Christmas is nearly here, so I guess it's time to make known my wish list for UCO athletics.
• That UCO's new football coach, whomever it may be, will be able to get the Bronchos out of the mire of mediocrity that has plagued the program recently. UCO has had only three winning seasons in the 2000s and that's unacceptable for a program with such a long history of success. Nearly 600 wins (593) more than any other Oklahoma college team besides OU. Thirty-eight seasons with seven-plus wins. Thirty-one conference/division championships. Two national titles. UCO and winning football should go hand-in-hand.
• That the UCO women's basketball team suffer no more injuries. It's downright amazing how many crucial players coach Guy Hardaker has lost this season to injury. Three, including senior starters Courtney Allen and Alyssa Fuxa, went out before the season even started. Another senior (Kasey Tweed) was lost three weeks ago. And then last week in Las Vegas, freshman stud Paiten Taylor tore her knee up. Allen, Fuxa and Tweed played in 249 combined games for the Bronchos, experience and leadership that can't be replaced. Yet, somehow, UCO is 9-4.
• That the new UCO volleyball coach, whomever it may be, will continue the winning tradition established by Mark Herrin in 1990 and continued by Jeff Boyland. The Bronchos have had 19 winning seasons since 1990 while being guided by Herrin (1990-02) and Boyland (03-11), winning 25-plus matches seven times and making four Division II national tournament appearances. The next coach will have some big shoes to fill and here's hoping they will step right into them.
• That UCO's perennial powerhouse wrestling team gets back in the championship hunt. The Bronchos have won 15 national championships in their storied history, including 12 under 30th-year head coach David James. But UCO's last title came in 2007 and the Bronchos have finished sixth, sixth, 15th and 13th in the four seasons since then. This year's squad is still a young one with only one senior starter, but there's plenty of talent and the potential is there. Helping UCO's cause this year will be hosting the Super Regional Two Tournament at Hamilton Field House on Feb. 25-26.
• That the senior trio of Shane Carroll, Brent Friday and Tyler Phillips make a second semester push in leading UCO's men to yet another national tournament berth. The threesome has played in 294 combined games, scored 2,685 points and appeared in the post-season every year of their careers. Phillips was part of the 2008 team that made it to the Elite Eight before missing the next season with injury when Carroll and Friday joined the program. That 2009 team went to the Division II playoffs again, as did the 2010 and '11 teams the trio played on together. The 8-6 Bronchos will probably need a significant second-semester rally to get back in the national tournament, but the three amigos are ready to lead the charge.
• That all the UCO teams that have yet to start enjoy successful seasons, sprinkled with many wins and - hopefully - a few championships.
• That everyone enjoy a wonderful Christmas along with a safe and prosperous New Year!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tough-luck Kid
Kasey Tweed has never been one of Central Oklahoma's big stars on the basketball court. A career scoring average of 4.4 points a game is proof positive of that.
But the senior guard has played a vital role in UCO's success throughout her career in a myriad of other ways. Tough, hard-nosed defense. Leadership. Shear competitiveness. A tipped rebound here, a knocked away pass there. Contributions that sometimes don't show up in a box score.
And now, sadly, it appears Kasey's career is over.
I honestly didn't expect her injury-ravaged right knee to hold up the entire season, especially considering the fearless way she plays on the court, but certainly there was hope that it would.
Kasey tore her ACL in that right knee as a freshman in high school, then again as a sophomore at UCO and then again as a junior. She sat out the entire 2010-11 season rehabbing that knee, even using a personal trainer last summer to get it ready to go for one last go-around.
It actually was holding up pretty good, though there were plenty of days that Kasey couldn't practice much because of the soreness. She averaged 5.9 points a game and had a team-high 15 steals through UCO's 7-2 start and gave the Bronchos a gritty toughness they needed.
So, of course, it wasn't the right knee that went out on Kasey. It was the left. She felt something give in the second game of the season, didn't tell anyone for fear of not being able to play and then tweaked it again during practice last week.
The early diagnosis wasn't bad, but a doctor's visit revealed a partial ACL tear. Rehab it for a few weeks and she might be able to return, though the ultimate result of that would undoubtedly be a full tear and another surgery. Which means that Kasey Tweed has played her final game.
"I've played since I was five years old and just didn't want to give it up," Kasey said. "Now I'm done forever."
How do you measure a player's heart? Their passion? Their love of the game? You watch someone like Kasey Tweed.
But the senior guard has played a vital role in UCO's success throughout her career in a myriad of other ways. Tough, hard-nosed defense. Leadership. Shear competitiveness. A tipped rebound here, a knocked away pass there. Contributions that sometimes don't show up in a box score.
And now, sadly, it appears Kasey's career is over.
I honestly didn't expect her injury-ravaged right knee to hold up the entire season, especially considering the fearless way she plays on the court, but certainly there was hope that it would.
Kasey tore her ACL in that right knee as a freshman in high school, then again as a sophomore at UCO and then again as a junior. She sat out the entire 2010-11 season rehabbing that knee, even using a personal trainer last summer to get it ready to go for one last go-around.
It actually was holding up pretty good, though there were plenty of days that Kasey couldn't practice much because of the soreness. She averaged 5.9 points a game and had a team-high 15 steals through UCO's 7-2 start and gave the Bronchos a gritty toughness they needed.
So, of course, it wasn't the right knee that went out on Kasey. It was the left. She felt something give in the second game of the season, didn't tell anyone for fear of not being able to play and then tweaked it again during practice last week.
The early diagnosis wasn't bad, but a doctor's visit revealed a partial ACL tear. Rehab it for a few weeks and she might be able to return, though the ultimate result of that would undoubtedly be a full tear and another surgery. Which means that Kasey Tweed has played her final game.
"I've played since I was five years old and just didn't want to give it up," Kasey said. "Now I'm done forever."
How do you measure a player's heart? Their passion? Their love of the game? You watch someone like Kasey Tweed.
Monday, November 21, 2011
On The Road
I was in a mini-bus traveling with our women's basketball team to Denton, Texas last Friday morning when word started to reach us about the latest Oklahoma State airplane tragedy.
Shocked and bewilderment were my two immediate reactions, followed quickly by sadness and grief. As an OSU graduate, it hit even closer to home and I just couldn't believe such a catastrophe had happened to the school yet again.
But it also made me realize that accidents involving collegiate athletic programs are really rare. I'm obviously extremely grateful for that, but it's also somewhat amazing if you start to consider how many teams around the country are actually out there traveling the highways and airways during any given day.
UCO alone had its men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling teams on the road last weekend, with the basketball squads both going to Texas and the wrestlers all the way to Nebraska. All three traveled via bus and two of them didn't arrive back until late Saturday night.
I've been on hundreds of trips during my long career at UCO, traveling virtually every way possible -- car, station wagon, van, mini-bus, charter bus, small airplane, chartered airplane and commercial airplane.
And -- knock on wood -- I've made it here and there and back again on all those trips without an accident. Yes, we hit a deer once during a late-night drive back from a wrestling tournament in Nebraska. And, yes, there's been the occasional flat tire or mechanical issue or weather delay that's hampered a trip.
But those were merely inconveniences, blips on the radar that put us behind schedule and perhaps caused us to be late. And I'm okay with late, as long as we get where we're going and back again safely.
Shocked and bewilderment were my two immediate reactions, followed quickly by sadness and grief. As an OSU graduate, it hit even closer to home and I just couldn't believe such a catastrophe had happened to the school yet again.
But it also made me realize that accidents involving collegiate athletic programs are really rare. I'm obviously extremely grateful for that, but it's also somewhat amazing if you start to consider how many teams around the country are actually out there traveling the highways and airways during any given day.
UCO alone had its men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling teams on the road last weekend, with the basketball squads both going to Texas and the wrestlers all the way to Nebraska. All three traveled via bus and two of them didn't arrive back until late Saturday night.
I've been on hundreds of trips during my long career at UCO, traveling virtually every way possible -- car, station wagon, van, mini-bus, charter bus, small airplane, chartered airplane and commercial airplane.
And -- knock on wood -- I've made it here and there and back again on all those trips without an accident. Yes, we hit a deer once during a late-night drive back from a wrestling tournament in Nebraska. And, yes, there's been the occasional flat tire or mechanical issue or weather delay that's hampered a trip.
But those were merely inconveniences, blips on the radar that put us behind schedule and perhaps caused us to be late. And I'm okay with late, as long as we get where we're going and back again safely.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Special Day
This day - Nov. 2 - will always be a special day to me. It's the anniversary of when I started working at this fine institution we call the University of Central Oklahoma, although it was still Central State University when I came aboard on Nov. 2, 1987.
And here I still am, 24 years later. Who knew? Certainly not me. Although I had worked in media relations - or sports information as we called it - while in college at Oklahoma State, I had been out of the business for five years while working as a sports writer for newspapers in McAlester and Lawton.
But when the job came open back in October of 1987 I took a chance and applied. Skip Wagnon was the athletic director back then and for whatever reason he took a chance on me. For that, and for the unbelievable friend he's become over the years, I'll be forever grateful.
Hard to believe it's actually been 24 years. Time certainly does fly, especially when you're having fun, and I've had a ton of that during the two-plus decades I've had the privilege of working here and living in Edmond.
