EDMOND – Top-ranked Central Oklahoma makes a rare home appearance Friday when the Bronchos host Grand Valley State for a 7 p.m. dual inside Hamilton Field House.
UCO is 9-1 on the season with an eight-match winning streak, while the Lakers from Allendale, Michigan are 4-5. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The Bronchos are ranked No. 1 in both the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and The Open Mat polls, with GVSU list 12th by the NWCA and 13th by The Open Mat.
"Grand Valley got back a couple of guys who have been out of the lineup and they're a tough team that will really test us," head coach Todd Steidley. "We're going to have our hands full and our guys are going to have to be ready to wrestle."
UCO goes on the road next weekend for a pair of duals before returning home to host Drury on Jan. 30.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has won a school-record 29 consecutive home duals dating back to a 19-15 loss to Nebraska-Kearney on Feb. 3, 2019.
The Bronchos went 4-0 to capture the NWCA Division II National Duals title for the third time in five years last weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
UCO clobbered No. 9 Ashland 36-11 in the first round before getting past No. 13 Augustana 19-15 in the quarterfinals. The Bronchos routed No. 6 Lander 30-6 in the semifinals and then toppled No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney 22-12 in the title tilt.
Central's individuals went 28-12 in the tournament with 13 bonus-point wins and got perfect 4-0 performances from 125 Eli Kirk, 133 Jason Henschel, 157 Gabe Johnson and 174 Hunter Jump.
Kirk had a fall and technical fall along with 8-1 and 5-0 decisions, while Henschel didn't allow a single point in scoring two falls, an 8-0 major decision and 6-0 shutout. Johnson outscored his four foes a combined 45-5 with two technical falls, a major decision and an 8-1 victory, with Jump collecting two bonus wins in outscoring his four opponents by a 36-3 margin.
Johnson reached the 100-win mark with his 8-1 victory over No. 6 Cael Robb in the UNK dual. The senior star became the 27th UCO wrestler to reach that milestone and is now 100-16 with 53 bonus wins.
Johnson and Henschel are both ranked No. 1 by the NWCA and The Open Mat. Other ranked individuals for UCO (with NWCA listed first) are Kirk (NA/6), 141 Josh Taylor (3/8), 149 Cole Mayfield (11/12), 165 Bryce Dauphin (14/15), Jump (6/4), 184 Branson Britten (5/2), 197 Garrett Wells (4/3), Hvy Judson Rowland (12/NA) and Hvy Ryan Nichols (NA/20).
ABOUT GRAND VALLEY STATE: The Lakers went 2-3 in last week's NWCA Division II National Duals. GVSU upended No. 8 McKendree (23-19) and Minnesota State (28-7) while losing to No. 3 Wisconsin-Parkside (18-15), No. 19 Mary (23-20) and a second meeting with MSU (20-18).
Grand Valley finished 14th in last year's national tournament and has three returning All-Americans in 149 Chris Donathan, 174 Josh Kenny and Hvy Carter Blough. Kenney was the national champion at 174 in 2024.
Eight individuals are ranked by one of the two polls (NWCA listed first) - 125 Jack Parker (NA/3), 133 Jak Keller (NA/20), Donathan (NA/1), 157 Maclain Morency (NA/17), Kenny (1/2), 184 Bradley Mayse (NA/16), 197 Brayden Mirjavadi (10/7) and Blough (2/5).
UCO'S PROBABLE LINEUP: Here's a look at Central's probable lineup for Friday's dual:
125 – Eli Kirk, So. (5-0)
133 – Jason Henschel, Sr. (10-0) or Easton Taylor, Jr. (13-1)
141 – Josh Taylor, Jr. (6-2)
149 – Cole Mayfield, Fr. (18-4) or Bam West, Jr. (3-3)
157 – Gabe Johnson, Sr. (9-0)
165 – Bryce Dauphin, Sr. (8-6) or Cooper Zickefoose, Fr. (9-0)
174 – Hunter Jump, Sr. (11-4)
184 – Branson Britten, Sr. (13-2)
197 – Garrett Wells, Jr. (14-2) or Emmanuel Skillings, Sr. (4-1)
Hvy – Ryan Nicols, So. (4-4) or Judson Rowland, Jr. (4-0)
