MANHEIM, Pa. – Defending NCAA Division II national champion Central Oklahoma dropped one spot in the first regular season poll conducted by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, with the Bronchos now ranked fourth in the country.
Lander, which finished a distant second to UCO last year and the preseason No. 1 pick, stayed atop the poll with 81 points. West Liberty remained second with 71 points, Indianapolis jumped from seventh to third with 65 and UCO fell to fourth with 59.
St. Cloud and Mary tied for fifth, with Wisconsin-Parkside, Lake Erie, Upper Iowa and Nebraska-Kearney rounding out the top 10. The rankings are based on a national tournament point methodology.
The Bronchos have five individuals ranked in the top 12 at their respective weight, led by No. 1 Dalton Abney at 197 pounds. A four-time All-American and winner of the last two national titles at 197, Abney has yet to take the mat this season.
Gabe Johnson is ranked second at 157, while 141 Dylan Lucas is third, 184 Anthony DesVigne sixth and Hvy Braeden Morgan 12th.
Lucas is off to a 9-1 start and is riding a nine-match winning streak. An All-American at 133 last season, he went 5-0 in rolling to the title at the Drury Open last weekend, scoring three bonus-point wins and a 7-1 finals victory.
Johnson is 4-2 with four bonus wins this season. The returning All-American didn’t compete in the Drury Open.
DesVigne went 4-0 with three bonus wins in taking the Drury Open crown and is now 7-1 for the season. He was an All-American at 174 last year.
Morgan is 1-0 at heavyweight and makes his debut in the rankings. Defending national champion Shawn Streck will return to the lineup for the second semester.
The Bronchos make their home debut this Sunday, hosting conference rival Newman at 2 p.m. It will be the 300th dual at Hamilton Field House, with celebrations planned around the event.
UCO 4th in latest D2 rankings