The profession has certainly changed over time. When I started, weekly press releases were sent via snail mail, fax machines required a special paper and game statistics were kept with pencil and paper before being typed. Scores and sometimes stories themselves had to be dictated over the phone.
Websites weren't around, email didn't exist, nobody had ever heard of a blog.
Now virtually everything is done in the blink of eye and the push of a button. You would think all the advances in technology would make this profession easier, but I'm convinced it's actually made it tougher with all that is expected, mostly in relation to the athletic website.
But it's been a great ride and I've had some unbelievable experiences during my time here, especially when traveling with our teams all around these United States. I've had the good fortune to be with various teams for games from Massachusetts to Hawaii and many, many places in between.
Long bus rides, stranded flights, lost luggage . . . we've had it all and then some.
And the games I've seen. Figuring conservatively, I've witnessed an estimated 3,000 UCO athletic events - home and away - over the past 24 years. That's a lot of wins and losses.
Obviously, the wins and championships stick out more. National titles in wrestling. Conference crowns in a number of sports. Big wins over rivals. Last-minute comebacks over anybody.
And then there's the people. That's what has been really special about this job. Life-long friendships forged with Skip and Jeff McKibbin and David James and Gary Howard and Chuck Stumbaugh and Chris Needham and Chuck Bailey, guys who were here when I first came on board.
That doesn't even begin to count those who have came through the department since that November day in 1987 when I first stepped through the doors of Hamilton Field House as a CSU employee. Nor does it include the student-athletes - the "kids" - that I've met and become friends with. Or the coaches and media relations people at schools we've played against.
UCO is a special place to me and this is a special day. Now I better get back to work, because a wrestling match is on tap and the women's basketball team is on the road. The work, and the fun, seems to never stop.
And here I still am, 24 years later. Who knew? Certainly not me. Although I had worked in media relations - or sports information as we called it - while in college at Oklahoma State, I had been out of the business for five years while working as a sports writer for newspapers in McAlester and Lawton.
But when the job came open back in October of 1987 I took a chance and applied. Skip Wagnon was the athletic director back then and for whatever reason he took a chance on me. For that, and for the unbelievable friend he's become over the years, I'll be forever grateful.
Hard to believe it's actually been 24 years. Time certainly does fly, especially when you're having fun, and I've had a ton of that during the two-plus decades I've had the privilege of working here and living in Edmond.
The profession has certainly changed over time. When I started, weekly press releases were sent via snail mail, fax machines required a special paper and game statistics were kept with pencil and paper before being typed. Scores and sometimes stories themselves had to be dictated over the phone.
Websites weren't around, email didn't exist, nobody had ever heard of a blog.
Now virtually everything is done in the blink of eye and the push of a button. You would think all the advances in technology would make this profession easier, but I'm convinced it's actually made it tougher with all that is expected, mostly in relation to the athletic website.
But it's been a great ride and I've had some unbelievable experiences during my time here, especially when traveling with our teams all around these United States. I've had the good fortune to be with various teams for games from Massachusetts to Hawaii and many, many places in between.
Long bus rides, stranded flights, lost luggage . . . we've had it all and then some.
And the games I've seen. Figuring conservatively, I've witnessed an estimated 3,000 UCO athletic events - home and away - over the past 24 years. That's a lot of wins and losses.
Obviously, the wins and championships stick out more. National titles in wrestling. Conference crowns in a number of sports. Big wins over rivals. Last-minute comebacks over anybody.
And then there's the people. That's what has been really special about this job. Life-long friendships forged with Skip and Jeff McKibbin and David James and Gary Howard and Chuck Stumbaugh and Chris Needham and Chuck Bailey, guys who were here when I first came on board.
That doesn't even begin to count those who have came through the department since that November day in 1987 when I first stepped through the doors of Hamilton Field House as a CSU employee. Nor does it include the student-athletes - the "kids" - that I've met and become friends with. Or the coaches and media relations people at schools we've played against.
UCO is a special place to me and this is a special day. Now I better get back to work, because a wrestling match is on tap and the women's basketball team is on the road. The work, and the fun, seems to never stop.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Fall Update
*Big win for the UCO football team last Saturday at Wantland Stadium, one the Bronchos badly needed after stumbling out of the gate 0-4.
Plenty of heroes in the 41-21 win, with running back Joshua Birmingham and cornerback Creadell Pennon getting the lion's share of the credit for their incredible individual performances. All Birmingham did was rush for 233 yards -- sixth-best game in school history -- with a 74-yard touchdown scamper while breaking two other long runs to set up scores. Pennon was not to be outdone, intercepting three passes and running one back 100 yards for a TD. The other two were fourth-quarter picks, both in UCO territory.
There were plenty of others who played key roles in the win, from Ethan Sharp's efficient performance at quarterback that included two scoring passes and a TD run to Sam Moses, Keno Meadows, Tucker Cason and Brandon Williams coming up with key defensive stops. And don't forget place-kicker Chris Robbs, who booted a pair of fourth-period field goals when the Bronchos pulled away. It was the best overall effort of the seaosn for UCO, with offense, defense and special teams all playing a big role in the win.
UCO goes back on the road the next two weeks and both will be amazingly hard tests. First up is a long trip to San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Saturday to take on Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) member Cal Poly and then next week the Bronchos go to Topeka, Kan. to meet Washburn, currently ranked fifth in Division II.
After that, though, UCO ends the season with four straight home games.
*This week's Division II women's soccer poll had a familiar name in it for the first time this year -- UCO, which came in at No. 23. The Bronchos have been ranking regulars since 1999, but didn't crack the top 25 all last season and made it for the first time in 2011 thanks to an on-going seven-game winning streak.
Mike Cook's crew has outscored its last seven opponents 21-3 while pitching four shutouts and is definitely on a roll right now. UCO returns from a nine-day break from competition Sunday, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
*Volleyball started a four-match homestand Wednesday night with a three-set throttling of Oklahoma Panhandle, giving up just 15 points in winning the last two (25-6 and 25-9). The Bronchos, now 12-9, are back home Friday against Harding before hosting Texas-Permian Basin Sunday and Newman next Tuesday.
*UCO's rowing team opened its fall schedule last weekend at the Oklahoma River in the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and fared well despite stiff competition that had the Bronchos as the lone Division II school in every race. First-year head coach Andrew Derrick has his team pointed in the right direction and is ready to make some serious noise next spring.
*The youthful UCO women's golf team came through with a fine third-place finish at their own UCO Golf Classic earlier this week at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. The Bronchos had two sophomores and three freshmen in the starting lineup and still shot rounds of 294-291, with the 291 the third-lowest in school history. Sophomore Chaney Uhles finished third with a one-under-par 139 total after shooting 70-69 and looks like a legitimate All-America contender.
*UCO's cross country team continues to be paced by freshman phenom Brooke Klimek, who came in 11th at the rugged Cowboy Jamboree last week to lead the Bronchos to a seventh-place team finish. Klimek won the first two meets of the season and will be a threat to win every race UCO competes in the rest of the way.
*Don't look now, but the winter sports teams are about to start practice. UCO's wrestling squad, which has 15 national championship banners hanging in Hamilton Field House, will get started Oct. 10 when teams can finally get on the mat. The basketball teams won't be far behind, with the first official practices for both set for Oct. 15. UCO's men and women both made it to the Sweet 16 last year in winning a combined 52 games (30 for men, 22 for women) and both figure to be quite good again this year.
Plenty of heroes in the 41-21 win, with running back Joshua Birmingham and cornerback Creadell Pennon getting the lion's share of the credit for their incredible individual performances. All Birmingham did was rush for 233 yards -- sixth-best game in school history -- with a 74-yard touchdown scamper while breaking two other long runs to set up scores. Pennon was not to be outdone, intercepting three passes and running one back 100 yards for a TD. The other two were fourth-quarter picks, both in UCO territory.
There were plenty of others who played key roles in the win, from Ethan Sharp's efficient performance at quarterback that included two scoring passes and a TD run to Sam Moses, Keno Meadows, Tucker Cason and Brandon Williams coming up with key defensive stops. And don't forget place-kicker Chris Robbs, who booted a pair of fourth-period field goals when the Bronchos pulled away. It was the best overall effort of the seaosn for UCO, with offense, defense and special teams all playing a big role in the win.
UCO goes back on the road the next two weeks and both will be amazingly hard tests. First up is a long trip to San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Saturday to take on Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) member Cal Poly and then next week the Bronchos go to Topeka, Kan. to meet Washburn, currently ranked fifth in Division II.
After that, though, UCO ends the season with four straight home games.
*This week's Division II women's soccer poll had a familiar name in it for the first time this year -- UCO, which came in at No. 23. The Bronchos have been ranking regulars since 1999, but didn't crack the top 25 all last season and made it for the first time in 2011 thanks to an on-going seven-game winning streak.
Mike Cook's crew has outscored its last seven opponents 21-3 while pitching four shutouts and is definitely on a roll right now. UCO returns from a nine-day break from competition Sunday, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
*Volleyball started a four-match homestand Wednesday night with a three-set throttling of Oklahoma Panhandle, giving up just 15 points in winning the last two (25-6 and 25-9). The Bronchos, now 12-9, are back home Friday against Harding before hosting Texas-Permian Basin Sunday and Newman next Tuesday.
