EDMOND – Central Oklahoma puts a lengthy home winning streak on the line Friday night when the Bronchos host Maryville for a 7 p.m. dual at Hamilton Field House.
UCO – ranked seventh by the NWCA and No. 1 by Open Mat – is 4-1 on the season and has won a school-record 28 straight home matches. The No. 21 Saints from St. Louis are 3-3.
The Bronchos are coming off a stellar third-place finish in the prestigious Midwest Classic despite competing without four starters. Friday’s dual is UCO’s last competition until the NWCA Division II National Duals on Jan. 9-10.
“We’re always excited about getting to wrestle in front of our fans,” head coach Todd Steidley said. “Maryville has a solid team and I know we’re going to get their best shot, so our guys will have to be ready to go.
“I’m really proud of how we wrestled last weekend. Our guys battled hard every match and showed a lot of grit in winning some big matches.”
UCO owns a 3-1 series lead over Maryville, including a 42-4 road win last year.
ABOUT THE BRONCHO: UCO is coming off a stellar third-place finish in the prestigious Midwest Classic last week despite competing without four starters.
Branson Britten led the way with a title-winning effort at 184 pounds, off a perfect 5-0 weekend with an 8-1 finals win over previously top-ranked Keegan Gahlhausen of Chadron State. He was named MIAA Wrestler of the Week for his efforts.
The Bronchos also got a third-place showing from 197 Garrett Wells, while 149 Cole Mayfield took fourth, 174 Hunter Jump fifth and 165 Bryce Dauphin seventh.
Wells went 5-1 with four bonus-point wins, with Mayfield collecting three bonus victories in going 6-2 in place of injured starter Bam West. Dauphin and Jump both went 4-2 in the tournament, with Jump knocking defending national champion Cole Ritter of Maryville 4-1 in the fifth-place match.
UCO had three top-ranked individuals in the latest Open Mat poll that was released Wednesday. Two-time national champion Gabe Johnson (157) and Jason Henschel (133) kept their No. 1 positions, while Branson leaped into the top spot after his championship performance last weekend.
Wells is ranked fourth, Jump seventh and Mayfield debuted at No. 8. Josh Taylor is ninth at 141, with 125 Guy Clevenger (11th), Dauphin (18th) and Hvy Judson Rowland (18th)
Johnson and Henschel, both 5-0 on the season, missed last weekend along with Taylor and West. All four may be back in the lineup for Friday’s dual.
Mayfield has a team-high 17 wins (17-3) this season with 11 bonus wins. Wells (10-1) and Britten (9-1) have one loss apiece.
Streak at Stake: Top-Ranked UCO Puts 28-Match Home Record on the Line Against Maryville
