Wrestling 1/11/2025 5:32:00 PM

Bronchos Fall In National Duals Finals To No. 1 St. Cloud State

UCO Has School-record 29-match Winning Streak Ended With 21-16 Loss

CEDAR FALLs, Iowa – A trio of upsets helped Central Oklahoma build a big early lead, but it wasn't enough to hold off top-ranked St. Cloud State in the finals of the NWCA Division II National Duals Saturday afternoon.

The No. 4 Bronchos won the first four matches in racing ahead 16-0 and then didn't win again. The Huskies took the last six weights to claim a 21-16 victory, with the outcome decided on a last-second takedown in the final bout.

UCO needed a win from Judson Rowland at heavyweight and the sophomore nearly pulled it off against second-ranked La'Ron Parks. Rowland was close to a winning takedown in a 1-1 match as time was winding down, but Parks ended up getting a takedown of his own with three seconds left to give SCSU the title.

"It was a great dual with a lot of big momentum swings," head coach Todd Steidley said. "Our lower guys really came out strong, but we couldn't keep it going. St. Cloud has a great team and we knew it was going to be a battle.

"It was a good weekend for us. We saw some great competition and learned a lot, mainly that we still have a lot of work to do. I was proud of our guys, I thought they battled hard every match."

The loss ended a school-record 29-match winning streak and dropped the Bronchos to 7-1 on the season. The Huskies also handed UCO its last loss, winning 19-16 in the finals of this event two years ago.

Studd Morris started Central's early surge with a 4-1 victory at 125, capping a perfect 4-0 weekend. The fifth-ranked senior trailed 1-0 in the second period before swooping in for a takedown with 28 seconds left and added a third-period escape.

The Bronchos then pulled off three straight upsets in putting SCSU on the ropes.

Peter Rolle had the first of those at 133 with a first-period fall. The 10th-rated Rolle used a seven-point move midway through the opening stanza to take control against No. 7 Sam Spencer, then turned him over for his sixth fall of the season at the 2:55 mark.

Josh Taylor followed with a 12-2 major decision of sixth-ranked Alyeus Craig. Taylor, who knocked off No. 1 Cayden Henschel in UCO's quarterfinal win over Wisconsin-Parkside, went ahead 7-0 on a takedown and four-point near-fall in the first period and coasted in from there.

No. 7 Dylan Brown capped the upset spree at 149 by knocking off top-rated Colby Njos 4-1. The two were locked in a 1-1 tie in the third period when Brown struck for the winning takedown on the edge of the mat with just seven seconds left.

That made it 16-0 and the Bronchos appeared in good shape. But it wasn't to be.

SCSU started its six-match winning at 157 when No. 5 Joel Jesuroga knocked off top-ranked and defending national champion Gabe Johnson 4-1 in sudden victory. Johnson appeared close to a winning takedown in OT before Jesuroga came out on top in a scramble, ending Johnson's 28-match winning streak.

The Huskies followed major decisions at 165, 174 and 197 along with a win at 184 to take the lead and set up the dramatic finish.

UCO goes to Warrensburg, Mo. for the Roger Denker Open next Sunday, Jan. 19 and returns to dual action Jan. 24 at Drury.

St. Cloud State 21, Central Oklahoma 16
125 – Studd Morris, UCO, dec. Conor Knopick, 4-1.
133 – Peter Rolle, UCO, pinned Sam Spencer, 2:55.
141 – Josh Taylor, UCO, major dec. Alyeus Craig, 12-2.
149 – Dylan Brown, UCO, dec. Colby Njos, 4-1.
157 – Joel Jesuroga, SCSU, dec. Gabe Johnson, 4-1 (SV).
165 – Nick Novak, SCSU, major dec. Hunter Jump, 8-0.
174 – Bryce Dagel, SCSU, major dec. Zane Coleman, 12-2.
184 – Bryce Fitzpatrick, SCSU, dec. Garrett Wells, 12-6.
197 – Dominic Murphy, SCSU, major dec. Emmanuel Skillings, 19-11.
Hvy – La'Ron Parks, SCSU, dec. Judson Rowland, 4-1.

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Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown: 5' 6"; Senior

Zane Coleman: 5' 10"; Senior

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Junior

Hunter Jump: 6' 2"; Senior

Studd Morris: 5' 0"; Senior

Peter Rolle: 5' 7"; Senior

Emmanuel Skillings: 6' 1"; Junior

Josh Taylor: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Garrett Wells: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Judson Rowland: Hvy; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown
: 5' 6"; Senior

Zane Coleman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Junior

Hunter Jump
: 6' 2"; Senior

Studd Morris
: 5' 0"; Senior

Peter Rolle
: 5' 7"; Senior

Emmanuel Skillings
: 6' 1"; Junior

Josh Taylor
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Garrett Wells
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Judson Rowland
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: Hvy