*UCO's rowing team opened its fall schedule last weekend at the Oklahoma River in the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and fared well despite stiff competition that had the Bronchos as the lone Division II school in every race. First-year head coach Andrew Derrick has his team pointed in the right direction and is ready to make some serious noise next spring.
*The youthful UCO women's golf team came through with a fine third-place finish at their own UCO Golf Classic earlier this week at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. The Bronchos had two sophomores and three freshmen in the starting lineup and still shot rounds of 294-291, with the 291 the third-lowest in school history. Sophomore Chaney Uhles finished third with a one-under-par 139 total after shooting 70-69 and looks like a legitimate All-America contender.
*UCO's cross country team continues to be paced by freshman phenom Brooke Klimek, who came in 11th at the rugged Cowboy Jamboree last week to lead the Bronchos to a seventh-place team finish. Klimek won the first two meets of the season and will be a threat to win every race UCO competes in the rest of the way.
*Don't look now, but the winter sports teams are about to start practice. UCO's wrestling squad, which has 15 national championship banners hanging in Hamilton Field House, will get started Oct. 10 when teams can finally get on the mat. The basketball teams won't be far behind, with the first official practices for both set for Oct. 15. UCO's men and women both made it to the Sweet 16 last year in winning a combined 52 games (30 for men, 22 for women) and both figure to be quite good again this year.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Season Update
Three weeks into the sports year and here's what we've learned from last time!
* For once I was right about something. There was no way the UCO soccer team was going to continue to play like it did in getting out of the gate 0-3 and that's exactly what happened. Since that tough start the Bronchos have reeled off four straight wins, including a huge 2-0 road upset of No. 2-ranked St. Edward's Sunday. Mike Cook's crew has started to play lock-down defense -- having given up just two goals with two shutouts in the current streak -- and the offense has started to find its rhythm. And speaking of Coach Cook . . . congats to to the veteran skipper for picking up his 200th career win with the Bronchos back on Sept. 10 in UCO's 4-0 blanking of Southwest Baptist. Quite an accomplishment for quite a coach.
* The football team seems to have regressed. I saw a lot of encouraging signs during UCO's season-opening 31-10 road loss to what is now the No. 2-ranked Division II team in the country in North Alabama, a talent-laden squad that features 30-plus Division I transfers, but the Bronchos seem to have taken a step back the last couple of weeks. Defensively, UCO played real solid in last week's 20-0 setback at Angelo State and could have easily given up a lot more points with the field position the Rams enjoyed throughout the second half. Offensively, the Bronchos never got untracked last week and that was surprising given some of the skill position people we appear to have. At any rate, Saturday's game at Southwestern Oklahoma looms large for UCO. It will be the 87th meeting between the two old rivals and it could also be the last one as moves by both schools to different conferences will prevent future meetings, at least for the foreseable future.
* UCO's volleyball squad is up-and-down. That shouldn't be too surprising given the amount of newcomers who are playing key roles for Jeff Boyland's Bronchos, who will undoubtedly get more consistent as the season progresses. This team can play at an extremely high level one match and then really struggle the next, but you have to like the make-up of the squad and I think the future is really bright.
* This may be the best cross country team UCO's had since the 2000 club won the Lone Star Conference championship. It may be too early to say that since the Bronchos have had only one meet, with last week's race at Missouri Southern cancelled by lightning, but it's hard not to be excited about this bunch. I know Coach J.D. Martin likes what he sees and that man's been around cross country/track long enough to know. Freshman Brooke Klimek had an amazing collegiate debut in running away with the individual title at the season-opening UCO Land Run on Sept. 10 and you need to keep an eye on this team.
* The UCO men's golf team is good. Real good. National championship-type good. Okay, I'm not going out on a limb much with that statement given the Bronchos returned four starters and several other key players from last year's team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the spring and was fifth in the first Division II national poll of the fall, but still. Two tournaments this fall, two tournament titles. The latest one, which wrapped up Tuesday, was a 26-shot romp over a runner-up team ranked No. 3 in the country. Yep, they're good all right.
* For once I was right about something. There was no way the UCO soccer team was going to continue to play like it did in getting out of the gate 0-3 and that's exactly what happened. Since that tough start the Bronchos have reeled off four straight wins, including a huge 2-0 road upset of No. 2-ranked St. Edward's Sunday. Mike Cook's crew has started to play lock-down defense -- having given up just two goals with two shutouts in the current streak -- and the offense has started to find its rhythm. And speaking of Coach Cook . . . congats to to the veteran skipper for picking up his 200th career win with the Bronchos back on Sept. 10 in UCO's 4-0 blanking of Southwest Baptist. Quite an accomplishment for quite a coach.
* The football team seems to have regressed. I saw a lot of encouraging signs during UCO's season-opening 31-10 road loss to what is now the No. 2-ranked Division II team in the country in North Alabama, a talent-laden squad that features 30-plus Division I transfers, but the Bronchos seem to have taken a step back the last couple of weeks. Defensively, UCO played real solid in last week's 20-0 setback at Angelo State and could have easily given up a lot more points with the field position the Rams enjoyed throughout the second half. Offensively, the Bronchos never got untracked last week and that was surprising given some of the skill position people we appear to have. At any rate, Saturday's game at Southwestern Oklahoma looms large for UCO. It will be the 87th meeting between the two old rivals and it could also be the last one as moves by both schools to different conferences will prevent future meetings, at least for the foreseable future.
* UCO's volleyball squad is up-and-down. That shouldn't be too surprising given the amount of newcomers who are playing key roles for Jeff Boyland's Bronchos, who will undoubtedly get more consistent as the season progresses. This team can play at an extremely high level one match and then really struggle the next, but you have to like the make-up of the squad and I think the future is really bright.
* This may be the best cross country team UCO's had since the 2000 club won the Lone Star Conference championship. It may be too early to say that since the Bronchos have had only one meet, with last week's race at Missouri Southern cancelled by lightning, but it's hard not to be excited about this bunch. I know Coach J.D. Martin likes what he sees and that man's been around cross country/track long enough to know. Freshman Brooke Klimek had an amazing collegiate debut in running away with the individual title at the season-opening UCO Land Run on Sept. 10 and you need to keep an eye on this team.
* The UCO men's golf team is good. Real good. National championship-type good. Okay, I'm not going out on a limb much with that statement given the Bronchos returned four starters and several other key players from last year's team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the spring and was fifth in the first Division II national poll of the fall, but still. Two tournaments this fall, two tournament titles. The latest one, which wrapped up Tuesday, was a 26-shot romp over a runner-up team ranked No. 3 in the country. Yep, they're good all right.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
And We're Off!
A week into the new sports year and here's what we know.
• UCO's volleyball team is resilient. The Bronchos, relying heavily on a sophomore transfer at setter and several true freshmen at key positions, have bounced back from a season-opening loss to win four straight. And two of those have been down-to-the-wire five-set marathons, winning one of those 20-18 and the other 16-14. Rookies Jordan Jacobs and Juliette Smith have shined.
• UCO's football team has some impressive young talent. The Bronchos played 14 freshmen -- seven true and seven redshirt -- in last week's 31-10 road loss to No. 6 North Alabama and four of those really stood out. Wide receivers Christian Hood and Steve Caldwell were fearless in catching a combined 17 passes against a mean UNA defense, while defensive lineman Tyler Newton and linebacker Terry Williamson both made a series of big plays.
• UCO's soccer team is struggling. The Bronchos have scored just one goal in losing their first three games of the season for just the second time in school history and were completely whipped in Wednesday's home-opening loss to Abilene Christian. But something else I also know . . . there's too much talent on this team and Mike Cook is too good a coach for that trend to continue.
• UCO's cross country squad is ready to get started. Coach J.D. Martin's crew finally opens its season Saturday when the Bronchos host the UCO Land Run at Mitch Park in Edmond. Four runners are back from last year, an injury-plagued senior is ready to go and a pair of newcomers look to make an impact.
• Two of our sports that basically have two seasons -- fall and spring -- are also eager to get going. The men's and women's golf teams will open their fall campaigns next Monday and Tuesday, with new coach Pat Bates taking a loaded men's team to a tournament in Abilene, Texas while women's skipper Michael Bond and his youthful squad travel to Dallas.
• UCO's volleyball team is resilient. The Bronchos, relying heavily on a sophomore transfer at setter and several true freshmen at key positions, have bounced back from a season-opening loss to win four straight. And two of those have been down-to-the-wire five-set marathons, winning one of those 20-18 and the other 16-14. Rookies Jordan Jacobs and Juliette Smith have shined.
• UCO's football team has some impressive young talent. The Bronchos played 14 freshmen -- seven true and seven redshirt -- in last week's 31-10 road loss to No. 6 North Alabama and four of those really stood out. Wide receivers Christian Hood and Steve Caldwell were fearless in catching a combined 17 passes against a mean UNA defense, while defensive lineman Tyler Newton and linebacker Terry Williamson both made a series of big plays.
• UCO's soccer team is struggling. The Bronchos have scored just one goal in losing their first three games of the season for just the second time in school history and were completely whipped in Wednesday's home-opening loss to Abilene Christian. But something else I also know . . . there's too much talent on this team and Mike Cook is too good a coach for that trend to continue.
