Central Oklahoma has had 48 wrestlers combine for 75 individual national championships in its rich history.
The Bronchos have crowned two four-time national champions -- Johnny Nimmo (1987-90) and Cole Province (2001-04) -- along with a pair of three-time winners in Ronnie James (1981-83) and Jerry Best (1994-96).
UCO had at least one individual national champion 12 consecutive years from 1979-90 and has had three or more winners nine times (1981, '90, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '02 and '03). The Bronchos won six of 10 weights in the 1981 NAIA National Tournament, a record for all levels of collegiate wrestling.
Eight of UCO's champions earned outstanding wrestler honors in the national tournament -- Todd Osborn (1981), Ronnie James (1982), Benny Coleman (1984), Johnny Nimmo (1987), Brian Melchoiri (1994), Cole Province (2003), Casy Rowell (2014) and Chris Watson (2015).
Central has also had three individuals named NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year following the season -- Watson in 2015-16, Heath Gray in 2019-20 and Shawn Streck in 2022-23.
The Bronchos have had national champions in four different divisions -- Amateur Athletic Union (one), NCAA Division I (two), NAIA (24) and NCAA Division II (48).
A season-by-season look at UCO's individual national champions:
NCAA Division II
2024-25
Gabe Johnson (157 pounds)
2023-24
Gabe Johnson (157)
Shawn Streck (Hvy)
2022-23
Dalton Abney (197)
Shawn Streck (Hvy)
2021-22
Heath Gray (184)
Dalton Abney (197)
2020-21
Heath Gray (184)
2017-18
Eli Hale (125)
2014-15
Chris Watson (165)
2013-14
Casy Rowell (133)
2012-13
Cory Dauphin (157)
2007-08
Kyle Evans (141)
2006-07
Kyle Evans (141)
2003-04
Cole Province (133)
Jason Tapia (174)
2002-03
Mark Dodgen (125)
Cole Province (133)
Shawn Silvis (165)
2001-02
Cole Province (133)
Matt Dodgen (141)
Shawn Silvis (165)
Muhammed Lawal (197)
2000-01
Cole Province (133)
1999-00
Mark Dodgen (125)
1998-99
Jeremiah Constant (197)
Edwin Lorne (184)
1997-98
Matt Goodson (126)
1995-96
Jerry Best (142)
Shawn Bateman (150)
Mark Cunningham (158)
1994-95
Brian Melchiori (126)
Mike Keim (134)
Jerry Best (142)
1993-94
Brian Melchiori (126)
Ryan Martin (134)
Jerry Best (142)
Wes White (158)
1992-93
Todd Drake (142)
Wes White (158)
Keith Cunningham (167)
1991-92
Randy Zellner (118)
Keith Cunningham (158)
Howard Moore (167)
1989-90
Johnny Nimmo (150)
Howard Moore (167)
Greg Oplotnik (190)
1975-76
Bill Mitchell (167)
NAIA
1988-89
Shawn Flemming (118)
Johnny Nimmo (158)
1987-88
Johnny Nimmo (158)
1986-87
Todd Steidley (142)
Johnny Nimmo (150)
1985-86
Joe Starzenski (134)
1984-85
Ricky Bollenbach (142)
1983-84
Jack O'Connor (158)
Benny Coleman (177)
1982-83
Ronnie James (142)
1981-82
Ronnie James (142)
Bill Ameen (177)
1980-81
Dennis Kendrick (118)
Todd Osborn (126)
Ronnie James (134)
Alan Maddox (142)
Benny Coleman (167)
Bill Ameen (177)
1979-80
David James (134)
1978-79
David James (134)
Johnny Powell (142)
1974-75 (NAIA)
Terry Henry (126)
1973-74
Terry Henry (126)
Bill Mitchell (177)
NCAA Division I
1935-36
Ted Anderson (123)
Ray Clemons (191)
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)
1934-35
Louis Tomlinson (145)
