I just want to take this time to compliment Tim Elliott on his transition to UCO. He is doing great. He is wrestling very well, doing well in the classroom, is always an inspiration to the team and I am so proud of this KS boy, I cannot stop singing his praises. The used his picture this week with the story. The team is traveling to Indianapolis right now and Coach Ed and I are leaving tomorrow for the Regional Tourney. Good Luck Bronchos!!!!!!!!!!!
Ms. Jenni
Bronchos Aim For 18th Title
Edmond (Feb. 27) -- No. 6-ranked Central Oklahoma begins its quest for a second straight NCAA Division II national championship Saturday when the Bronchos travel to Indianapolis, Ind. for the Midwest Regional.
First-round action in the nine-team tournament begins at 9 a.m. (Oklahoma time) at Nicoson Hall on the University of Indianapolis campus and the one-day event runs straight through.
Championship semifinal matches are set to start at noon, the consolation semifinals at 2 p.m. and the placement matches at 3:30.
The 3:30 p.m. placement matches will be webcast live on UCO’s athletic department website at
http://www.bronchosports.com. The top-four individuals at all 10 weights qualify for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, set for March 14-15 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Three other regionals are also being held this weekend -- the East at Pittsburgh-Johnstown, the West at New Mexico Highlands and the North at Minnesota State-Mankato.
ABOUT THE REGIONAL: The Bronchos have dominated the Midwest Regional since joining Division II in 1989-90, having won the team title 17 times in 18 years.
UCO claimed 15 straight regional crowns from 1990-04, then finished third in 2005 before winning again the past two seasons.
Joining the Bronchos in the tournament will be five other top-20 teams -- No. 9 Ashland, No. 13 Findlay, No. 16 Indianapolis, No. 18 Wisconsin-Parkside and No. 20 Central Missouri -- along with Carson-Newman, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Truman State.
UCO won last year’s regional by 51.5 points over second-place Wisconsin-Parkside, qualifying all 10 individuals en route to winning its 16th national title.
UCO LINEUP: UCO’s lineup for this weekend.
125 - Nick Rice, Fr. (5-14); 133 - Tim Elliott, Jr. (17-2); 141 - Kyle Evans, Sr. (25-2); 149 - Colby Robinson, So. (22-11); 157 - Brent Sarette, Sr. (12-9); 165 - Jason Leavitt, Sr. (19-13); 174 - Daniel Morrison, So. (9-13); 184 - Heath Jolley, Sr. (23-14); 197 - Jarrett Edison, RS Fr. (27-12); 285 - Dustin Finn, So. (22-5).
BRONCHOS IN THE REGIONAL: Only four of UCO’s 10 wrestlers have previous Midwest Regional experience -- seniors Kyle Evans, Jason Leavitt and Heath Jolley and sophomore 174 Daniel Morrison.
Evans is 9-0 with five bonus-point wins in winning the last three regional titles at 141, while Leavitt is 6-2 with third-place finishes the past two years at 157, Jolley is 5-2 with finishes of fourth and first at 197 the last two years and Morrison was 2-2 in finishing fourth last season.
Evans is looking to become just the second UCO wrestler to win four Midwest Regional crowns, joining current assistant coach Cole Province
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has six individuals in the latest NCAA Division II rankings, with Evans leading the way as the No. 1 pick at 141.
Sophomore heavyweight Dustin Finn is fourth, while junior 133 Tim Elliott is sixth and Jolley, sophomore 149 Colby Robinson and redshirt freshman 197 Jarrett Edison are all seventh.
Evans has won 15 straight and tops the Bronchos with a 25-2 record that includes 15 bonus-point wins, with both his losses to ranked Division I wrestlers.
Evans ranks 11th on UCO’s career win list with a 118-20 record and has won 86 of his last 90 matches.
Elliott is 17-2 with 12 bonus-point wins, while Finn is 22-5 with a team-high 11 falls.
The Bronchos have three others with at least 20 wins -- Edison (27-12), Jolley (23-14) and Robinson (22-11).
Leavitt (78) and Jolley (73) have also won at least 73 matches in their three-year careers with the Bronchos.
ABOUT THE COACH: In his 26th year at the UCO helm is David James, who has directed the Bronchos to 17 Midwest Regional crowns, 12 national championships (seven Division II, five NAIA) and five runner-up finishes.
James won his seventh national Coach of the Year award last season and has a 307-105-4 career dual record.