• UCO's cross country squad is ready to get started. Coach J.D. Martin's crew finally opens its season Saturday when the Bronchos host the UCO Land Run at Mitch Park in Edmond. Four runners are back from last year, an injury-plagued senior is ready to go and a pair of newcomers look to make an impact.
• Two of our sports that basically have two seasons -- fall and spring -- are also eager to get going. The men's and women's golf teams will open their fall campaigns next Monday and Tuesday, with new coach Pat Bates taking a loaded men's team to a tournament in Abilene, Texas while women's skipper Michael Bond and his youthful squad travel to Dallas.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Game Week
It's finally here.
It's game week for three of UCO's fall teams -- football, soccer and volleyball.
Football gets it started Thursday night when the Bronchos take on long-time Division II power North Alabama, which is ranked sixth in the pre-season poll. Game-time is 7 p.m. and check out the advance on bronchosports.com for links to follow the game via TV broadcast, radio broadcast or live stats.
It will be quite the challenge for UCO, with the Lions featuring a team loaded with dozens of Division I transfers. UNA went 9-4 last year in making the second round of the playoffs and is expected to be a prime national championship contender this fall.
But it will also be quite an opportunity for the Bronchos. Taking on a well-established power on the field that has hosted the Division II national championship game the last 20 years should have Coach Tracy Holland and his team ready to play at a fever pitch.
Soccer takes the field Friday afternoon in Omaha, Neb., going against a Nebraska-Omaha team that won the Division II national title just a couple of years ago and is now in the process of moving to Division I. UCO follows that with another game Sunday in Omaha, this one against Truman State.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning talent -- 10 starters are back from 2010 -- and a host of newcomers who are chomping at the bit to get on the field and contribute as well. This has the makings of a very good fall for Coach Mike Cook and his crew.
And speaking of Coach Cook . . . the veteran skipper will be going after his 200th win at UCO in Friday's opener against UNO. Mike is 199-68-16 since he debuted as the program's only coach in 1998, which is some kind of good.
Volleyball also opens up on Friday, with the Bronchos in Joplin, Mo. for two days of play in the Missouri Southern Invitational. UCO will play twice each day, going against Harding and the host Lions on Friday before taking on Quincy and Newman on Saturday.
The Bronchos will have a bunch of new faces this year with a large group of newcomers, but look for Coach Jeff Boyland to once again put an exciting -- and winning -- product on the court.
The volleyball team, by the way, will be the first one to play at home this year when they host Southeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Soccer follows the next day with an afternoon contest against Abilene Christian to start a three-game homestand and then cross country will kick off its season at home on Saturday, Sept. 10 with the UCO Land Run.
It's game week for three of UCO's fall teams -- football, soccer and volleyball.
Football gets it started Thursday night when the Bronchos take on long-time Division II power North Alabama, which is ranked sixth in the pre-season poll. Game-time is 7 p.m. and check out the advance on bronchosports.com for links to follow the game via TV broadcast, radio broadcast or live stats.
It will be quite the challenge for UCO, with the Lions featuring a team loaded with dozens of Division I transfers. UNA went 9-4 last year in making the second round of the playoffs and is expected to be a prime national championship contender this fall.
But it will also be quite an opportunity for the Bronchos. Taking on a well-established power on the field that has hosted the Division II national championship game the last 20 years should have Coach Tracy Holland and his team ready to play at a fever pitch.
Soccer takes the field Friday afternoon in Omaha, Neb., going against a Nebraska-Omaha team that won the Division II national title just a couple of years ago and is now in the process of moving to Division I. UCO follows that with another game Sunday in Omaha, this one against Truman State.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning talent -- 10 starters are back from 2010 -- and a host of newcomers who are chomping at the bit to get on the field and contribute as well. This has the makings of a very good fall for Coach Mike Cook and his crew.
And speaking of Coach Cook . . . the veteran skipper will be going after his 200th win at UCO in Friday's opener against UNO. Mike is 199-68-16 since he debuted as the program's only coach in 1998, which is some kind of good.
Volleyball also opens up on Friday, with the Bronchos in Joplin, Mo. for two days of play in the Missouri Southern Invitational. UCO will play twice each day, going against Harding and the host Lions on Friday before taking on Quincy and Newman on Saturday.
The Bronchos will have a bunch of new faces this year with a large group of newcomers, but look for Coach Jeff Boyland to once again put an exciting -- and winning -- product on the court.
The volleyball team, by the way, will be the first one to play at home this year when they host Southeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Soccer follows the next day with an afternoon contest against Abilene Christian to start a three-game homestand and then cross country will kick off its season at home on Saturday, Sept. 10 with the UCO Land Run.
Monday, August 22, 2011
School Is Here
It's Monday, Aug. 22, the first day of the fall semester for UCO and its 17,000-plus students. Which means that finding a parking place has become even more of a challenge than the past two weeks, when students first starting moving in.
More importantly, it also means we're just over a week away from the fall sports season starting.
Football gets things started first, opening the season next week with a Thursday night game at North Alabama, an NCAA Division II playoff team last year. The Lions have a roster full of Division I transfers and were ranked sixth in the pre-season national poll.
Volleyball and soccer both open next weekend, both hitting the road for classics. Soccer goes to Omaha, Neb. to take on Nebraska-Omaha (Sept. 2) and Truman State (Sept. 4), while volleyball travels to Joplin, Mo. to play four matches in the Missouri Southern Classic Sept. 2-3.
The cross country squad doesn't start up until the next weekend, hosting the UCO Land Run Sept. 10 at Mitch Park.
All four teams have been busy getting ready, with two-a-day practices the norm instead of the exception. From all reports, much progress has been made as coaches try to mesh together returners from last year with newcomers, be they freshmen or transfers.
Football has had a pair of intrasquad scrimmages and it's readily apparent the Bronchos have more team speed than in recent years. There is some special talent at several positions, but depth in certain areas is thin and a brutal schedule will provide an extra challenge.
Volleyball scrimmaged an outside opponent last Friday and a young squad that must grow up in a hurry had some impressive moments. There will be several new players who will play key roles this fall, so look for the Bronchos to make impressive progress throughout the year.
Soccer also had a scrimmage last week and this team appears ready to make a big splash. Ten starters returned and a host of talented newcomers have shown their ability to contribute, with the Bronchos ready to reclaim their status as a perennial national tournament team.
Cross country also has a good mix of returners and newcomers, with this group putting in lots of miles during morning and afternoon workouts to get ready for the fast-approaching season.
It should be a fun fall, even if I can't find a parking place.
More importantly, it also means we're just over a week away from the fall sports season starting.
Football gets things started first, opening the season next week with a Thursday night game at North Alabama, an NCAA Division II playoff team last year. The Lions have a roster full of Division I transfers and were ranked sixth in the pre-season national poll.
Volleyball and soccer both open next weekend, both hitting the road for classics. Soccer goes to Omaha, Neb. to take on Nebraska-Omaha (Sept. 2) and Truman State (Sept. 4), while volleyball travels to Joplin, Mo. to play four matches in the Missouri Southern Classic Sept. 2-3.
The cross country squad doesn't start up until the next weekend, hosting the UCO Land Run Sept. 10 at Mitch Park.
All four teams have been busy getting ready, with two-a-day practices the norm instead of the exception. From all reports, much progress has been made as coaches try to mesh together returners from last year with newcomers, be they freshmen or transfers.
Football has had a pair of intrasquad scrimmages and it's readily apparent the Bronchos have more team speed than in recent years. There is some special talent at several positions, but depth in certain areas is thin and a brutal schedule will provide an extra challenge.
Volleyball scrimmaged an outside opponent last Friday and a young squad that must grow up in a hurry had some impressive moments. There will be several new players who will play key roles this fall, so look for the Bronchos to make impressive progress throughout the year.
Soccer also had a scrimmage last week and this team appears ready to make a big splash. Ten starters returned and a host of talented newcomers have shown their ability to contribute, with the Bronchos ready to reclaim their status as a perennial national tournament team.
Cross country also has a good mix of returners and newcomers, with this group putting in lots of miles during morning and afternoon workouts to get ready for the fast-approaching season.
It should be a fun fall, even if I can't find a parking place.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Are You Ready For Some Football?
It's here.
The season doesn't open for another three weeks, but football officially arrived at UCO Thursday, Aug. 11, with the start of practice. More than 100 players reported to campus Tuesday, with Wednesday spent on physicals, equipment check-out and meetings before Thursday morning's first workout.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning players eager to make amends for last year's 2-9 record that included a number of heart-breaking losses -- including two by one point in overtime -- and voluntary summer workouts were well attended. Also in the mix is a huge group of newcomers, which includes a freshman class the coaching staff raves about and several transfers who are expected to have an impact.
Three weeks isn't a lot of time to get ready for the first game, especially when that opener is at long-time Division II powerhouse North Alabama. A brutally long bus trip to take on a returning national playoff team with a large volume of Division I transfers in the lineup will certainly test the Bronchos right off the bat, but that's just one of many challenges UCO will face this fall.
Four straight road games to open the season also won't be much fun, with the Bronchos not making their home debut until the Oct. 1 Homecoming contest against East Central. And that home opener is followed by a long trip to California to face a tough Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team in Cal Poly.
