No. 11-ranked Central Oklahoma gets the 2025-26 wrestling season started in a big way this weekend with two separate events in different states.
The Bronchos are sending up to 25 individuals to the Falcon Open in Park City, Kansas on Saturday, while the starting unit heads to Little Rock, Arkansas for two big duals on Sunday.
UCO takes on MIAA rival and No. 25-rated Ouachita Baptist at noon at Jack Stephens Center before facing Division I Little Rock at 3 p.m. The Trojans are ranked as high as 14th by one website and are No. 22 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll.
It will be Central’s first meeting with a Division I opponent since a 23-22 neutral-site win over Arizona State on Jan. 15, 2011 at the Lone Star Duals.
“Obviously it’s going to be a tough challenge, but I’m excited to see what we can do,” 10th-year head coach Todd Steidley said. “Ouachita has a good team and Little Rock is one of the best Division I teams in the country, so we will have our work cut out for us.
“Wrestling good teams is only going to make us better and it’s a great opportunity for us. Our guys have been working hard and they’re ready to go wrestle somebody else besides their teammates.”
It’s the beginning of a tough season-opening stretch for the Bronchos, who go to No. 14 Augustana Nov. 16 before making their home debut Nov. 22 against No. 13 McKendree.
Twenty-five teams are expected to compete in the Falcon Open, which is hosted by Friends University and will be held at Hartman Arena in Park City.
UCO LINEUP: Here’s a look at the probable lineup for Central in Sunday’s two duals.125 – Guy Clevenger, Jr.; 133 – Jason Henschel, Sr.; 141 – Shaun Muse, Jr.; 149 – Bam West, Jr. Or Josh Taylor, Jr.; 157 – Gabe Johnson, Sr.; 165 – Byrce Dauphin, Sr.; 174 – Hunter Jump, Sr.; 184 – Branson Britten, Sr.; 197 – Garrett Wells, Jr.; Hvy – Judson Rowland, Jr. Or Ryan Nichols, So.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO returned 15 individuals with starting experience from last year’s 13-1 team that captured MIAA and Super Regional IV titles for the fifth straight time before finishing fifth in the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Senior star and three-time All-American Gabe Johnson leads the way. Johnson has won two straight 157-pound national championships, has won 41 of his last 42 matches and is 91-16 for his career.
The Bronchos also have back two-time All-American Garrett Wells, who is moving up to 197 this season. He went 54-17 at 184 the past two years in winning two straight regional titles, finishing sixth nationally both times.
Former All-American and two-time national qualifier Hunter Jump is also moving up a weight, going to 174 after going 42-15 at 165 the last two seasons. The senior was a third-place national finisher in 2024 and qualified again last year by winning a second straight regional crown.
Junior heavyweight Judson Rowland is the other returning starter set to be in Sunday’s lineup. He went 12-7 after joining the team at the semester break last year and just missed qualifying for nationals with a fourth-place regional finish.
Five of the seven possible Sunday starters have seen previous action with the Bronchos.
Junior 125 Guy Clevenger has a 37-10 record and went 23-8 as the main starter two seasons ago, while senior 133 Jason Henschel started at Division II Northern State in 2023-24 before transferring to UCO and redshirting last year.
Junior 141 Shaun Muse and junior 149 Bam West have seen limited starting duty in their careers, but junior 149 Josh Taylor went 21-4 starting most of last season at 141 and was a fourth-place regional finisher. Senior 165 Bryce Dauphin was 14-4 as a part-time starter last year.
The lone newcomers are transfers Branson Britten at 184 and Ryan Nichols at heavyweight. Britten started his career at Northern Colorado before spending last season at Little Rock, finishing fourth in the Pac 12 Championships after bumping up to heavyweight, while Nichols went 7-3 in back-up duty at Oklahoma last year.
OBU LINEUP: Here’s a look at Ouachita Baptist’s probable starters for Sunday. 125- Justin Shaw, Jr.; 133 – Jimmy Anderson, Sr.; 141 – Abdul Hashimi, So.; 149 – Caleb Andrews, Jr.; 157 – Jake Romig, Sr. Or Eli Silva, Fr.; 165 – Sam Schmidt, Jr.; 174 – Ethan Day, Fr.; 184 – Luke Brooks, So. Or Luke Brunson, Jr.; 197 Cayden Byrd, So.; Hvy – BK Seago, Jr.
ABOUT THE TIGERS: Ouachita Baptist is led by top-ranked 133-pounder Jimmy Anderson. He was the Super Regional IV runner-up to UCO’s Peter Rolle and placed fourth in the national tournament to earn All-America honors.
The Tigers went 4-7 in duals last year and finished seventh in the regional tournament.
UCO owns a big 15-2 advantage in the series and has won the last seven meetings between the two.
LR LINEUP: Here’s a look at Little Rock’s probable starters for Sunday. 125 – Tyson Roach, So.; 133 – Jackson Tucker, Fr.; 141 – Brennan Van Hoecke, Jr.; 149 – Brock Herman, Jr.; 157 – Jaivon Jones, Sr.; 165 – Matty Bianchi, Sr.; 174 – Gunner Holland, So.; 184 – Brock DeiSignore, Sr.; 197 – Michael Gasper, Sr.; Hvy – Kaden Darwin, So.
ABOUT THE TROJANS: Little Rock started its program in 2019-20 and has quickly became a top 20 team in Division I. The Trojans went 17-3 in duals last year and captured the Pac 12 championship on their way to finishing a best-ever 17th in the Division I national tournament.
All-American 165 Matty Bianchi leads the team and enters the season ranked fifth nationally. Three others are listed in the individual rankings – 149 Brock Herman (16th), 184 Brock DeiSignore (26th) and 157 Jaivon Jones (31st).
