MANHEIM, Pa. — Perennial power Central Oklahoma came in at No. 11 in the NCAA Division II preseason poll released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Thursday afternoon.
The Bronchos of 10th-year head coach Todd Steidley earned 34.5 points in the poll that awards points to the top 15 at each of the 10 weights and have five ranked individuals, topped by No. 1 pick Gabe Johnson at 157.
Defending national champion Nebraska-Kearney has eight ranked individuals and finished with 73 points in earning the top spot, while Lander came in second with 68.5 points. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (54 points) is third, followed by Tiffin (49), Grand Valley State (48) and Wisconsin-Parkside (48).
It marks UCO’s lowest preseason ranking since the Bronchos started the 2019-20 season at No. 13. Central has finished sixth, second, first, first and fifth in the past five national tournaments.
“It’s a preseason poll that doesn’t mean much to us,” Steidley said. “Matches are won on the mat, not on paper, and we’re just focused on what we can control. Our guys are working hard and they’re excited about getting the season started.”
Johnson has captured the last two national titles at 157 and leads the way for the Bronchos. The senior star has won 41 of his last 42 matches, went 26-1 last season — avenging his lone loss in the national finals – and brings a stellar 91-16 career record into his final season.
Two-time All-American Garrett Wells is ranked seventh at 197, while Hunter Jump came in ninth at 174, Dylan Lucas 10th at 141 and Judson Rowland 15th at heavyweight.
Wells is bumping up a weight after claiming two regional titles and finishing sixth nationally twice at 184, going 22-7 last season. Lucas was an All-American in 2022-23 and a national qualifier the following season before missing most of last year to injury.
Jump is also moving up a weight this season after earning All-America honors in 2023-24 and qualifying for the national tournament last year at 165. Rowland was 12-7 last season and placed fourth in the regional tournament to just miss qualifying for nationals.
The Bronchos went 13-1 in duals last season before winning their fifth straight Super Regional IV title and finishing fifth in the national tournament. Fifteen individuals with starting experience are back this season.
UCO will face six top 25 teams in duals during the regular season, including the Nov. 2 opener against No. 25 Ouachita Baptist in Little Rock, Arkansas when the Bronchos also take on Division I Little Rock.
Other ranked teams on the slate are No. 14 Augustana (Nov. 16), No. 13 McKendree (Nov. 22), No. 22 Maryville (Dec. 19), No. 5 Grand Valley State (Jan. 16) and No. 1 UNK (Feb. 6). The McKendree, Maryville and Grand Valley duals will all be at Hamilton Field House.
UCO was ranked No. 1 in the Super Regional IV poll that came out earlier this week, with all 10 projected starters listed in the top three at their respective weight.
The Bronchos finished with 99 points in voting by the region’s 11 head coaches, with points awarded to the top six individuals at each weight. McKendree came in second with 85 points, followed by Central Missouri (68) and Maryville (48).
UCO has won five straight Super Regional IV Tournament titles and will host that one-day national qualifying tournament on March 1, 2026.
Johnson is a three-time regional champion and was the runaway No. 1 pick at 157, while six projected starters were ranked second – Lucas, Jump, Wells, Rowland, 125 Guy Clevenger and 165 Bryce Dauphin. Jason Henschel (133), Bam West (149) and Branson Britten (184) all came in third.
Clevenger went 14-2 last year as the main back-up after starting most of the 2023-24 season, while Dauphin went 14-4 as the top reserve at 165 last season. Jump, an All-American in 2023-24, was 17-7 last year at 165 in winning his second straight regional title and is moving up a weight this season.
Henschel redshirted last year after transferring from Northern State, going 7-1 in two open tournaments. West was a part-time starter in 2023-24 before missing most of last season to injury and Britten is a Division I transfer from Little Rock in his first year with the Bronchos.