But all those obstacles are still a ways away. Right now, coaches and players are just excited to be back on the football field.
The season doesn't open for another three weeks, but football officially arrived at UCO Thursday, Aug. 11, with the start of practice. More than 100 players reported to campus Tuesday, with Wednesday spent on physicals, equipment check-out and meetings before Thursday morning's first workout.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning players eager to make amends for last year's 2-9 record that included a number of heart-breaking losses -- including two by one point in overtime -- and voluntary summer workouts were well attended. Also in the mix is a huge group of newcomers, which includes a freshman class the coaching staff raves about and several transfers who are expected to have an impact.
Three weeks isn't a lot of time to get ready for the first game, especially when that opener is at long-time Division II powerhouse North Alabama. A brutally long bus trip to take on a returning national playoff team with a large volume of Division I transfers in the lineup will certainly test the Bronchos right off the bat, but that's just one of many challenges UCO will face this fall.
Four straight road games to open the season also won't be much fun, with the Bronchos not making their home debut until the Oct. 1 Homecoming contest against East Central. And that home opener is followed by a long trip to California to face a tough Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team in Cal Poly.
But all those obstacles are still a ways away. Right now, coaches and players are just excited to be back on the football field.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Winter Schedules . . . Odds and Ends
Since the water in Oklahoma's ever-shrinking ponds and lakes must be near the boiling point with the repeated 100-degree days we're having it seems only appropriate to talk about winter. As in UCO's winter sports schedules.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, it will be a light home schedule for men's/women's basketball and wrestling this coming season. The Bronchos are competing as NCAA Division II independents in 2011-12 as we transition from the Lone Star Conference to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, which UCO will join for the 2012-13 school year.
Not being part of a conference has played a huge role in the scheduling difficulties experienced by many of our teams, particuarly football and basketball. Wrestling hasn't been a conference sport for decades and has always had its own difficulties.
The final result is that UCO will have just 15 home basketball games -- combined -- this coming season and four home wrestling duals, though the Bronchos will host the all-important Super Regional II Tournament in late February.
There will be only five basketball doubleheaders at Hamilton Field House -- two in November, one in January and two in February. And two of those will be against state rival Northeastern State, a team UCO's men and women will face four times apiece this winter.
The best thing for three three teams involved is that they should all be good. Very good. Maybe even very, very good. The men and women's hoops teams both return four starters from Sweet 16 teams. The wrestling squad has back all 10 starters from a 15-4 team.
...
UCO's fall sports teams will be reporting soon to begin preparing for their fast-approaching seasons. Football is first, with the Bronchos coming in Aug. 9 before practice starts Aug. 11.
Soccer, volleyball and cross country will all report the week of Aug. 15.
...
About the only thing left to finish off the installation of new turf at Wantland Stadium is the clean-up and with not much time to spare since practice starts next week. It looks really good, though the color in both end zones and the big UCO sign in the middle is not quite the modern version. That will be fixed before UCO's first home game, though, so no worries.
...
And finally, we've a KD sighting. As in Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best basketball players in this whole wide world. KD used Hamilton Field House for a practice session Sunday afternoon, going at it for 2 1/2 hours. Now we know yet another reason he's as good as he is.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, it will be a light home schedule for men's/women's basketball and wrestling this coming season. The Bronchos are competing as NCAA Division II independents in 2011-12 as we transition from the Lone Star Conference to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, which UCO will join for the 2012-13 school year.
Not being part of a conference has played a huge role in the scheduling difficulties experienced by many of our teams, particuarly football and basketball. Wrestling hasn't been a conference sport for decades and has always had its own difficulties.
The final result is that UCO will have just 15 home basketball games -- combined -- this coming season and four home wrestling duals, though the Bronchos will host the all-important Super Regional II Tournament in late February.
There will be only five basketball doubleheaders at Hamilton Field House -- two in November, one in January and two in February. And two of those will be against state rival Northeastern State, a team UCO's men and women will face four times apiece this winter.
The best thing for three three teams involved is that they should all be good. Very good. Maybe even very, very good. The men and women's hoops teams both return four starters from Sweet 16 teams. The wrestling squad has back all 10 starters from a 15-4 team.
...
UCO's fall sports teams will be reporting soon to begin preparing for their fast-approaching seasons. Football is first, with the Bronchos coming in Aug. 9 before practice starts Aug. 11.
Soccer, volleyball and cross country will all report the week of Aug. 15.
...
About the only thing left to finish off the installation of new turf at Wantland Stadium is the clean-up and with not much time to spare since practice starts next week. It looks really good, though the color in both end zones and the big UCO sign in the middle is not quite the modern version. That will be fixed before UCO's first home game, though, so no worries.
...
And finally, we've a KD sighting. As in Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best basketball players in this whole wide world. KD used Hamilton Field House for a practice session Sunday afternoon, going at it for 2 1/2 hours. Now we know yet another reason he's as good as he is.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Summer Thoughts
It's blazing hot, I can't remember the last time it rained and no UCO team will be playing for at least another month and a half. Which means it must be the middle of July in Oklahoma.
Some random thoughts as we get through the dog days of summer . . .
Work continues at Wantland Stadium, where new turf is being installed to replace the original one that went in before the 2003 season. It didn't take long to strip off the old turf, but repairs have to be made to the drainage system and other areas before the new green stuff can be put down.
Everything will be ready by the time practice starts in early August and the new field will look far better than the old one, though most UCO fans won't see it until Oct. 1 when the Bronchos host East Central in the 2011 home opener. And that will be Homecoming, by the way.
Work is also going on in the Hamilton Field House weight room, but I'm talking about the kind where guys of all sizes are flinging around massive amounts of iron. Dozens of UCO football players are busy preparing for the upcoming season with daily sessions in the weight room and early-morning runs, with seven-on-seven work being conducted several times a week during the evening.
Several of those guys graciously helped last week with the filming of a public service announcement being done by KOKH Fox 25 for the upcoming Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Labor Day Telethon. "Make a muscle, make a difference" was the slogan, with Joshua Birmingham, Herbert Byrd, Tucker Cason, Bryce Davis, Matt Jackson Sam Moses, Keno Meadows and Justin Pruitt participating in the the commercial that was filmed at three different locations on campus. Kudos to those guys for taking time out of their day to help out.
Volleyball camp is going on this week at Hamilton Field House. A boys basketball camp was held last week, which followed a girls basketball camp, which followed a boys/girls soccer camp, which followed a softball camp, which followed a baseball camp. You get the idea. Summer is a time for camps and there have been plenty on them this summer as hundreds of kids of all ages come to campus for the various camps held by our coaches.
Summer will be over soon, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Some random thoughts as we get through the dog days of summer . . .
Work continues at Wantland Stadium, where new turf is being installed to replace the original one that went in before the 2003 season. It didn't take long to strip off the old turf, but repairs have to be made to the drainage system and other areas before the new green stuff can be put down.
Everything will be ready by the time practice starts in early August and the new field will look far better than the old one, though most UCO fans won't see it until Oct. 1 when the Bronchos host East Central in the 2011 home opener. And that will be Homecoming, by the way.
Work is also going on in the Hamilton Field House weight room, but I'm talking about the kind where guys of all sizes are flinging around massive amounts of iron. Dozens of UCO football players are busy preparing for the upcoming season with daily sessions in the weight room and early-morning runs, with seven-on-seven work being conducted several times a week during the evening.
Several of those guys graciously helped last week with the filming of a public service announcement being done by KOKH Fox 25 for the upcoming Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Labor Day Telethon. "Make a muscle, make a difference" was the slogan, with Joshua Birmingham, Herbert Byrd, Tucker Cason, Bryce Davis, Matt Jackson Sam Moses, Keno Meadows and Justin Pruitt participating in the the commercial that was filmed at three different locations on campus. Kudos to those guys for taking time out of their day to help out.
Volleyball camp is going on this week at Hamilton Field House. A boys basketball camp was held last week, which followed a girls basketball camp, which followed a boys/girls soccer camp, which followed a softball camp, which followed a baseball camp. You get the idea. Summer is a time for camps and there have been plenty on them this summer as hundreds of kids of all ages come to campus for the various camps held by our coaches.
Summer will be over soon, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Friday, July 1, 2011
My Uncle Joe
My Uncle Joe was an avid golfer most of his life, often playing five times a week or more well into his 80s. He often said as he got older that if you don’t have a reason to wake up in the morning then what’s the use?
Getting up to play nine holes or whatever he had the strength to muster at his beloved Twin Hills Golf Club – easily my favorite course in Oklahoma – was one of the main things that kept Uncle Joe going as the years went by. Or sometimes he would just hit balls on the practice range.
That image cracks me up. Here’s a man in his 80s still trying to get better at a game that’s impossible to master and easy to get frustrated at and discouraged by. He still wanted to hit it a little straighter or, hopefully, a little farther.
We can all learn something from that. Never give up. Keep moving forward. Live for today, not tomorrow or yesterday.
Uncle Joe got his first hole in one just a few years back after having played for nearly 60 years. Talk about persistence! I didn’t have an ace of my own at that time, but I made sure to call Uncle Joe soon after I ended my 30-year drought three years ago and he couldn’t have been happier for me.
