Winter Sports

Don't look now, but the winter sports season at Central Oklahoma is just around the corner. And all three teams figure to be legitimate national contenders this year.

UCO's powerhouse wrestling program -- the one that has 15 national championship trophies on display at Hamilton Field House -- has been on the mat for a couple of weeks now as the Bronchos look forward to the 2009-10 campaign that will start with the annual Bronze-Blue intrasquad match on Oct. 28.

David James' crew will be ranked somewhere in the top 10 when the preseason poll comes out and that's not good enough for the long-time skipper, who has directed UCO to 12 of its 15 national titles and is eager for another one. Seven starters return, but the Bronchos do have a number of questions to answer and there's liable to be some new faces in the lineup before the season is over.

Dustin Finn is a two-time national runner-up and leads the way, with UCO needing to get big production from seniors Colby Robinson, Scott Berens, Mikey Morgan and Daniel Morrison if they want to contend for the team title in 2010.

The UCO women's basketball program has grown by leaps and bounds under fourth-year head coach Guy Hardaker and the Bronchos look to make another big step this season. Practice starts next week, with the season-opener on Nov. 15.

UCO won a school-record 27 games last year in making it to the Sweet 16 and though the loss of Lizzie Brenner and Mallory Markus -- two of my all-time favorites -- will be tough to overcome, I expect the Bronchos to once again be a force in the Lone Star Conference in addition to making noise on the national level. Expect to see this team ranked in the top 15 when the preseason Division II polls come out shortly.

Rose Anderson, Cristina Yarbrough and Ashley Beckley will pave the way in 2009-10 and I'm looking forward to seeing the Bronchos play. Most fans will have to wait a while to see the team in action, however, as UCO amazingly doesn't make its home debut until Jan. 5!

We're also ready for another banner season from the UCO men's basketball team of eighth-year head man Terry Evans. The Bronchos have won four of the last five LSC North Division titles and made five national tournament appearances under Evans and it should be more of the same this season.

UCO has won 52 games the past two years, following up a school-record 28-win campaign in 2007-08 with a 24-win effort last season. The Bronchos lost quite a bit from last year, but the return of Eric Cazenave, Tyler Phillips and a host of others along with some talented newcomers will keep this team among the best in Division II.

Ranked as high as third in the country last year, UCO figures to be a top-15 team in the preseason poll. The Bronchos will get some national exposure and face two big tests early, taking on Baylor and Oklahoma State in exhibition games.

Make plans now to get out and see these three teams in action this winter. You won't be disappointed.