107th career walk, more free bases than any other player in school history. And Emily Deramus, whose 219 at bats were one shy of the school record, hit 14 home runs to set a school record by a freshman.

The team also had a record four All-Americans in one season, with Ritz and Deramus earning honors along with Shayla Harper and Jacee Minter.

And speaking of a record number of All-Americans, the UCO wrestling team accomplished the same feat back in March.

Any time you can set a school record in wrestling at UCO, you've done something special. The most decorated program in Division II history makes records hard to come by. But this season, as the Bronchos won their 16th national team championship, they did it in runaway fashion with a parade of All-Americans.

Dalton Abney and Shawn Streck both won individual national titles. Dylan Lucas, Nate Keim and Ty Lucas all earned third-place finishes. Alex Kauffman (fifth) and Brik Filippo (sixth) also placed at nationals. And Gabe Johnson and Anthony DesVigne did too in finishing seventh. UCO had 10 national qualifiers – Studd Morris was there competing too – and nine of them finished with the title of All-Americans. It's the first season in school history that can be said.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

Central Oklahoma had some teams and student-athletes flirt with record-setting performances this past year. Here are some honorable mentions:

The men's basketball team went 26-6 this season in making a second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. The 26 wins are the third-most in school history. Camryn Givens shot up the all-time scoring list, from No. 42 in the preseason to No. 7 to end his career with 1,444 career points. Jaden Wells also eclipsed the 200 career 3-pointers made mark for his career and will enter his junior season at No. 3 on that list next winter. He also now stands at No. 26 on the all-time scoring list with 1,214 career points.

Jacob Bailey is another student-athlete that utilized an eligibility extension following the recent pandemic and in his final year with the UCO baseball team, the right-handed pitcher came close to a pair of records. Bailey became the second pitcher in school history to record 200 strikeouts and did so in style, striking out seven batters to keep UCO's playoff lives going for one more day. He finished his career with 206 Ks, the second-most in school history. His 70 career appearances are also the second most all time at UCO.

Back in the fall, Jaedynn Evans recorded 775 digs for the UCO volleyball team, leading the country in the stat. She also led the nation in digs per set to earn the NCAA statistical champion for the year. Evans' 775 digs rank as the third-most in one season in school history. She also had 41 in one match, the seventh-most in school history for a single game.

Evan Griffith's 5-under 65 at Oak Tree this spring is tied for the sixth-lowest score in school history.

Aspen Williston recorded a triple-double in February. The junior had 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots. It's the third triple-double in school history.

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Players Mentioned

#33 Camryn Givens: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#2 Jaden Wells: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Evan Griffith: Junior

Nikki Boyar: 5' 2"; Graduate Student

#30 Aspen Williston: F; 6' 4"; Senior

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

Players Mentioned

#33 Camryn Givens
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#2 Jaden Wells
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

Evan Griffith
: Junior

Nikki Boyar
: 5' 2"; Graduate Student

#30 Aspen Williston
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F

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