No. 1 Bronchos Ready For Regional

Central Oklahoma Takes On The 11-Team Field Saturday In Indianapolis

Months of preparation boils down to the most important day of the season for top-ranked Central Oklahoma and that arrives Saturday when the Bronchos trek to Indianapolis, Ind. for the NCAA Division II Super Regional IV Tournament.

First-round action begins at 9 a.m. (Oklahoma time) at Nicoson Hall on the Indianapolis campus and the 10-team tournament will run straight through, culminating in the placement matches at approximately 4 p.m.

The top-three finishers at each of the 10 weights qualify for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, which are set for March 15-16 at Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kan. Five other regional tournaments will also be held Saturday, with 30 qualifiers advancing from each of those.

"This is the biggest day of the year," eighth-year head Toddy Steidley said. "You can't do anything at nationals if you don't get there, so the first order of business is qualifying. It all comes down to how we perform on this one day and the number one goal is to move everybody on to the national tournament.

"Our guys have worked hard and they're ready. I just want them to wrestle hard for seven minutes every time they step on the mat. The guys have to take each match as it comes and be ready to respond if there's some adversity. "

The Bronchos are looking for their fourth straight regional title and the 23rd since joining Division II in 1990. UCO crowned seven champions – its most since 2002 – and qualified all 10 individuals in finishing 38.5 points ahead of runner-up Indianapolis last year on its way to capturing the 16th national championship in program history.

ABOUT THE REGIONAL: Three of the 10 teams are ranked in the top 15 – No. 1 UCO, No. 5 McKendree and No.13 Indianapolis. Rounding out the field is Central Missouri, Drury. Kentucky Wesleyan, Maryville, Newman, Ouachita Baptist and Quincy.

"We're in one of the toughest regionals," Steidley said. "There are a lot of good individuals at each weight and we know it's going to be a big challenge for us."

There are 19 ranked individuals in the tournament and five returning champions, all from UCO – 141 Dylan Lucas (133 last year), 157 Gabe Johnson, 174 Anthony DesVigne, 197 Dalton Abney and Hvy Shawn Streck.

Ranked individuals at each weight: 125 – Christian Mejia, McKendree (3) and Caden Howard, Drury (11); 133 – Ryan Ripplinger, McKendree (9) and Evan Binder, Maryville (12); 141 – Ronan Schuelke, McKendree (2), Dylan Lucas, UCO (4) and Blake Mulkey, Indianapolis (7); 149 – Dylan Brown, UCO (6); 157 - Gabe Johnson, UCO (3); 165 – Cory Peterson, McKendree (2) and Jace Fisher, Newman (4); 174 – Trey Sizemore, Indianapolis (5) and Anthony DesVigne, UCO (12); 184 – Garrett Wells, UCO (5) and Damon Ashworth, Central Missouri (6); 197 – Dalton Abney, UCO (1) and Derek Blubaugh, Indianapolis (2); Hvy – Shawn Streck, UCO (1) and Ryan Herman, Maryville (10).

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO put together just the fifth unbeaten dual season in the 71-year history of the program – and the fourth under Steidley – in finishing a perfect 15-0.

The Bronchos captured the NWCA Division II National Duals title with wins over four top-20 teams, beating No. 16 Upper Iowa (28-9), No. 5 McKendree (21-13), No. 4 St. Cloud State (24-10) and No. 3 Augustana (37-3).

UCO also went 5-0 to claim its fourth straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association dual crown, highlighted by a 20-13 road win over No. 9 Nebraska-Kearney in the next-to-last dual of the season.

UCO's 10 regional starters finished the regular season with a combined 161-42 record, including 100 bonus-point wins.

Here's a look at each of Central's 10 regional participants.

125 Garrett Steidley, So. – Has seen limited action this season, bringing 3-5 record with one fall into the regional and will probably be unseeded … Is 1-2 against regional opponents this season … Missed first semester while recovering from injury, not making debut until the National Duals … Making first regional tournament appearance … Has 21-13 career record with the Bronchos.

133 Peter Rolle, Jr. – Junior veteran who has filled starting role most of the season after seeing back-up duty throughout his career … Is 13-7 with seven bonus-point wins (four falls, two technical falls, one major decision) … Is 5-1 against regional opponents and should be seeded third this weekend … Consolation champion at the Drury Open … Making first regional tournament appearance … Has 28-16 career record with the Bronchos.

141 Dylan Lucas, Jr. – Ranked fourth nationally with 25-5 record and team-high 18 bonus-point wins (seven technical falls, six major decisions, five falls) … Is 9-1 against regional opponents and should be seeded second this weekend … Drury Open champion, lost 4-3 finals decision to top-ranked Zack Donathan of Tiffin in Midwest Classic finals and won consolation title at Lindenwood Open … Went 3-0 with three bonus wins in claiming regional title at 133 last year, then earned All-America honors with third-place national finish … Has 48-11 career record with 35 bonus wins in two years with the Bronchos.

