EDMOND – Studd Morris, Dylan Brown and Zane Coleman had first-period falls to lead Central Oklahoma’s bonus-point barrage that buried outmanned New Mexico Highlands 54-0 Sunday afternoon at Hamilton Field House.
The No. 5-ranked Bronchos added seven technical falls and a forfeit on Senior Day to end the regular season 13-1 with their 26th straight home win. UCO didn’t give up an offensive point in the 45-minute dual, tallying 20 takedowns and 11 near-falls.
It’s the 22nd time in the 72-year history of the program that UCO has reached the 50-point mark. The 54 points tied for the fourth-highest total, trailing the record of 58 set against Central Baptist (58-0) during the 2010-11 season and two 55-point marks.
National championship rings were awarded to members of the 2023-24 team before the dual and the seven seniors on this year’s squad were recognized after the match.
“It was a good day all the way around,” head coach Todd Steidley said. “Being able to honor last year’s team was a great way to start the day and it’s always special when we recognize our seniors.
“I thought our guys came out aggressive and stayed that way throughout the dual. They kept looking to score points and that’s something we always stress.”
Morris got the Bronchos off to a quick start at 125. The top-ranked senior had a pair of takedowns and a near-fall before ending the match at the 2:01 mark for his 14th straight win.
The 12th-ranked Brown scored a takedown 30 seconds into his 149-pound bout and got the fall in just 1:30 for his eighth consecutive victory.
Coleman wasted little time in notching his team-high eighth fall of the season. The senior, who has missed the last month of action to injury, headlocked Sean Casey to his back seconds after the opening whistle and got the pin in a mere 36 seconds.
UCO got technical falls from 133 Eli Kirk, 141 Josh Taylor, 157 Gabe Johnson, 165 Hunter Jump, 184 Barrett Haemker and 197 Emmanuel Skillings. Judson Rowland picked up a forfeit at heavyweight.
Kirk had two takedowns, two near-falls and a reverse in an 18-3 drubbing, Taylor racked up five takedowns in a 17-2 rout and Johnson tallied three takedowns and two near-falls in a 17-1 romp.
Jump struck for a takedown 15 seconds into his match, then added two more along with a pair of near-falls in a 16-1 thrashing. Haemker followed a quick takedown with four near-falls in a 16-0 shutout and Skillings scored two takedowns and two near-falls in a 17-1 thumping in the final match.
UCO now gets ready for the NCAA Division II Super Regional IV Tournament, which will be held March 1 in Warrensburg. The top-three placers at each of the 10 weights qualify for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, set for March 14-15 in Indianapolis.
UCO 54, New Mexico Highlands 0
125 – Studd Morris, UCO, pinned Nathan Galbiso, 2:01.
133 – Eli Kirk, UCO, tech. fall Sam Eveland, 18-3.
141 – Josh Taylor, UCO, tech. fall Joe Mistiano, 17-2.
149 – Dylan Brown, UCO, pinned John Baker, 1:30.
157 – Gabe Johnson, UCO, tech. fall Deklyn Miller, 17-1.
165 – Hunter Jump, UCO, tech. fall Ivan Smith, 16-1.
174 – Zane Coleman, UCO, pinned Sean Casey, 0:36.
184 – Barrett Haemker, UCO, tech. fall Michael Santos, 16-0.
197 – Emmanuel Skillings, UCO, tech. fall Saul De Leon, 17-1.
Hvy – Judson Rowland, UCO, won by forfeit.
