Wrestling Around The Corner

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!