The UCO wrestling progam has a long, storied history of success and it's almost time for another season to kick off, with the Bronchos set to show off the this year's team next Wednesday, Nov. 3, in the annual Bronze-Blue intrasquad dual.
UCO has captured 15 national championships since 1979 -- including 12 under current head coach David James -- and showcases one of the most successful programs in the country on any level in any sport. The Bronchos have had 62 individual national champions and 221 All-Americans, the majority of those numbers coming in the last 30 years.
I've been fortunate enough to have seen a large number of those great wrestlers in my 23 years at UCO. From the sheer want-to of Johnny Nimmo to the fierce intensity of Keith Cunningham to the amazing athleticism of Mo Lawal to the dogged determination of Cole Province, I've had the privilege of witnessing dozens of the best to ever step on the mat for the Bronchos.
The question as we enter a new season is, which of the current crop of UCO wrestlers will join the crowd of all-time greats? Coach James has assembled a talented group of youngsters and several appear to have the ability to be an All-American or a national champion, but who will actually step up and get it done?
It's an impossible question to answer, but the good thing about wrestling is everything will be determined on the mat.
Wrestling is a unique sport, unlike any I've been around. And I've been around wrestling a long time, which isn't unusually if you grow up in Perry, America as I did. My father wrestled at PHS and actually lettered at UCO back in the 1940s. My older brother Mark was a high school state runner-up and long-time wrestling coach in Oklahoma.
I wrestled all through grade school, junior high and high school and was, quite literally, horrible. Didn't have the toughness -- mental or physical -- required. Wasn't willing to pay the price of running the extra mile. Lacked the "killer" instinct that all great wrestlers have.
But I've always appreciated those who do have those traits and have always enjoyed watching them compete. It takes a special person to succeed in such a one-on-one sport and it's not for the weak or the weak of heart.
Win and get your hand raised for all to see. Lose and walk off, trying to figure out how to get your hand raised next time. Sounds simple, but wrestling is anything but simple.
So if you get a chance, get out and watch a wrestling match some time. Better yet, come out and see the Bronchos!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Hoops Is Here
Friday is the first day that NCAA teams came begin basketball practice, which means the season is right around the corner for both UCO's men and women.
Terry Evans' men will get a jump on the proceedings as the Bronchos have slated their first practice for 12:01 a.m. Friday morning. Now that's a team eager to get going! Guy Hardaker's women will wait until a normal time to get underway.
It should be an interesting year on the hardwood for both squads. Coach Evans returns a veteran team, led by All-American Dauntae Williams, and the Bronchos have lofty goals for the 2010-11 campaign. Coach Hardaker has senior star Ashley Beckley and a bunch of young, mostly untested, talent.
Both teams have enjoyed great success the last few years and that will no doubt continue this winter. I can't wait, it should be a lot of fun.
I'm all about making lists and have done so many times on this blog and the start of basketball season made me start thinking about all the great players I've seen come through UCO since I arrived just before the start of the 1987-88 season.
It didn't take me long to come up with my top 10 players from 1987-10, for both the men and women. Both lists will be in alphabetical order 'cause ranking them would have been far too difficult.
First the women.
• Ashley Beckley (2008-10) - Tough inside presence.
• Courtney Berry (1997-99) - Slick shooter, one of the most intense competitors ever.
• Lizzie Brenner (2006-09) - Simply a stud, if I can say that.
• Ton'Nea Cox (1991-93) - Never met a rebound she didn't like.
• Meghan Craig (2005-06) - Could hurt a team in many ways.
• Jana Flanagan (1992-93) - Great shooter, team leader.
• Laura Hamilton (2003, '05) - Smooth.
• Christy Heavin (1995-98) - Perhaps the most consistent player I've ever seen.
• Keri Smith (1999-02) - Not big or tall but was hard to stop inside.
• Cristina Yarbrough (2007-10) - Cat quick, defensive demon.
Now the men.
• Sam Belt (2005-08) - Did about everything and did it very well.
• Tyrone Hopkins (1996-97) - Played incredibly hard, great scorer and rebounder.
• Zoderick Green (1994-95) - One of the best shooters I've seen and also one of the best passers.
• James Morris (1991-93) - Underrated. A bull inside, despite lack of size.
• Joe Newton (1997-98) - Fun to watch, quicker than quick.
• Eddie Robinson (1998-99) - Hmmm, played in the NBA. Enuf said. Okay, can't resist one story . . . E-Rob once got a steal at halfcourt, bounced the ball off the backboard while leaving the floor at the free throw line and flushed down a one-handed jam that left Hamilton Field House in awe.
• Junie Sanders (1994-95) - Played waaay bigger than he was.
• Fred Tyler (1991-93) - Never looked like he was playing hard, but he was.
• Dauntae Williams (2010) - Amazingly versatile. Amazing player, glad I've got one more year to watch him.
• Alex Wright (1992-93) - Still the best all-around player I've seen at UCO and I will never understand why he didn't get a chance in the NBA. Could do it all.
Terry Evans' men will get a jump on the proceedings as the Bronchos have slated their first practice for 12:01 a.m. Friday morning. Now that's a team eager to get going! Guy Hardaker's women will wait until a normal time to get underway.
It should be an interesting year on the hardwood for both squads. Coach Evans returns a veteran team, led by All-American Dauntae Williams, and the Bronchos have lofty goals for the 2010-11 campaign. Coach Hardaker has senior star Ashley Beckley and a bunch of young, mostly untested, talent.
