Mike Kirk
No. 3-ranked Central Oklahoma begins its quest for a third straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title and looks to continue a lengthy winning streak Friday when the Bronchos travel to Wichita, Kan. to take on Newman in a 7 p.m. dual at Fugate Gymnasium.
UCO is 2-0 on the season, while the Jets are 1-0. Central owns a 17-0 lead in the series.
The Bronchos have won 21 straight duals dating back to the 2019-20 season, just two off the school record of 23 straight set from 2001-03. UCO is also nearing the 600th win in program history, entering Friday’s dual with a 598-251-11 record.
“We’re looking forward to getting back on the mat,” said head coach Todd Steidley, who is 75-11 in his seventh year at the helm. “I was happy with how we performed last weekend and we need to build on that momentum.
“We have a lot of things to work on and this is another opportunity for us to get better.”
The Bronchos follow up Friday’s dual with a trip to Indianapolis, Ind. next weekend for the prestigious Midwest Classic on Dec. 17-18. It’s the toughest regular-season tournament of the regular season, attracting many of the top teams in NCAA Division II.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO returned to action after a two-week break last Saturday, going to Springfield, Mo. for the Drury Open.
The Bronchos dominated that one-day event, crowning five individual champions along with a pair of co-champions.
Junior 125 Studd Morris led the way, going 5-0 with five bonus-point wins in earning MIAA Wrestler of the Week honors.
UCO also got titles from 149 Brik Filippo, 174 Tre’Vaughn Craig, 197 Dalton Abney and Hvy Shawn Streck. Nate Keim and Ryder Ramsey were co-champs at 141, while Gabe Johnson (157) and Anthony DesVigne (174) had runner-up finishes.
Abney and Streck both went 5-0 on the day with four bonus wins. It was the first action of the year for Streck, a returning All-American who missed the first month recovering from off-season surgery.
Defending national champion Abney had three first-period falls and a technical fall in moving to 7-0 on the season. The top-ranked junior star is riding a 33-match winning streak and is 56-4 for his career.
It was also the season debut for Craig, who joined the team late after starting at defensive back for the UCO football team this season. He went 4-0 with three bonus wins, including a 10-2 major decision over No. 10-ranked Austin Morgan of Central Missouri, before edging teammate DesVigne 3-2 in the finals.
UCO’s starting lineup for Friday’s dual is a combined 79-17 on the season with 40 bonus wins.
THE LINEUP: Here’s a look at the probable lineups for Friday’s dual, with UCO wrestler listed first:
125 – No. 7 Studd Morris, Jr. (14-1) vs. Dylan Sheler, Fr.; 133 – Dylan Lucas, So. (8-1) vs. Jevin Foust, Fr.; 141 – No. 12 Nate Keim, Sr. (7-3) vs. Colby Schreiner, Fr.; 149 – No. 9 Brik Filippo, So. (9-3) vs. Hunter Dietrich, Fr.; 157 – No. 9 Gabe Johnson, RS Fr. (12-3) vs. Chris Mapp, So.; 165 – No. 12 Ty Lucas, Sr. (3-4) vs. Jace Fisher, So.; 174 – Tre’Vaughn Craig, Jr. (4-0) vs. Vincenzo Oliva, Fr.; 184 – Anthony DesVigne, Jr. (12-2) vs. JD Johnson, Jr.; 197 – No. 1 Dalton Abney, Jr. (7-0) vs. Caleb Wunsch, Fr.; Hvy – No. 3 Shawn Streck, Jr. (5-0) vs. DeLeon Freeman, Fr.