I know this is space is suppose to be about all things UCO, but my Uncle Joe is worth a brief interruption. A World War II veteran, he always had a suaveness about him that I envied. He was my mom’s older brother and always took care of her. He was all class, all the time.
We lost Uncle Joe late Wednesday night. The spirit and mind were willing, but his body finally just wore out. He was still sharp as a tack when I last visited him on Sunday, even cracking a couple of jokes, but his time was coming and we both knew it when we said our good byes that day.
I’m going to miss my Uncle Joe. But I’m going to think of him every time I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, knowing that life is out there and you have to live it to the fullest just like he did.
Getting up to play nine holes or whatever he had the strength to muster at his beloved Twin Hills Golf Club – easily my favorite course in Oklahoma – was one of the main things that kept Uncle Joe going as the years went by. Or sometimes he would just hit balls on the practice range.
That image cracks me up. Here’s a man in his 80s still trying to get better at a game that’s impossible to master and easy to get frustrated at and discouraged by. He still wanted to hit it a little straighter or, hopefully, a little farther.
We can all learn something from that. Never give up. Keep moving forward. Live for today, not tomorrow or yesterday.
Uncle Joe got his first hole in one just a few years back after having played for nearly 60 years. Talk about persistence! I didn’t have an ace of my own at that time, but I made sure to call Uncle Joe soon after I ended my 30-year drought three years ago and he couldn’t have been happier for me.
I know this is space is suppose to be about all things UCO, but my Uncle Joe is worth a brief interruption. A World War II veteran, he always had a suaveness about him that I envied. He was my mom’s older brother and always took care of her. He was all class, all the time.
We lost Uncle Joe late Wednesday night. The spirit and mind were willing, but his body finally just wore out. He was still sharp as a tack when I last visited him on Sunday, even cracking a couple of jokes, but his time was coming and we both knew it when we said our good byes that day.
I’m going to miss my Uncle Joe. But I’m going to think of him every time I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, knowing that life is out there and you have to live it to the fullest just like he did.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Good-bye To An Old Friend
You meet a lot of different people in the sports world, especially when you’ve been involved with it for 30-plus years like I have. Some good, some bad, some in-between.
Bob Hersom is definitely on the good list. And it’s always especially sad to see the good ones leave us, as Bob did Monday afternoon when the former Oklahoman sports writer succumbed to liver disease.
I met Bob in the mid-1980s while working as a sports writer at the Lawton Constitution and had off-and-on contact with him during my four-year tenure there before coming to UCO in 1987.
He covered many of our teams and events over the years, especially during a stretch as the newspaper’s college wrestling writer. Bob didn’t exactly know a lot about wrestling, but he dove into his new assignment with his typical gusto and went on the road to cover the national tournament with us one year.
Bob went on to staff several UCO football games and would occasionally call or email to check in with me even when he wasn’t covering the Bronchos. He was always the consummate professional when we were talking about work and a truly interested friend when talking about family or other subjects.
The world needs more people like Bob Hersom.
So long, Bob. Thanks for being my friend.
Bob Hersom is definitely on the good list. And it’s always especially sad to see the good ones leave us, as Bob did Monday afternoon when the former Oklahoman sports writer succumbed to liver disease.
I met Bob in the mid-1980s while working as a sports writer at the Lawton Constitution and had off-and-on contact with him during my four-year tenure there before coming to UCO in 1987.
He covered many of our teams and events over the years, especially during a stretch as the newspaper’s college wrestling writer. Bob didn’t exactly know a lot about wrestling, but he dove into his new assignment with his typical gusto and went on the road to cover the national tournament with us one year.
Bob went on to staff several UCO football games and would occasionally call or email to check in with me even when he wasn’t covering the Bronchos. He was always the consummate professional when we were talking about work and a truly interested friend when talking about family or other subjects.
The world needs more people like Bob Hersom.
So long, Bob. Thanks for being my friend.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Playing as an NCAA Division II independent in 2010-11 will create plenty of challenges for the majority of Central Oklahoma’s teams, particularly in regards to scheduling.
The Bronchos have completed their 20-plus year association with the Lone Star Conference and don’t join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association until the start of the 2011-12 academic year, so this is a year of transition for UCO.
Obviously, the most difficult item to deal with this year is finding teams to play since there is no built-in conference schedule.
A look at UCO’s football slate shows just how tough it was.
The Bronchos managed to come up with an 11-game schedule -- including five at Wantland Stadium -- but six of the first seven games are on the road, including the opening four.
Long-time state rivals East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma are back. Former LSC foe Angelo State is there along with future MIAA opponents Fort Hays State and Washburn.
But UCO will also face four teams for the first time ever, traveling to long-time Division II power North Alabama and Football Championship Subdivision member Cal Poly in addition to hosting Division II newcomers Black Hills State and Lindenwood.
It’s an interesting schedule and also a very tough one that will definitely require the Bronchos to play at a high level, starting right off the bat with a trip to North Alabama.
Soccer and volleyball will also have limited home contests this fall, though those sports didn’t have as tough a time filling their schedules.
Soccer will play eight of its 18 games at Tom Thompson Field, with the twist being that the Bronchos will play three teams – ECU, SWOSU and Northeastern State – twice, once at home and once away.
Volleyball will also have home-and-home matches with three schools (ECU, SWOSU and SOSU), but UCO’s 33-match schedule will actually include more contests at Hamilton Field House this year (10) than last (eight).
The men's and women's basketball schedules aren't official, but it appears each will have at most seven home games and both teams are set to play NSU and Lindenwood four times apiece.
It remains to be seen what UCO's other schedules will look like.
Such are the hazards of playing as an independent, but thankfully it's a short-term problem before the Bronchos join NSU, Lindenwood and Nebraska-Kearney as new MIAA members in the fall of 2011.
The Bronchos have completed their 20-plus year association with the Lone Star Conference and don’t join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association until the start of the 2011-12 academic year, so this is a year of transition for UCO.
Obviously, the most difficult item to deal with this year is finding teams to play since there is no built-in conference schedule.
A look at UCO’s football slate shows just how tough it was.
The Bronchos managed to come up with an 11-game schedule -- including five at Wantland Stadium -- but six of the first seven games are on the road, including the opening four.
Long-time state rivals East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma are back. Former LSC foe Angelo State is there along with future MIAA opponents Fort Hays State and Washburn.
But UCO will also face four teams for the first time ever, traveling to long-time Division II power North Alabama and Football Championship Subdivision member Cal Poly in addition to hosting Division II newcomers Black Hills State and Lindenwood.
It’s an interesting schedule and also a very tough one that will definitely require the Bronchos to play at a high level, starting right off the bat with a trip to North Alabama.
Soccer and volleyball will also have limited home contests this fall, though those sports didn’t have as tough a time filling their schedules.
Soccer will play eight of its 18 games at Tom Thompson Field, with the twist being that the Bronchos will play three teams – ECU, SWOSU and Northeastern State – twice, once at home and once away.
Volleyball will also have home-and-home matches with three schools (ECU, SWOSU and SOSU), but UCO’s 33-match schedule will actually include more contests at Hamilton Field House this year (10) than last (eight).
The men's and women's basketball schedules aren't official, but it appears each will have at most seven home games and both teams are set to play NSU and Lindenwood four times apiece.
It remains to be seen what UCO's other schedules will look like.
Such are the hazards of playing as an independent, but thankfully it's a short-term problem before the Bronchos join NSU, Lindenwood and Nebraska-Kearney as new MIAA members in the fall of 2011.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Golf Teams Ready; LSC Farewell
Congrats to the UCO men’s and women’s golf teams, who both earned invites to the NCAA Division II post-season party that begins with regional competition on May 1.
The 13th-ranked women go to Amarillo, Texas for the West Regional May 1-3, while the top-rated men – yes, that’s No. 1 in the nation – travel to Georgetown, Ky. For the South Central/Central Regional May 2-4.
Nine teams make up the women’s field, with every squad ranked in the top 19 nationally. Three of those nine, along with three individuals, qualify for the national tournament.
Michael Bond’s squad has enjoyed a good year, having placed in the top six in all 10 tournaments in 2010-11. The Bronchos have six top four finishes, winning their own UCO/Mahogany Classic last fall at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City.
Freshman Chaney Uhles has the team’s best scoring average at 77.2, while juniors Emily Leahey (77.9) and Erica Bensch (77.9) have also been consistent performers. Rookie Taylor Neidy (79.0) and junior Mychael McWhorter (81.5) round out the team that will be gunning to earn UCO’s first-ever national tournament berth.
Twenty teams comprise the men’s super regional, with the top five and two individuals advancing on to the national championships.
Dax Johnston and the Bronchos have put together simply an amazing year, having won a school-record eight tournaments in 11 tries. UCO finished runner-up in two other tournaments with its worst finish, a fifth at the St. Edward’s Invitational in early March, the direct result of an injury that forced the team to play a man short.
This veteran, close-knit unit obviously has the ability to be a prime national championship contender. They’re not ranked No. 1 in the country for nothing, taking over that top spot in the latest coaches poll after capturing the Lone Star Conference title May 20 in San Antonio.
