Mike Kirk
Top-ranked Central Oklahoma enters the stretch run of the 2022-23 season Friday when the Bronchos host long-time rival and No. 8 Adams State for a 5 p.m. showdown at Hamilton Field House.
UCO is 11-1 on the season, having won 30 of its last 31 duals, while the Grizzlies from Alamosa, Colo. are 9-1 heading into a Wednesday road contest against New Mexico Highlands. The Bronchos are also riding a 15-match home winning streak.
“Adams has a really good team and this will be a big test for us,” head coach Toddy Steidley said. “They’ve got a couple of returning national champions in their lineup along with a bunch of other tough kids and they don’t back down.
“We’ll have our work cut out for us and our guys need to be ready to wrestle the full seven minutes. We should have most of our main guys back, which is a big plus, but it will still be a battle.”
UCO has just two duals left in the regular season, following up Friday’s match with a Feb. 12 clash against No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney. The Bronchos will then have two weeks off before hosting the NCAA Division II Super Regional IV Tournament Feb. 26.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The two teams have battled 32 times since the series started on Jan. 16, 1978 with a 19-18 UCO win. The Bronchos own a 26-5-1 lead and have won the last six meetings, including a 29-12 neutral-site victory last year.
THE LINEUPS: Here’s a look at the probable lineups for Friday’s dual, with UCO wrestler listed first:
