No. 5 Bronchos Host No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney In Friday Showdown

UCO Beat The Lopers 22-14 In Jan. 11 Meeting at National Duals

EDMOND – A pair of NCAA Division II wrestling powerhouses square off Friday night when No. 5-ranked Central Oklahoma tangles with No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney in a 7 p.m. showdown at Hamilton Field House.

The Bronchos are 10-1 on the season and 3-0 in MIAA action, while the Lopers are 8-6 and 2-0 heading into a Thursday league dual at Newman. The long-time rivals have captured the last three Division II national championships, with UNK taking the title in 2022 and UCO winning the last two.

Overall the teams have combined for 13 Division II championships since 1992 – nine for the Bronchos and four for the Lopers.

"It's always a battle when we wrestle Kearney," head coach Todd Steidley said. "They've got a great team and our guys are going to have to be at their best. Every match is going to be important.

"We had a tough dual with them last month (22-14 UCO win at the NWCA Division II National Duals semifinals) and bonus points were the key, which they usually are in duals like this. It should be a great atmosphere and I just want our guys to cut loose and have some fun."

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Bronchos own a 24-12 lead over UNK in a series that started in 1990. The last 10 meetings have all been decided by eight points or less, including UCO's 22-14 win in the Jan. 11 National Duals semifinals.

The Bronchos won six of 10 matches in that match with a fall and major decision. It was UCO's sixth straight win over the Lopers dating back to Feb. 3, 2019 (a 19-15 UNK victory).

Here's the results from the Jan. 11 dual: 125 – Studd Morris, UCO, dec. Zach Ourada, 5-4; 133 – Peter Rolle, UCO, dec. Hector Serratos, 4-1; 141 – Joseph Airola, UNK, dec. Josh Taylor, 7-3; 149 – Dylan Brown, UCO, pinned Brady Collins 4:32; 157 – Gabe Johnson, UCO, dec. Cael Robb, 8-1; 165 – Hunter Jump, UCO, dec. Trenton Munoz, 4-2; 174 – Zane Coleman, UCO, major dec. Kaden Hart, 20-8; 184 – Jacobi Deal, UNK, dec. Garrett Wells, 5-1; 197 – Jackson Kinsella, UNK, dec. Emmanuel Skillings, 4-1; Hvy – Crew Howard, UNK, tech. fall Paul Sharp, 15-0.

THE LINEUPS: Here's a look at the probable starters for Friday, with UCO listed first: 125 – No. 1 Studd Morris, Sr. (20-1) or Guy Clevenger, So. (14-2) vs. No. 2 Zach Ourada, So. (11-2) or Bishop Murray, Jr. (8-4); 133 – No. 6 Peter Rolle, Sr. (14-3) or Eli Kirk, RS Fr. (18-4) vs. Hector Serratos, Jr. (14-4); 141 – Josh Taylor, So. (17-1) or Shaun Muse, So. (0-1) vs. No. 9 Joseph Airola, So. (11-7); 149 – No. 12 Dylan Brown, Sr. (10-4) vs. Brady Collins, RS Fr. (1-6); 157 – No. 2 Gabe Johnson, Jr. (16-1) vs. Cael Robb, RS Fr. (9-9); 165 – No. 10 Hunter Jump, Sr. (11-5) vs. No. 6 Trenton Munoz, Jr. (14-4); 174 – Zane Coleman, Sr. (15-6) or Tucker Waitman, RS Fr. (18-7) vs. Jacobi Deal, Sr. (12-4); 184 – No. 10 Garrett Wells, So. (13-4) vs. No. 8 Jacari Deal, Sr. (5-1); 197 – No. 13 Emmanuel Skillings, Jr. (13-5) vs. No. 5 Jackson Kinsella, Jr. (12-7); Hvy – Judson Rowland, So. (7-4) or Paul Sharp, So. (12-13) vs. No. 1 Crew Howard, Jr. (19-0).

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO thumped Fort Hays State 42-6 Sunday in its last outing. The Bronchos earned bonus points in all eight wins with four falls, two technical falls and two major decisions in scoring 40-plus points for the third straight dual.

The Bronchos have won 24 consecutive duals, tying a school record. UCO is also riding a 23-match MIAA winning streak and has captured four straight league titles.

Top-ranked 125 Studd Morris has won a team-high 20 matches and is 20-1 on the season with 12 bonus-point victories. He's riding an 11-match winning streak.

Josh Taylor is 17-1 with nine bonus wins at 141, with his lone loss coming to UNK's Joseph Ariola in the Jan. 11 dual.

Defending national champion and No. 2-ranked 157 Gabe Johnson is 16-1 with 12 bonus wins. He's won 31 of his last 32 matches.

Sixth-ranked 133 Peter Rolle and 174 Zane Coleman share the team lead in falls with seven.

ABOUT THE LOPERS: UNK's six losses have been to three Division I opponents (Little Rock, Northern Iowa and Nebraska), two Division II foes (top-ranked St. Cloud and UCO) and one NAIA power (top-ranked and defending national champion Grand View).

The Lopers finished third in the NWCA Division II National Duals, bouncing back from the 22-14 semifinal loss to the Bronchos to rout No. 7 McKendree 40-6 in the consolation finals.

UNK has two returning All-Americans in 125 Zach Ourada and Hvy Crew Howard. Ourada was named NWCA Division II Freshman of the year last season.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Bronchos have just two duals remaining after Friday's showdown. UCO goes to No. 21 Central Missouri Feb. 15 for its final MIAA dual, then is back home the next day to host New Mexico Highlands. That will be Senior Day and Central will also hand out 2024 national championship rings to members of last year's team.

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Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown: 5' 6"; Senior

Guy Clevenger: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Zane Coleman: 5' 10"; Senior

Gabe Johnson: 5' 8"; Junior

Hunter Jump: 6' 2"; Senior

Eli Kirk: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

Studd Morris: 5' 0"; Senior

Shaun Muse: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Peter Rolle: 5' 7"; Senior

Emmanuel Skillings: 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Dylan Brown
: 5' 6"; Senior

Guy Clevenger
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Zane Coleman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Gabe Johnson
: 5' 8"; Junior

Hunter Jump
: 6' 2"; Senior

Eli Kirk
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

Studd Morris
: 5' 0"; Senior

Shaun Muse
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Peter Rolle
: 5' 7"; Senior

Emmanuel Skillings
: 6' 1"; Junior