EDMOND (Oct. 13) – Defending national champion Central Oklahoma will have just four home duals during the fast-approaching 2023-24 season, according to the schedule released Friday.
The Bronchos of eighth-year head coach Todd Steidley also have two other home events, with the Bronze-Blue intrasquad match set for Oct. 29 and the UCO Open on Nov. 5. National championship rings will be presented to members of last year’s team prior to the Bronze-Blue dual.
Each of the regular season home duals will be on a Sunday afternoon, starting with a Dec. 10 meeting against Newman on Alumni Day in the 300th home match at Hamilton Field House. UCO also hosts Maryville on Jan. 14, Central Missouri on Feb. 4 and Drury on Feb. 11.
“It’s unfortunate we don’t have more home duals, but getting teams to come to Edmond has always been tough for us,” Steidley said. “It’s a good schedule and hopefully the way we have it set up will get us ready for the postseason.
“We’re excited about the season. We have quite a few guys back along with some new ones who are ready to make their mark.”
UCO has five road duals scheduled along with trips to the NWCA Division II National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa and the Midwest Duals in Kearney, Neb. The Bronchos will also compete in three early-season open tournaments and the prestigious Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind.
Central will travel back to Indianapolis for the Regional IV Tournament on March 2, with the top-three finishers at each of the 10 weights qualifying for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. That two-day tournament will be held March 15-16 in Wichita, Kan.
The Bronchos return six starters from last year’s team that finished 13-1 in duals before capturing their third straight Regional IV Tournament title and rolling to the program’s 16th national championship.
National champions Dalton Abney (197 pounds) and Shawn Streck (285) lead the returners. UCO also has back All-Americans Dylan Lucas (moving from 133 to 141), Gabe Johnson (157) and Anthony DesVigne (174) along with national qualifier Studd Morris (125).
2023-24 UCO Schedule
October: 29 – Bronze-Blue, 4 p.m.
November: 1 – Ouachita Baptist in Little Rock, Ark., 7 p.m.; 5 – UCO Open, 10 a.m.; 11 – at Viking Open in Poteau, Okla., 9 a.m.; 18 – at Lindenwood Open in St. Charles, Mo., 9 a.m.
December: 10 – Newman in Edmond, 2 p.m.; 16-17 – at Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind., 9 a.m.
January: 5-6 – at NWCA Division II National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, TBA; 14 – Maryville in Edmond, 2 p.m.; 20 – at Midwest Duals in Kearney, Neb., TBA; 26 – at Adams State in Alamosa, Colo., 7 p.m.; 27 – at Colorado State-Pueblo in Pueblo, Colo., 7 p.m.
February: 4 – Central Missouri in Edmond, 2 p.m.; 11 – Drury in Edmond, 2 p.m.; 16 – at Nebraska-Kearney in Kearney, Neb., 7 p.m.; 17 – at Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan., 2 p.m.
March 2: NCAA Division II Regional IV Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind., TBA; March 15-16 – at NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Wichita, Kan., 10 a.m.
UCO releases 2023-24 schedule