149 Dylan Brown, Jr. – Ranked sixth nationally with 16-3 record that includes nine bonus-point wins (four technical falls, three falls, two major decisions) … Enters regional riding a seven-match winning streak and should be the No. 1 seed … Is 4-1 against regional opponents this season … Won Drury Open title … In first year with Bronchos after earning junior college All-America honors twice at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

Gabe Johnson, So. – Ranked third nationally with 19-4 record and 12 bonus-point wins (eight technical falls, three major decisions, one fall) … Eight tech falls is tied for fifth on UCO's single-season list … Has won 10 of his last 11 matches, including eight straight … Is 7-0 against regional opponents this season and should be seeded first … Midwest Classic runner-up, falling in finals to second-ranked Jack Haskin of Lake Erie … Finished fourth in Lindenwood Open with losses to two Division I wrestlers … Two-time regional finalist with 5-1 tournament record, finishing runner-up at 149 as true freshman in 2021 and winning title at 157 last year … Placed seventh at nationals last year to earn All-America honors … Has 58-15 career record with 25 bonus wins at UCO.

Hunter Jump, Jr. – Enters regional with 18-7 record that includes 10 bonus-point wins (six major decisions, three falls, one technical fall) … Has won nine of his last 10 matches, including six in a row … Is 8-2 against regional opponents this season and should be seeded third this weekend … Is 3-3 in six overtime matches … Drury Open champion … Making second regional tournament appearance … Went 3-2 and finished fourth at 165 in 2022, dropping 4-2 consolation finals decision to just miss out on national tournament berth … Has 43-15 career record with 22 bonus wins at UCO.

Anthony DesVigne, Sr. – Ranked 12th nationally with 17-4 record and 12 bonus-point wins (eight technical falls, three major decisions, one fall) … Tied for fifth on school single-season list for tech falls … Is 3-0 against regional opponents this season and should be seeded second this weekend … Started season at 184, going 8-1 there while winning Drury Open and finishing runner-up at Lindenwood Open … Made debut at 174 in National Duals and is 9-3 there with a five-match winning streak … Defending regional champion, going 3-0 to take the title at 174 last year in first regional appearance … Went on to place seventh in national tournament to claim All-America honors … Has seen action at four weights (157, 165, 174, 184) with the Bronchos and has 77-35 career record with 40 bonus wins.

Garrett Wells, RS Fr. – Ranked fifth nationally with 26-7 record that includes 14 bonus-point wins (eight falls, five technical falls, one major decision) … Leads the team in wins and falls … Has won seven of his last eight matches … Is 9-0 against regional opponents this season and should be the top seed … Went 5-0 with four one-point wins in capturing title at prestigious Midwest Classic to break into the rankings … Also runner-up at the UCO and Drury opens … Went 16-1 in four open tournaments while redshirting last season.

Dalton Abney, Sr. – Ranked first nationally with 11-0 record and has five bonus-point wins (three technical falls, two major decisions) … Wrestled only one match the first semester, winning 19-4 technical fall … Hasn't allowed an offensive point this season … Is 4-0 against regional opponents this season and should be the No. 1 seed … Is riding 19-match winning streak that started in last year's regional tournament … Four-time regional finalist, finishing runner-up in 2020 and '21 before winning the title the past two years with finals wins over second-ranked Derek Blubaugh of Indianapolis … Has 11-2 record in the regional tournament … Four-time All-American and two-time defending national champion … Has 83-6 career record with 43 bonus wins.

Shawn Streck, Sr. – Ranked first nationally with 13-0 record that includes 12 bonus wins (10 technical falls, two major decisions) … Ranks second on UCO's single-season tech fall list, needing one more to tie the record of 11 set by Kyle Evans in 2007-08 … Sat out first semester, not making debut until the National Duals … Is 4-0 against regional opponents and should be seeded No. 1 … Is averaging an incredible 17.5 points a match and has scored 20-plus points four times … Holds 66-0 takedown advantage and hasn't given up an offensive point this season … Is 6-0 in two previous regional tournament appearances and will be looking for third straight title this weekend … Went 3-0 with three major decisions in 2022 and was 3-0 with a pair of bonus wins last year … Two-time All-American and defending national champion, earning Division II Wrestler of the Year accolades last season … Has 51-2 career record with 36 bonus wins and is riding 39-match winning streak.

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Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney: 6' 1"; Senior

Anthony DesVigne: 5' 11"; Senior

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Hunter Jump: 6' 2"; Junior

Dylan Lucas: 5' 6"; Junior

Peter Rolle: 5' 7"; Junior

Garrett Steidley: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Shawn Streck: 6' 1"; Senior

Garrett Wells: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

Dylan Brown: 5' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Dalton Abney
: 6' 1"; Senior

Anthony DesVigne
: 5' 11"; Senior

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Hunter Jump
: 6' 2"; Junior

Dylan Lucas
: 5' 6"; Junior

Peter Rolle
: 5' 7"; Junior

Garrett Steidley
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Shawn Streck
: 6' 1"; Senior

Garrett Wells
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

Dylan Brown
: 5' 6"; Junior