MANHEIM, Pa. – Central Oklahoma dropped one spot to No. 5 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association rankings released Monday despite a runner-up finish in the NWCA Division II National Duals 10 days ago.
National Duals champion St. Cloud State remained the runaway choice at No. 1 with 88 points in the tournament-style poll that awards points to the top 15 individuals at each weight.
Glenville State and Wisconsin-Parkside tied for second with 65.5 points each, followed by Nebraska-Kearney (65) and UCO (64.5). The Bronchos beat UWP (20-15) and UNK (22-14) in making the National Duals finals before having a school-record 29-match winning streak ended by St. Cloud (21-16).
UCO has eight individuals ranked, led by No. 1 pick Studd Morris. The senior 125-pounder is 17-1 on the season and jumped from fifth to first after going 4-0 at the National Duals, including a win over previous No. 1 and now No. 2 Zach Ourada of UNK.
Other top-15 individuals for the Bronchos are 157 Gabe Johnson (second), 141 Dylan Lucas (fifth), 133 Peter Rolle (sixth), 165 Hunter Jump (10th), 184 Garrett Wells (10th), 149 Dylan Brown (12th) and 197 Emmanuel Skillings (13th).
Johnson – the defending national champion — fell from his perch at No. 1 after having a 28-match winning streak ended with a 4-1 sudden-victory loss to SCSU’s Joel Jesuroga, who took over the top spot.
The Bronchos, 7-1 on the season, travel to Springfield, Mo. Friday to take on Drury at 7 p.m. before returning home Sunday to host Colorado State-Pueblo at 2 p.m. on Alumni Day. The 1984-85 and 1994-95 national championship teams will be recognized during the dual, with a reception held before and after in the Hamilton Field House practice gym.