A host of experienced returners has Central Oklahoma looking to maintain its perch atop the NCAA Division II wrestling world in 2024-25.
Four All-Americans are back from last year’s squad that went a perfect 15-0 in duals before capturing a fourth straight regional title and a second consecutive national championship, the 17th in program history.
An All-American and national qualifier from 2023 also return along with a host of part-time starters and lettermen. UCO has questions to answer at a few weights, but it’s obvious the Bronchos are poised to add to their trophy case.
“We don’t sit around and talk about repeating or anything like that,” said ninth-year head coach Todd Steidley, whose team opens the season Nov. 2 at the Falcon Open in Wichita, Kan.. “This is a new team, a new season, and we have to go out and prove ourselves all over again.
“Our guys have a really good attitude and everybody is on the same page. Everyone is training to be the starter because they’re an injury away from that.”
Leading the Bronchos is 157-pound national champion Gabe Johnson, who is anxious to be even better this season.
UCO’s other returning All-Americans are 149 Dylan Brown, 165 Hunter Jump and 184 Garrett Wells, with each looking to move up the podium.
The Bronchos also have back a national qualifier in 141 Dylan Lucas, who was an All-American in 2023. Add in 125 Studd Morris, a 2023 national qualifier who missed last season to injury, and UCO appears loaded in the lower weights.
There are a few question marks in the upper weights as the Bronchos must replace a trio of All-Americans, but Steidley is unfazed.
“You can’t replace the three guys we lost,” said Steidley, who has a 101-12 dual record at UCO. The guys at those weights (174, 197 and 285) have to be patient and consistent and push to be the best they can be. It’s an opportunity for some new guys to step up.”
So all signs point to the Bronchos making another spirited run at the national championship next March, though plenty of challengers await.
“There are a lot of really good teams out there,” Steidley said. “Nothing’s going to be given to us and our kids know we have a target on our backs, but that’s okay. We’re excited about the season and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
Here’s a weight-by-weight look at the Bronchos.
125 Pounds: UCO has an abundance of depth in the opening weight with the return of both starters from last year along with a senior veteran back from injury.
Sophomore Guy Clevenger went 23-8 while starting most of last year and beat the eventual national runner-up in a dual. Junior Garrett Steidley took over the position late and came up just short of qualifying for the national tournament with a fourth-place regional finish.
Both are capable of handling the job, but Studd Morris is back after sitting out last with injury and is the favorite. Morris went 34-7 with 17 bonus-point wins in 2022-23 and captured the regional title before coming up just short of earning All-America status.
He’s fully recovered now and looks to end his career with a bang.
The Bronchos also have a junior college All-American transfer here in junior Kaden Spragis along with sophomore letterman Aden Sanders.
133 Pounds: Another weight with excellent depth, featuring both wrestlers who saw starting duty last year along with a talented transfer.
Senior Peter Rolle was the main starter, finishing 15-9 and coming within a whisker of qualifying for nationals with a fourth-place regional finish. Sophomore Shaun Muse showed what he could do in limited action, pinning a pair of eventual national qualifiers before suffering a season-ending injury.
The newcomer is senior Jason Henschel and he’s the front-runner to take over the top spot. Henschel was a two-time national runner-up in junior college before starting at Division II rival Northern State last year, going 16-7.
Sophomore Barrett Hilton and redshirt freshman Eli Kirk provide additional depth.
141 Pounds: The Bronchos are in great shape here with the return of senior Dylan Lucas, who is ready to vie for a national championship.
Lucas was an All-American at 133 in 2022-23, then bumped up to 141 and went 29-7 with 20 bonus wins last year. He won a second straight regional title, but went 1-2 at nationals in failing to place and is determined to atone for that disappointment in his final campaign.
junior transfer Easton Taylor was a two-time junior college national runner-up and could be a factor, with additional depth coming from lettermen Josh Taylor and Ryder Ramsey.
149 Pounds: The first of UCO’s four returning All-Americans resides here in senior Dylan Brown, who came on strong down the stretch last season.
Brown ended up 22-5 with 11 bonus wins and cruised to the regional title before finishing fourth at the national tournament. A two-time junior college All-American before coming to UCO and adding to his resume, Brown will be a top national championship contender this season.
Sophomore Bam West is capable of pushing Brown after showing what he’s capable of last year in a back-up role.
Additional depth will come from junior college All-American transfer Gabe Maki.
157 Pounds: Gabe Johnson. Enough said.
The junior star enjoyed a sensational 2023-24 season, going 26-4 with 16 bonus wins. He rolled to his second straight regional crown, then capped a 4-0 run at the national tournament with a 10-7 finals win over the defending champion.
Johnson seems more motivated than ever and is looking to follow last year’s success with an even more dominating 2024-25 campaign.
Depth will come from sophomore letterman Aidan Boline and redshirt freshman Grant Gober.
165 Pounds: The Bronchos have a third straight All-American returning here, with senior Hunter Jump eager to take the next step and challenge for a national title.
Jump came into his own last year in finishing 25-8 with 11 bonus wins. He capped the season with a regional crown and clutch third-place national tournament finish, the lone loss a tight 10-8 semifinal decision to the eventual champion.
That success has fueled Jump, who showed in offseason workouts that he’s ready to do even more this season.
Sophomore letterman Jaxon Randall went 16-7 with 14 bonus wins in back-up duty last year and has shown he can handle the position.
Junior Bryce Dauphin can also help here if needed.
174 Pounds: The first weight in the lineup where there is no clear favorite and it’s a wide-open battle as to who will emerge as the starter.
Four candidates are vying for the top spot — senior Zane Coleman, juniors Bryce Dauphin and Kaden Glass and redshirt freshman Tucker Waitman — and all have the ability to get on the job done.
Glass would appear to have the upper hand after capturing the junior college national title at 197 last year, but that’s no given.
Coleman and Dauphin both saw limited action last year as Division I transfers while missing most of the season with injury, while Waitman had impressive moments during his redshirt year.
All four should see plenty of action during the first semester as UCO competes in several open tournaments. The one who establishes the most consistency will have the upper hand in taking over the position, though it may be awhile before a final decision is made.
184 Pounds: UCO has another returning All-American here and the Bronchos expect sophomore Garrett Wells to do even more this season.
Wells won a team-high 32 matches last year in finishing 32-10 with 16 bonus wins. He won a regional title with a last-second takedown, then finished sixth at the national tournament.
Last year’s success should propel Wells — who is bigger and stronger — to new heights this season.
Returning lettermen Seth Sarasua and Kohner Gallagher provide needed depth, while junior transfer Kaden Glass is also available if he doesn’t take over the starting role at 174.
197 Pounds: A seasoned junior who bided his time behind one of UCO’s all-time greats is ready to step to the forefront this season.
Emmanuel Skillings saw extensive starting duty while backing up five-time All-American Dalton Abney each of the past two seasons and is the undisputed No. 1 now. He went 21-8 with 10 bonus wins last season and has the ability to be an All-American contender, with the Bronchos expecting big things from this talented veteran now that he’s the top dog.
Depth is precarious, however. Senior Seth Sarasua and junior Kohner Gallagher are listed at 184, but could help out here if needed.
Heavyweight: Easily the weight with the biggest question mark.
UCO is looking for sophomore newcomer Paul Sharp to assume the starting role. The athletic 6-3, 255-pounder saw back-up duty on the mat at Division I Cal State-Bakersfield two years ago before playing junior college football last season.
He’s also on the Broncho football team, but isn’t playing this season and has looked good in preseason drills.
Junior Barrett Haemker has bulked up to 220 after lettering the past two years at 184 and is also here.
