UCO Finishes Dual Season This Weekend

No. 5 Bronchos at No. 21 Central Missouri Saturday, Host New Mexico Highlands Sunday

No. 5-ranked Central Oklahoma wraps up its regular season schedule this weekend with a pair of duals, one on the road and the other at home.

The Bronchos, 11-1 on the season and 4-0 in MIAA action, travel to Warrensburg, Mo. Saturday to take on league rival and No. 21 Central Missouri (8-4, 2-1) at 2 p.m. UCO returns home Sunday to host New Mexico Highlands (2-7) in a 2 p.m. Senior Dual dual at Hamilton Field House.

"Central Missouri has a good team and they match up well with us," head coach Todd Steidley said. "It will be a tough dual. Our guys will have to be ready to go out and battle for seven minutes.

"It's a unique situation with us competing on the road one day and then having a long bus trip to wrestle at home the next. We have to make sure our guys handle their weight right and get plenty of rest so we'll be prepared for Highlands."

Central is riding a 24-match MIAA winning streak and will be looking to sew up its fifth straight league championship against the Mules. The Bronchos will honor the 2023-24 national championship team with a ring ceremony before Sunday's dual and a Senior Day celebration will follow the match.

UCO will have nearly two weeks after this weekend to prepare for the NCAA Division II Super Regional IV Tournament, which will be held March 1 in Warrensburg. The top-three placers at each of the 10 weights qualify for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, set for March 14-15 in Indianapolis.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO topped No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney 19-12 last Friday for its school-record 25th consecutive home win in clinching at least a share of the MIAA title. The Bronchos haven't lost at Hamilton Field House since a 19-15 setback to the Lopers on Feb. 3, 2019.

Eight of the 10 matches were decided by three points or less and UCO won five of those, including two in overtime. Top-ranked Studd Morris clipped No. 2 Zach Ourada at 125 and 10th-rated Hunter Jump edged No. 6 Trenton Munoz at 165, both by identical 4-1 margins.

Defending national champion Gabe Johnson had the only bonus-point win with a 10-0 major decision at 157. No. 10 Garrett Wells earned MIAA Wrestler of the Week honors for his 7-4 victory over No. 8 Jacari Deal that avenged an earlier loss and clinched the dual for the Bronchos.

UCO has won 58 of its last 60 duals, with the lone two losses in that stretch coming against St. Cloud State in the NWCA Division II National Duals finals (2023 and '25).

The Bronchos have never lost to either Central Missouri or New Mexico Highlands. UCO owns a huge 46-0 advantage over the Mules in a rivalry that dates back to 1973 and is 8-0 against the Cowboys in a series that started in 1983.

Morris leads the team in wins with 21 and has won 12 in a row heading into a Saturday showdown against UCM's fourth-ranked Jakason Burks. He's 21-1 with 12 bonus wins.

Johnson also has just one loss. He's 17-1 with 13 bonus victories and has won 32 of his 33 matches dating back to last season.

Sixth-ranked Peter Rolle is 15-3 with 10 bonus wins, including seven falls. He's won five straight.

UCO LINEUP: Here's a look at UCO's probable starters for this weekend's duals: 125 – No. 1 Studd Morris, Sr. (21-1); 133 – No. 6 Peter Rolle, Sr. (15-3); 141 – Josh Taylor, So. (17-2); 149 – No. 12 Dylan Brown, Sr. (11-4); 157 – No. 2 Gabe Johnson, Jr. (17-1); 165 – No. 10 Hunter Jump, Sr. (12-5); 174 – Tucker Waitman, RS Fr. (18-8) or Zane Coleman, Sr. (15-6); 184 – No. 10 Garrett Wells, So. (14-4) or Barrett Haemker, Sr. (3-2); 197 – No. 13 Emmanuel Skillings, Jr. (13-6); Hvy – Judson Rowland, So. (7-5).

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Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown: 5' 6"; Senior

Zane Coleman: 5' 10"; Senior

Barrett Haemker: 5' 11"; Junior

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

Tucker Waitman: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown
: 5' 6"; Senior

Zane Coleman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Barrett Haemker
: 5' 11"; Junior

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

Tucker Waitman
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman