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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

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2023-24 Wrestling Roster

Dalton Abney

  • Height 6-1
  • Weight 197
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Tulsa, Okla.
  • Highschool Cascia Hall

Biography

Two-time national champion and senior standout aiming to become a five-time All-American, something never before done at UCO … Earned All-America honors as a redshirt freshman in 2019-20 after the international pandemic canceled the national tournament and then gained an extra year of eligibility when the NCAA opted not to count the COVID-affected 2020-21 season … National runner-up that year, then followed by claiming the past two titles … Has wrestled every match at 197 pounds and brings spectacular 72-6 career record with 38 bonus-point wins into final season … Tough, physical grappler who punishes opponents when in control on the mat … Excels with positioning and extremely hard to score on … Has been a dominating force throughout his career and is poised to finish with a flourish in bid to become rare three-time national champion.

2022-23: Battled through injury-plagued season to climb atop the podium at the national tournament for the second time … Finished 23-2 with 11 bonus wins … Started 14-0 – stretching two-year winning streak to 40 in a row – in capturing titles at the Drury Open and Midwest Classic before losing overtime decision to rival Derek Blubaugh of Indianapolis in the NWCA Division II National Duals in early January … Claimed technical fall in next bout there before suffering severe ankle injury in loss to St. Cloud State’s Dominic Murphy … Missed the rest of the regular season, not returning until the Super Regional IV Tournament on Feb. 26 … Rolled into finals with 18-2 technical fall, first-period pin and 4-0 shutout before blanking Blubaugh 2-0 for the title … Was the No. 1 seed at nationals and made that stand up with 4-0 run to the gold medal … Opened with first-period fall and 9-1 major decision, then clipped Murphy 4-2 in sudden-victory to make the finals … Used third-period escape to trim Blubaugh 1-0 in claiming second national crown.

2021-22: Put together fantastic season, finishing perfect 26-0 with 10 falls and four major decisions … Allowed a mere 13 points in those 26 bouts, giving up 10 escapes and one takedown along with one penalty … Eight of 10 falls came in the first period … Was ranked No. 1 all season and made it stand up at the end with 4-0 performance at the national tournament … Opened with 4-0 and 5-0 shutouts, scored dramatic third-period fall in the semifinals and capped unbeaten season with 6-0 finals triumph over Blubaugh … Didn’t give up a point in beating Blubaugh four times during the year, scoring first-period fall in dual with the Greyhounds, winning 4-0 in Midwest Classic finals and 6-0 in regional tournament finals … Clinched team title for UCO with Midwest Classic finals victory … Recorded 12 shutouts on the season … Named Super Region IV Wrestler of the Year and was one of six finalists for NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year.

2020-21: Finished 10-2 with team-high five falls in making it all the way to the national finals … Had three falls and a technical fall in shortened 5-0 dual season, then was runner-up in both the regional and national tournaments … Scored two falls in making regional finals before dropping 2-0 decision to McKendree’s Ryan Vasbinder … Pulled out three close wins (3-2, 2-1, 2-0) at nationals, then lost tough 1-0 finals decision to Vasbinder.

2019-20: Didn’t compete in the first semester while recovering from knee injury, then went 13-2 with seven bonus-point wins … Earned All-America recognition by the National Wrestling Coaches Association after the national tournament was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic … Started season 11-0, winning titles in the Viking-Warrior Open and the Jet Open … Had three first-period falls and 6-0 finals shutout at the Jet Open … Was runner-up at the Super Regional IV Tournament in qualifying for nationals, earning first-period pin and 9-1 major decision to make the finals before falling to Vasbinder … Was ranked fifth going into the national tournament.

2018-19: Went perfect 11-0 during redshirt year while competing in three open tournaments … Captured titles at the Oklahoma City Open, Swede Open and Fort Hays State Open, scoring six falls – four in the first period – and one technical fall in the process.

High School: Three-time state finalist at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, winning one title and finishing runner-up twice ... Racked up impressive 105-5 career record and earned All-State honors as a senior ... Also lettered in baseball and football for the Commandos.

Personal: Biology major looking to become an orthopedic surgeon ... Enjoys disc golf and fishing as hobbies ... Names the Minnesota Vikings as his favorite professional team ... Birthdate is Jan. 7, 1999.

Historical Player Information

  • 2018-19Freshman

    6'1" 197 lbs

  • 2019-20Redshirt Freshman

    6'1" 197 lbs

  • 2020-21Sophomore

    6'1" 197 lbs

  • 2021-22Sophomore

    6'1" 197 lbs

  • 2022-23Junior

    6'1" 197 lbs

  • 2023-24Senior

    6'1" 197 lbs
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