Both teams have enjoyed great success the last few years and that will no doubt continue this winter. I can't wait, it should be a lot of fun.
I'm all about making lists and have done so many times on this blog and the start of basketball season made me start thinking about all the great players I've seen come through UCO since I arrived just before the start of the 1987-88 season.
It didn't take me long to come up with my top 10 players from 1987-10, for both the men and women. Both lists will be in alphabetical order 'cause ranking them would have been far too difficult.
First the women.
• Ashley Beckley (2008-10) - Tough inside presence.
• Courtney Berry (1997-99) - Slick shooter, one of the most intense competitors ever.
• Lizzie Brenner (2006-09) - Simply a stud, if I can say that.
• Ton'Nea Cox (1991-93) - Never met a rebound she didn't like.
• Meghan Craig (2005-06) - Could hurt a team in many ways.
• Jana Flanagan (1992-93) - Great shooter, team leader.
• Laura Hamilton (2003, '05) - Smooth.
• Christy Heavin (1995-98) - Perhaps the most consistent player I've ever seen.
• Keri Smith (1999-02) - Not big or tall but was hard to stop inside.
• Cristina Yarbrough (2007-10) - Cat quick, defensive demon.
Now the men.
• Sam Belt (2005-08) - Did about everything and did it very well.
• Tyrone Hopkins (1996-97) - Played incredibly hard, great scorer and rebounder.
• Zoderick Green (1994-95) - One of the best shooters I've seen and also one of the best passers.
• James Morris (1991-93) - Underrated. A bull inside, despite lack of size.
• Joe Newton (1997-98) - Fun to watch, quicker than quick.
• Eddie Robinson (1998-99) - Hmmm, played in the NBA. Enuf said. Okay, can't resist one story . . . E-Rob once got a steal at halfcourt, bounced the ball off the backboard while leaving the floor at the free throw line and flushed down a one-handed jam that left Hamilton Field House in awe.
• Junie Sanders (1994-95) - Played waaay bigger than he was.
• Fred Tyler (1991-93) - Never looked like he was playing hard, but he was.
• Dauntae Williams (2010) - Amazingly versatile. Amazing player, glad I've got one more year to watch him.
• Alex Wright (1992-93) - Still the best all-around player I've seen at UCO and I will never understand why he didn't get a chance in the NBA. Could do it all.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Record Setters
I talked a couple of weeks ago about how scary good the UCO men's golf team has been this fall and after spending parts of the past two days at Lincoln Park Golf Club in Oklahoma City it's obvious that the women can't be overlooked in 2010-11.
All Michael Bond's Bronchos did was win their own UCO/Mahogany Golf Classic with the two best rounds in school history on the par-70 East Course. UCO fired out a nifty 289 in Monday's opening round -- besting the previous school-record by seven shots -- and backed it up with a 293 Tuesday.
The Bronchos started women's golf in 2003-04 and had played 154 tournament rounds entering this week, with the previous best score a pair of 296s. Then this year's team goes out and beats that two days in a row. Impressive.
The high score for UCO's five players in the tournament was a 79, once. The remaining nine scores during the two days were between 71-75. Doubly impressive.
It's a good mix of experience and youth on this team, with two true freshmen, two juniors and a senior in the starting lineup.
Raelynn Farthing is the lone senior on the squad, a steadying influence who has started throughout her career. Emily Leahey showed her renewed focus this week with a runner-up individual finish after rounds of 73-71 and fellow junior Erica Bensch is a long-ball hitter ready for a breakout year.
Rookies Chaney Uhles and Taylor Neidy are the keys to this team, having quickly proven they will be forces to reckon with. Both show poise and composure beyond their years and they will just continue to get better.
The performance at Lincoln Park should do wonders for the confidence of this team and it will be fun to watch them continue to develop throughout the course of this year.
Speaking of golf . . . it was nice to see the men's team at Lincoln Park supporting the women Monday and Tuesday. I know Coach Bond and his players appreciated that, as well they should.
All Michael Bond's Bronchos did was win their own UCO/Mahogany Golf Classic with the two best rounds in school history on the par-70 East Course. UCO fired out a nifty 289 in Monday's opening round -- besting the previous school-record by seven shots -- and backed it up with a 293 Tuesday.
The Bronchos started women's golf in 2003-04 and had played 154 tournament rounds entering this week, with the previous best score a pair of 296s. Then this year's team goes out and beats that two days in a row. Impressive.
The high score for UCO's five players in the tournament was a 79, once. The remaining nine scores during the two days were between 71-75. Doubly impressive.
It's a good mix of experience and youth on this team, with two true freshmen, two juniors and a senior in the starting lineup.
Raelynn Farthing is the lone senior on the squad, a steadying influence who has started throughout her career. Emily Leahey showed her renewed focus this week with a runner-up individual finish after rounds of 73-71 and fellow junior Erica Bensch is a long-ball hitter ready for a breakout year.
Rookies Chaney Uhles and Taylor Neidy are the keys to this team, having quickly proven they will be forces to reckon with. Both show poise and composure beyond their years and they will just continue to get better.
The performance at Lincoln Park should do wonders for the confidence of this team and it will be fun to watch them continue to develop throughout the course of this year.
Speaking of golf . . . it was nice to see the men's team at Lincoln Park supporting the women Monday and Tuesday. I know Coach Bond and his players appreciated that, as well they should.
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