All-Decade Wrestling Team

As the decade of the 2000s comes rapidly to a close, it seemed like a good idea to come up with a few all-decade teams for UCO. I'll start with wrestling and then do men's and women's basketball in the next couple of days.

Mind you, this UCO all-decade wrestling team is from my viewpoint only and I didn't get any input from our coaching staff. But I witnessed countless duals and tournaments -- including every national tournament -- in the 2000s, so I should be somewhat qualified to select such a team.

My all-decade wrestling team features a select group of student-athletes who combined to win 12 NCAA Division II national championships and over 1,000 matches, with the Bronchos capturing three team titles during the 2000s (2002, '03 and '07).

Starting off the squad at 125 pounds is Mark Dodgen, who finished 1-3-1 in three national tournament appearances (2000-01-03). Mark was one of the most exciting lightweights ever to come through UCO and he ended his career with a fall in his last match in the 2003 national finals to help the Bronchos claim the team title.

At 133 we have Cole Province, one of the few four-time national champions in collegiate wrestling history. Perhaps the most intense competitor I've had the pleasure to watch on the mat at UCO, Cole racked up a 130-22 career record from 2001-04 and lost just one match his last two years with the Bronchos.

Next up is Kyle Evans at 141 pounds, a four-time All-American who finished 6-2-1-1 from 2005-08. A takedown machine, Kyle was smooth as silk on the mat and he simply dominated opponents his last two years in finishing with a 125-20 career mark.

At 149 we have Gable Sullivan, a national runner-up in 2000 and '01 after also earning All-America honors in 1998. Gabe punished people on the mat and won a lot of big matches during his career with the Bronchos.

Current UCO graduate assistant coach Jason Leavitt is the pick at 157. A three-year starter and two-time national qualifier for the Bronchos, Jason lost a heartbreaking overtime decision in the national finals while helping lead UCO to the 2007 national title.

Shawn Silvis is our 165-pounder and what a consistently great performer he was for the Bronchos. Shawn won back-to-back national titles in 2002 and '03 before dropping a tough match in the finals as a senior the next year in finishing with a 131-28 career record.

I'm going with Jason Tapia at 174, who made quite a mark during two years with the Bronchos. Jason had a disappointing national tournament as a junior in 2003, but he bounced back with a sensational senior campaign and recorded 21 falls en route to winning the gold medal.

At 184 is Jeff Henning, who finished third on UCO's consecutive national championship teams in 2002 and '03. Jeff was a model of consistency during his two years with the Bronchos, a splendid talent and the consummate team player.

Our all-decade 197-pounder is Muhammed Lawal, though he only wrestled at that weight one season after going at 184 his first two years. But Mo -- easily the best pure athlete I've seen on the mat at UCO -- overwhelmed opponents throughout the 2001-02 campaign with a combination of uncanny quickness and strength as he rolled to the national title.

Topping off my team of the 2000s at heavyweight is none other than Dustin Finn, a senior on this year's squad. Already a two-time national runner-up, Dustin is looking to become UCO's first-ever heavyweight national champion -- which would make him an early candidate for my all-decade team of the 2010s!!

Feel free to let me know what you think of my all-decade team at mkirk@uco.edu.