Wrestling 3/8/2024 3:04:00 PM

Bronchos Stay No. 1, All Eight Qualifiers In Top Six

MANHEIM, Pa. (March 8) – All eight of Central Oklahoma's national tournament qualifiers are ranked in the top six at their respective weight as the Bronchos maintained their spot atop the final Division II poll released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Friday.

UCO finished with 99 points to stay No. 1 for the fourth consecutive time. Lander is second with 83 points and eight ranked individuals, followed by St. Cloud State (66 points/seven), Nebraska-Kearney (50/six) and West Liberty (50/three).

"Our guys have worked extremely hard to get to this point," head coach Todd Steidley said. "I'm proud of everything we've accomplished this season, but we still have a lot left in front of us.

"Rankings and seedings mean nothing once you step on the mat and we realize that. We're looking forward to the national tournament and are excited about our chances in what should be a great team race."

The final individual rankings also count as the seeds for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, which will be held March 15-16 at Hartman Arena in Wichita, Kan.

Dalton Abney is UCO's lone No. 1 individual, keeping his position after capturing a third straight Regional IV title last week. The two-time national champion is 14-0 on the year and will open against Nicholas Johnson of Glenville State.

Dylan Lucas (141), Gabe Johnson (157) and Shawn Streck (Hvy) are ranked third, while Garrett Wells is fourth, 165 Hunter Jump fifth and 149 Dylan Brown and 174 Anthony DesVigne sixth.

Abney, DesVigne, Johnson, Lucas and Streck are returning All-Americans for the defending national champion Bronchos. Brown, Jump and Wells are making their first national tournament appearances with UCO.

Lucas, 28-5 on the season, claimed his second straight regional crown last week to move up a spot in the rankings. The junior, who finished third at 133 last year, will face Colton Stoneking of Fairmont State in the first round.

Johnson also won his second consecutive regional title and is 22-4 with an 11-match winning streak. The sophomore, a seventh-place national finisher in 2023, goes against Wisconsin-Parkside's Ben Durocher in the first round at nationals.

Streck had a 41-match winning streak ended with an 11-10 regional finals loss in falling from the No. 1 slot. The defending national champion and two-time All-American is 15-1 this year and will open with Matt Long of Gannon.

Wells won the regional with a last-second takedown in the finals. The redshirt freshman is 29-6, leading the team in wins and falls (nine), and starts the national tournament against Cole Gray of Western Colorado.

Jump vaulted from out of the rankings to the No. 5 spot after winning the regional championship. The junior, 21-7 on the season, will take on San Francisco State's Kyle Botelho in the first round next week.

A two-time junior college All-American in his first year with the Bronchos, Brown cruised to the regional title last week. He's 19-3 with a 10-match winning streak and has a first-round meeting with Gannon's James Ryan.

DesVigne wasn't tested in claiming his second straight regional crown last week. The senior, a seventh-place national finisher last year, is 20-4 on the season and is set to take on St. Cloud State's Cole Glazier in the first round.

Print Friendly Version

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

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

Shawn Streck
: 6' 1"; Senior

Garrett Wells
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

Dylan Brown
: 5' 6"; Junior