No. 2 UCO Returns To The Mat Friday At Newman

Bronchos Are Back in Action After a Two-week Break

No. 2-ranked Central Oklahoma returns to the mat from a two-week break Friday when the Bronchos travel to Wichita, Kan. to take on MIAA rival Newman in a 7 p.m. dual at Fugate Gymnasium.

UCO is 3-0 on the season and 2-0 in league matches, while the Jets are 0-2 going into their MIAA opener. The two-time defending national champion Bronchos haven't competed since downing Ouachita Baptist 29-10 on Nov. 22 in the first home dual of the season.

"We've had some good practices and were also able to take a few days off for Thanksgiving," head coach Todd Steidley said. "We have a few guys who have been banged up, so it was good to give them a few days off.

"It will be good to get back at it and we need to face some outside competition. I'm anxious to see how we look Friday after a pretty long layoff."

UCO heads into Friday's dual with a couple of long winning streaks. The Bronchos have won 25 consecutive duals – and 50 of their last 51 – along with 23 straight MIAA matches.

It's the last dual of 2024 for Central, which ends the first semester schedule Dec. 14-15 at the prestigious Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind.

A LOOK AT THE LINEUPS: Here's the tentative starters for Friday's dual, with UCO wrestler listed first:

125 – Studd Morris, Sr. (6-0) vs. Dylan Sheler, Jr.; 133 – Eli Kirk, RS Fr. (12-3) or Peter Rolle, Sr. (5-0) vs. Jaxson Newcomb, Fr.; 141 – Dylan Lucas, Sr. (2-0) vs. Trent Moses, Jr.; 149 – Bam West, So. (3-2) vs. Bryce Kegley or Colby Schreiner, Jr.; 157 – Gabe Johnson, Jr. (3-0) vs. Hunter Dietrich, So.; 165 – Hunter Jump, Jr. (1-1) or Jaxon Randall, So. (11-4) vs. Jace Fisher, Sr.; 174 – Zane Coleman, Sr. (10-3) or Bryce Dauphin, Jr. (6-3) vs. Chris Mapp, Sr.; 184 – Garrett Wells, So. (3-0) vs. Dane Donigian, So.; 197 – Emmanuel Skillings, Jr. (5-1) vs. Erik Tomanek, So.; Hvy – Barrett Haemker, Jr. (0-1) or Paul Sharp, So. (7-5) vs. Caleb Wunsch, Jr.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO's three wins have come against teams currently ranked in the top 25 -- No. 4 McKendree (18-17), No. 21 Maryville (42-4) and No. 25 Ouachita Baptist (29-10). The Bronchos have also had individuals compete in four open tournaments.

Eight individuals are ranked in the top 15 at their respective weight, led by reigning national champion Gabe Johnson as the No. 1 pick at 157. The junior star is riding an 18-match winning streak.

Dylan Lucas is second at 141, while 149 Dylan Brown and 165 Hunter Jump are third, 133 Peter Rolle fourth, 184 Garrett Wells fifth and 125 Studd Morris and 197 Emmanuel Skillings 13th. Brown has yet to compete this season.

Brown (fourth), Jump (third) and Wells (sixth) are returning All-Americans for the Bronchos. Lucas placed third in the national tournament in 2023, while Morris was a national qualifier that season before missing last year to injury.

Morris, Rolle and Skillings all won titles at the Drury Open in mid-November, with Dauphin and Randall finishing runner-up in that event.

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Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown: 5' 6"; Senior

Zane Coleman: 5' 10"; Senior

Bryce Dauphin: 5' 9"; Junior

Barrett Haemker: 5' 11"; Junior

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Junior

Hunter Jump: 6' 2"; Senior

Eli Kirk: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

Dylan Lucas: 5' 6"; Senior

Studd Morris: 5' 0"; Senior

Peter Rolle: 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown
: 5' 6"; Senior

Zane Coleman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Bryce Dauphin
: 5' 9"; Junior

Barrett Haemker
: 5' 11"; Junior

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Junior

Hunter Jump
: 6' 2"; Senior

Eli Kirk
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

Dylan Lucas
: 5' 6"; Senior

Studd Morris
: 5' 0"; Senior

Peter Rolle
: 5' 7"; Senior