Bronchos Ready For National Duals

UCO is No. 1 Seed For 16-team Tourney

Top-ranked Central Oklahoma resumes the 2023-24 season this weekend when the Bronchos trek to Cedar Falls, Iowa to compete in the NWCA Division II National Duals.

UCO, 2-0 on the season, opens the 16-team, double-elimination tournament at 2 p.m. Friday against No. 12 Upper Iowa (1-0) at the UNI Dome on the Northern Iowa campus. The Bronchos will go again at 4 p.m. against the winner or loser of the Ashland-McKendree match.

SEE THE BRACKET HERE

UCO hasn't competed since finishing third in the Midwest Classic Dec. 15-16 in Indianapolis. The Bronchos had a week off for the Christmas holidays before returning to practice Dec. 27.

"It was good to get a little break to let some guys heal up," head coach Todd Steidley said. "We've been going at it pretty hard since we got back in the room to get ready for this weekend. It's going to be a tremendous challenge, but we're looking forward to getting back at it.

"This is a great event that will really push our guys. It's an opportunity to wrestle some teams we don't normally get a chance to compete against and every round is going to be tough. We'll have to be ready to go.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL DUALS: Fifteen of the 16 teams in the field are ranked in the top 25, including eight in the top 10. There are also 66 of the top 120 individuals in the tournament, including nine No. 1s.

UCO, which shares the No. 1 ranking with West Liberty, is the top seed followed by the Hilltoppers. Lander, Lake Erie, defending champion St. Cloud State and Nebraska-Kearney round out the top six seeds.

Other first-round pairings are: T-No. 1 West Liberty (7-2) vs. No. 18 Northern State (3-3), No. 3 Lander (7-0) vs. T-No. 20 Tiffin (1-0), No. 5 Lake Erie (3-0) vs. No. 15 Mary (2-0), No. 6 St. Cloud State (4-0) vs. Newberry (3-1), No. 7 Nebraska-Kearney (5-2) vs. No. 25 Glenville State (4-5), No. 8 Indianapolis (0-2) vs. No. 17 Augustana (3-3) and No. 10 McKendree (1-1) vs. T-No. 20 Ashland (1-3).

All first-round matches are at 2 p.m., followed by quarterfinal and opening consolation bouts at 4 p.m. with another round of consolations at 6 p.m.

The tournament resumes Saturday with the consolation semifinals at 9 a.m. and championship semifinals at 11 a.m. Fifth- and seventh-place matches will be at 1 p.m., followed by first- and third-place bouts at 3 p.m.

UCO went 3-1 last year in finishing runner-up to St. Cloud State. The Bronchos beat Augustana (22-12), Indianapolis (25-9) and West Liberty (38-3) to make the finals before falling to the Huskies 19-16.

The National Duals started as the Showdown Duals in 1993-94 and the Bronchos have participated in 27 of 30 tournaments since then, having finished in the top-six 24 times.

UCO has an 84-31 record in the tournament with five championships (1994, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2022). The Bronchos also have six runner-up showings (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2023).

UCO LINEUP: The Bronchos will take 18 wrestlers to the event.

125 -- Guy Clevenger, RS Fr. (17-8) and Garrett Steidley, So. (0-0); 133 – Peter Rolle, Jr. (9-5) and Shaun Muse, RS Fr. (0-0); 141 – Dylan Lucas, Jr. (15-2) and Ryder Ramsey, So. (5-2); 149 – Dylan Brown, Jr. (7-2) and Bam West, RS Fr. (4-3); 157 – Gabe Johnson, So. (9-3); 165 – Hunter Jump, Jr. (9-4) and Jaxon Randall, RS Fr. (15-6); 174 – Anthony DesVigne, Sr. (8-1); 184 – Garrett Wells, RS Fr. (17-4) and Seth Sarasua, Jr. (4-1); 197 – Dalton Abney, Sr. (1-0) and Emmanuel Skillings, So. (18-6); Hvy – Shawn Streck, Sr. (0-0) and Braden Morgan, Jr. (6-3).

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO is riding a nine-match winning and has won 34 of its last 35 duals, the lone loss in that stretch a 19-16 setback to St. Cloud State in last year's finals.

The Bronchos should have their full lineup for the first time this season. Defending heavyweight national champion Shawn Streck is set to make his debut after missing the first half due to Division II semester limitations, while two-time 197 national champion Dalton Abney has competed in just one dual.

Garrett Steidley looks to take over at 125 after missing the first semester to injury and Anthony DesVigne has moved back down to 174 after going 8-1 at 184 in the early going.

UCO finished third in the rugged Midwest Classic in mid-December in their last outing despite missing four starters. Garrett Wells took over as the starter at 184 and went 5-0 to win the title in leading the way, with 141 Dylan Lucas and 157 Gabe Johnson both taking second.

Two back-ups also placed, with Hvy Braden Morgan coming in sixth and 197 Emmanuel Skillings seventh. Skillings wrestled nine matches on the weekend, going 7-2.

The Bronchos have seven individuals ranked at the top 12 – Abney (first), Lucas (second), Wells (third), Johnson (fourth), Morgan (eighth), DesVigne (12th) and 165 Hunter Jump (12th).

Skillings (18-6) has the most wins on the team, one ahead of Wells (17-4) and Clevenger (17-8). Lucas is 15-2 with 10 bonus-point victories and had a 15-match winning streak snapped with a 4-3 finals loss to top-ranked Zack Donathan of Tiffin.

UCO's two national champions are a combined 111-8 for their careers. Abney is 73-6 with 39 bonus wins and Streck 38-2 with 24 bonus victories. Streck went 26-0 last year in earning Division II Wrestler of the Year honors.

ABOUT THE PEACOCKS: Upper Iowa finished just a half-point behind UCO in the Midwest Classic with five placers.

Chase Luensman led the Peacocks with a runner-up showing at 165, while 141 Tate Murty and 149 Ethen Doty took fourth, 157 Eric Faught fifth and 174 Colter Bye seventh.

Four of those are ranked nationally – Luensman (second), Murty (fourth), Faught (seventh) and Bye (12th).

The Bronchos have a 5-1 lead in the series, with all six meetings having been in this tournament. UCO earned a 24-12 win in the last match in 2019.

REUNION SET: All former wrestlers, coaches, managers and trainers are invited to the UCO Wrestling Reunion on Feb. 4. The Bronchos host Central Missouri at 2 p.m. that day.

Members of the 1983-84 and 1993-94 national championship teams will be recognized at halftime of the dual and a reception for all attendees will be held in the Hamilton Field House practice gym following the match.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Junior; 197

Anthony DesVigne: 5' 11"; Junior

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Hunter Jump: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Braden Morgan: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Ryder Ramsey: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Peter Rolle: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Emmanuel Skillings: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Garrett Steidley: 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

Shawn Streck: 6' 1"; Junior; 285

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Junior; 197

Anthony DesVigne
: 5' 11"; Junior

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Hunter Jump
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Braden Morgan
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Ryder Ramsey
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Peter Rolle
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Emmanuel Skillings
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Garrett Steidley
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

Shawn Streck
: 6' 1"; Junior; 285