Senior stud Colby Shrum leads the way, carrying a salty 70.7 scoring average with a school-record five individual championships to his credit. Sophomore Josh Creel has a 71.3 average and nine top-10 finishes, including two titles.
Juniors Andrew Green (72.0) and Baer Aneshansley (73.9) and sophomore Chris Muriana (75.0) complete the powerhouse squad that has its sights set high for the month of May.
And on another note . . . the Lone Star Conference Track and Field Championships in Stephenville, Texas on May 6-8 will mark the end of an era for the Central Oklahoma athletic department.
It will be the final LSC event the Bronchos will ever compete in as the school starts its transition to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, a process that will have UCO competing as NCAA Division II independents next year before joining the MIAA for the 2012-13 academic year.
It will be sad to leave a league I’ve been around since we joined back in the late 1980s and I’ll certainly miss all the people in the conference office and from the LSC affiliated teams whom I’ve come to know over the years.
But it will also mean the start of some new and exciting rivalries with schools various UCO teams have met off-and-on over the years. The Bronchos have gone against Northwest Missouri, Pittsburg State, Central Missouri, Washburn, Emporia State and other MIAA teams in several sports over the years and there’s no question our new league ranks among of the best in Division II.
So, after next week, it will be farewell to the LSC. It was good to know you.
The 13th-ranked women go to Amarillo, Texas for the West Regional May 1-3, while the top-rated men – yes, that’s No. 1 in the nation – travel to Georgetown, Ky. For the South Central/Central Regional May 2-4.
Nine teams make up the women’s field, with every squad ranked in the top 19 nationally. Three of those nine, along with three individuals, qualify for the national tournament.
Michael Bond’s squad has enjoyed a good year, having placed in the top six in all 10 tournaments in 2010-11. The Bronchos have six top four finishes, winning their own UCO/Mahogany Classic last fall at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City.
Freshman Chaney Uhles has the team’s best scoring average at 77.2, while juniors Emily Leahey (77.9) and Erica Bensch (77.9) have also been consistent performers. Rookie Taylor Neidy (79.0) and junior Mychael McWhorter (81.5) round out the team that will be gunning to earn UCO’s first-ever national tournament berth.
Twenty teams comprise the men’s super regional, with the top five and two individuals advancing on to the national championships.
Dax Johnston and the Bronchos have put together simply an amazing year, having won a school-record eight tournaments in 11 tries. UCO finished runner-up in two other tournaments with its worst finish, a fifth at the St. Edward’s Invitational in early March, the direct result of an injury that forced the team to play a man short.
This veteran, close-knit unit obviously has the ability to be a prime national championship contender. They’re not ranked No. 1 in the country for nothing, taking over that top spot in the latest coaches poll after capturing the Lone Star Conference title May 20 in San Antonio.
Senior stud Colby Shrum leads the way, carrying a salty 70.7 scoring average with a school-record five individual championships to his credit. Sophomore Josh Creel has a 71.3 average and nine top-10 finishes, including two titles.
Juniors Andrew Green (72.0) and Baer Aneshansley (73.9) and sophomore Chris Muriana (75.0) complete the powerhouse squad that has its sights set high for the month of May.
And on another note . . . the Lone Star Conference Track and Field Championships in Stephenville, Texas on May 6-8 will mark the end of an era for the Central Oklahoma athletic department.
It will be the final LSC event the Bronchos will ever compete in as the school starts its transition to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, a process that will have UCO competing as NCAA Division II independents next year before joining the MIAA for the 2012-13 academic year.
It will be sad to leave a league I’ve been around since we joined back in the late 1980s and I’ll certainly miss all the people in the conference office and from the LSC affiliated teams whom I’ve come to know over the years.
But it will also mean the start of some new and exciting rivalries with schools various UCO teams have met off-and-on over the years. The Bronchos have gone against Northwest Missouri, Pittsburg State, Central Missouri, Washburn, Emporia State and other MIAA teams in several sports over the years and there’s no question our new league ranks among of the best in Division II.
So, after next week, it will be farewell to the LSC. It was good to know you.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
This 'N That
So what happened to March? A month that flew by in record time saw a lot of great things happen for UCO's winter sports teams.
You have to start with men's basketball, which won a school-record 30 games and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing a tough game in the finals of the South Central Regional. Coach Terry Evans did a masterful job with this team, which won a fourth straight LSC North Division title and then the LSC Tournament crown in finishing 30-4.
It's a shame the Bronchos fell a game short of making it to the Elite Eight, but what a ride they had. And what a performance by UCO and the City of Edmond in putting on the South Central Regional! Attendance was great -- capped by an overflow crowd for the finals -- and everybody who participated in the tournament had nothing but positive things to say about their experience.
And the Bronchos should be really, really good again next year. Dauntae Williams ended a masterful two-year career as the Division II Player of the Year by one organization, a well-deserved honor for one of UCO's best-ever players, but all the other main pieces from this year's club should return in 2011-12.
What can you say about the job Guy Hardaker did with the women's basketball team? An injury-racked squad that back in November figured to struggle to a winning record put together a stirring late-season run that resulted in runner-up finishes in the LSC North Division, the LSC Tournament and the South Central Regional.
UCO fought tough and nail in the regional finals before finally succumbing to Northwest Missouri and finished 22-10 in advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years.
Ashley Beckley was the lone senior for the Bronchos and all she did was put together perhaps the finest all-around season in school history to cement her spot among the best to ever put on a UCO uniform. Everybody else will be back next year -- along with a host of players who sat out with injury -- and the future indeed looks bright.
UCO didn't have quite the showing it envisioned for wrestling, with the Bronchos coming in 13th in the Division II national tounament. Freshman Cory Dauphin and sophomores Trison Graham and Kelly Henderson earned All-America honors, but Coach David James and crew figured to do more damage on the national stage with eight qualifiers.
The good thing is, all eight of those qualifiers return next year as the Bronchos didn't have one single senior in the starting lineup. There were many positives on the mat, from a 15-4 dual record to the fact that seven individuals won 29-plus matches, so things are definitely headed up.
I promise you that a 13th-place national finish is not up to the standards of UCO's powerhouse wrestling program -- which counts 15 national championships among its many highights -- and look for that to be corrected in 2011-12.
You have to start with men's basketball, which won a school-record 30 games and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing a tough game in the finals of the South Central Regional. Coach Terry Evans did a masterful job with this team, which won a fourth straight LSC North Division title and then the LSC Tournament crown in finishing 30-4.
It's a shame the Bronchos fell a game short of making it to the Elite Eight, but what a ride they had. And what a performance by UCO and the City of Edmond in putting on the South Central Regional! Attendance was great -- capped by an overflow crowd for the finals -- and everybody who participated in the tournament had nothing but positive things to say about their experience.
And the Bronchos should be really, really good again next year. Dauntae Williams ended a masterful two-year career as the Division II Player of the Year by one organization, a well-deserved honor for one of UCO's best-ever players, but all the other main pieces from this year's club should return in 2011-12.
What can you say about the job Guy Hardaker did with the women's basketball team? An injury-racked squad that back in November figured to struggle to a winning record put together a stirring late-season run that resulted in runner-up finishes in the LSC North Division, the LSC Tournament and the South Central Regional.
UCO fought tough and nail in the regional finals before finally succumbing to Northwest Missouri and finished 22-10 in advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years.
Ashley Beckley was the lone senior for the Bronchos and all she did was put together perhaps the finest all-around season in school history to cement her spot among the best to ever put on a UCO uniform. Everybody else will be back next year -- along with a host of players who sat out with injury -- and the future indeed looks bright.
UCO didn't have quite the showing it envisioned for wrestling, with the Bronchos coming in 13th in the Division II national tounament. Freshman Cory Dauphin and sophomores Trison Graham and Kelly Henderson earned All-America honors, but Coach David James and crew figured to do more damage on the national stage with eight qualifiers.
The good thing is, all eight of those qualifiers return next year as the Bronchos didn't have one single senior in the starting lineup. There were many positives on the mat, from a 15-4 dual record to the fact that seven individuals won 29-plus matches, so things are definitely headed up.
I promise you that a 13th-place national finish is not up to the standards of UCO's powerhouse wrestling program -- which counts 15 national championships among its many highights -- and look for that to be corrected in 2011-12.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Post-season Time!
March has brought much madness to UCO as our three winter sports teams are involved in the post-season. It's an exciting time in Broncho Land right now.
Start with the men's basketball team, which is 28-3 -- that's 28 wins, 3 losses folks! -- and hosting a regional tournament this weekend at Hamilton Field House. It's only the second time UCO has ever hosted an NCAA Division II regional and the first one came way back in 1993.
Now up to No. 4 in the national rankings, the Bronchos are the top seed for this weekend's eight-team regional and is the definite favorite to win the title. UCO just doesn't look at home or not very often away. Only twice in the last 53 games has Terry Evans' teams tasted defeat at Hamilton Field House. That's quite a stat and hopefully the 23-game home winning streak gets stretched to 26 by next Tuesday.
First-round action starts Sunday, semifinals are Sunday and the championship game is Tuesday. Make your way out to Hamilton Field House and support the Bronchos in their quest for the regional championship.
But if you must leave town, take a trip to Tahlequah and support the UCO women's squad that will be playing in the regional at Northeastern State. The Bronchos open Friday and are underdogs to first-round foe Washburn, but I wouldn't consider a win to be an upset.
