Mike Kirk
Top-ranked Central Oklahoma opens a four-match road-swing this weekend when the Bronchos travel to Kearney, Neb. for the Midwest Duals at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.
UCO, 7-0 on the season and riding a 14-match winning streak, takes on No. 18 Northern State (6-6) at 10 a.m. Saturday before facing Western Colorado (6-2) at 11:30 a.m.
“We’re going to have to be ready for two tough duals,” said head coach Todd Steidley, whose team has won 39 of their last 40 duals. “Northern and Western both have solid teams and their guys don’t back down. We need to be focused.”
The Bronchos will also compete in two junior varsity matches, meeting NSU’s JV at 10 and Nebraska-Kearney’s JV at 11:30.
“It’s going to be great for some of our other guys to get outside competition,” Steidley said. “We’re fortunate that we have good depth at every weight and it’s a perfect opportunity for us to get some extra matches in.”
UCO heads to Colorado next weekend for back-to-back duals against Adams State and Colorado State-Pueblo before hosting No. 19 Central Missouri on Feb. 4.
UCO won its 15th straight home dual Sunday, romping past Maryville 42-4. The Bronchos racked up seven bonus-point wins in the rout, including first-period falls from 133 Shaun Muse, 141 Dylan Lucas and 149 Bam West.
UCO wrestled five redshirt freshman in the match – Muse, West, 125 Guy Clevenger, 174 Jaxon Randall and 184 Garrett Wells. Clevenger had a technical fall, Randall a major decision and Wells a 5-0 shutout.
Wells leads the Bronchos with 20 wins, including nine bonus victories….