I think Guy Hardaker has done a remarkable job with this team. Only one senior (stud Ashley Beckley), four freshmen and a full team of injured players on the bench whose presence would have undoubtedly made this team REALLY special!
The Bronchos are 20-9, which is remarkable considering all the that has transpired the last few months. With the way UCO played in last week's LSC Tournament I wouldn't be surprised to see this team pull off a surprise or two or three in Tahlequah.
And last, by certainly not least, we have the wrestling team that is in Kearney, Neb. this weekend for the Division II national tournament. The No. 8-ranked Bronchos qualified eight individuals -- tied for the second-most -- and is looking for a higher-than-expected finish.
Talk about young teams . . . the Bronchos are just that. No seniors among the qualifiers and just one junior. Two freshmen and five sophomores make up the rest of the national tournament team.
Who knows what's in store for UCO in Kearney, but history is definitely with the Bronchos. Two previous national tournaments held here -- in 1995 and 2007 -- resulted in national championships for David James' boys. Again, the odds may be against UCO on the mat, but I would never count out those in blue singlets this weekend.
Good luck to all three teams for what could be truely a memorable weekend.
Start with the men's basketball team, which is 28-3 -- that's 28 wins, 3 losses folks! -- and hosting a regional tournament this weekend at Hamilton Field House. It's only the second time UCO has ever hosted an NCAA Division II regional and the first one came way back in 1993.
Now up to No. 4 in the national rankings, the Bronchos are the top seed for this weekend's eight-team regional and is the definite favorite to win the title. UCO just doesn't look at home or not very often away. Only twice in the last 53 games has Terry Evans' teams tasted defeat at Hamilton Field House. That's quite a stat and hopefully the 23-game home winning streak gets stretched to 26 by next Tuesday.
First-round action starts Sunday, semifinals are Sunday and the championship game is Tuesday. Make your way out to Hamilton Field House and support the Bronchos in their quest for the regional championship.
But if you must leave town, take a trip to Tahlequah and support the UCO women's squad that will be playing in the regional at Northeastern State. The Bronchos open Friday and are underdogs to first-round foe Washburn, but I wouldn't consider a win to be an upset.
I think Guy Hardaker has done a remarkable job with this team. Only one senior (stud Ashley Beckley), four freshmen and a full team of injured players on the bench whose presence would have undoubtedly made this team REALLY special!
The Bronchos are 20-9, which is remarkable considering all the that has transpired the last few months. With the way UCO played in last week's LSC Tournament I wouldn't be surprised to see this team pull off a surprise or two or three in Tahlequah.
And last, by certainly not least, we have the wrestling team that is in Kearney, Neb. this weekend for the Division II national tournament. The No. 8-ranked Bronchos qualified eight individuals -- tied for the second-most -- and is looking for a higher-than-expected finish.
Talk about young teams . . . the Bronchos are just that. No seniors among the qualifiers and just one junior. Two freshmen and five sophomores make up the rest of the national tournament team.
Who knows what's in store for UCO in Kearney, but history is definitely with the Bronchos. Two previous national tournaments held here -- in 1995 and 2007 -- resulted in national championships for David James' boys. Again, the odds may be against UCO on the mat, but I would never count out those in blue singlets this weekend.
Good luck to all three teams for what could be truely a memorable weekend.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Regional Wrestling Updates
Okay, we're ready for the finals and consolation finals of the regional tournament now. Three UCO guys are going for the gold and five others for the bronze.
Here we go . . .
Trison Graham had a 17-match winning streak ended in the 133 finals with a tough 7-5 loss to Limestone's Michael Magaha. Graham's escape and takedown in the third period gave him a 3-1 lead and he held that until the final minute, when Magaha reversed Trison to his back and added a three-point near-fall to go ahead 6-3. Graham got a reverse with 27 seconds left and immediately cut Magaha, but he couldn't get the tying takedown and lost the 7-5 decision.
Ky Corley fell in the consolation finals at 141, losing 5-2 to Truman State's Ryan Maus. Corley, who beat Maus 8-6 in Friday's quarterfinals, led 2-1 after two perios, but Maus got an escape, takedown and riding time point to hand Corley the setback. Ky will have to Central Missouri's Marcus Walker in a fourth-place challenge match, needing a win there to earn a trip to the national tournament.
UCO will have to win another fourth-place challenge match at 149 after Austin Standage dropped an 8-6 overtime decision to Central Missouri's Brandon Russow. Standage trailed 5-1 after getting turned for a three-point near-fall in the second period, but he got a reverse to pull within 5-3. Austin released Russow with 30 seconds left in the match after collecting enough riding time for a point in the third period and then tied it on a takedown with nine secords remaining to force overtime. Standage came close to a takedown early in sudden-victory period, but Russow came out on top of a scramble with 29 seconds left to end it.
The losing streak reached four at 157 where Cory Dauphin fell to Nebraska-Omaha's George Ivanov 3-2 in the finals. The top-ranked Ivanov scored an early takedown to go up 2-0, with the fifth-rated Dauphin escaping late in the period to pull within 2-1. Cory tied it with an escape early in the second and he controlled Ivanov for the first minute of the final stanza before Ivanov escaped to break the 2-2 deadlock. Dauphin couldn't come up with a takedown in the final seconds as Ivanov held on.
Kelly Henderson ended that streak with a 2-1 overtime win over Ashland's Ryan Thatcher in the 174 consolation finals. Neither wrestler scored an offensive point, trading escapes, but Kelly pulled it out midway through the sudden-victory period with a penalty point when Thatcher was hit with his second stall warning.
The Bronchos lost their third and last finals match at 184 where Tanner Keck lost to Nebraska-Omaha's Aaron Denson 2-1. Not much action in the match, with Denson's scoring on an escape and riding time point and Keck's on a penalty point in the third period.
Ky Corley stamped his ticket to the national tournament with a 7-2 win over Marcus Walker in the fourth-place challenge match at 141. Corley had two first-period takedowns to take control in holding on to fourth and qualifying for the national meet two weeks from now in Kearney, Neb.
Austin Standage did the same at 149, winning 2-1 in overtime in the fourth-place challenge match over Nicolas Stella of King. Each wrestler had an escape and then midway through the sudden victory period Stella was hit with his second stall warning call and the penalty point gave Standage the victory.
Jarrett Edison lost his second overtime match of the tournament in the consolation finals at 197, falling 6-4 to Finday's Daniel Stevenson. Edison had a 3-1 lead in the third period, but was hit with a stalling penalty and then gave up a reverse to fall behind 4-3 before tying it with a late reverse. Stevenson then ended it in the sudden victory period with a takedown, but Edison is still headed to his third national tournament.
A bad round continued for UCO as Cody Dauphin lost a last-second 3-1 decision to Nebraska-Omaha's Taylor Escamilla in the consolation finals at heavyweight. Dauphin's second-period escape broke a scoreless tie and Escamilla tied it to start the third. Cody nearly scored a takedown on the edge with 15 seconds left before the wrestlers went off the mat and Escamilla ended it on a takedown with just two seconds remaining. Dauphin will wrestle a fourth-place challenge match in 45 minutes.
And Cody Dauphin ends the tournament for UCO with a heart-stopping 6-5 win over Findlay's Andrew Tumlin, winning it on a riding time point. Dauphin had two takedowns in taking a 5-1 lead midway through the second period, but Tumlin got an escape and takedown to make it 5-4 entering the third. Tumlin escaped early in the third to tie it, but Cody's 1:10 riding time advantage gave him the point needed for the win.
The Bronchos ended up with eight individual qualifiers.
The Bronchos are third in team standings heading into Saturday with nine individuals still in line to earn a national tournament berth. Here we go with the championship semifinal and consolation quarterfinal results . . .
Starting it off for UCO was Trison Graham in the 133 semifinals and he marched into the finals with a 12-4 major decision over Scott Meyer of Ashland. Meyer got a quick takedown to take the early lead, but Graham tied it with a reverse and then went ahead 7-2 in the second period with a reverse, near-fall and penalty point. Trison added a pair of third-period takedowns to complete the big win and clinch a spot in the national tournament.
Ky Corley dropped a wild 13-10 decision to top-ranked Mario Morgan of Nebraska-Omaha in the 141 semifinals. Corley tied it 5-5 late in the first period, but Morgan got an escape and takedown in the final nine seconds to go on top 8-5 and the only scoring in the second period was a Morgan escape that made it 9-5. It was a 13-8 deficit late in the match when Corley got a takedown , but he couldn't turn Morgan in the final seconds.
Austin Standage was pinned by Nebraska-Omaha's No. Esai Dominguez in 1:36 at 149 to drop into the consolations.
Cory Dauphin moved into the finals with a methodical 10-3 victory over Appolon Jean-Paul of Belmont-Abbey. The fifth-ranked freshman broke a scoreless tie in the final minute of first period with a takedown before Jean-Paul escaped 45 seconds later. Dauphin then took control in the second period with an escape and a pair of takdowns that made it 7-2 and had added a third-period takedown to win going away. Cory will take on UNO's George Ivanov in the finals.
The Bronchos had their second individual eliminated at 165 when Derrick Adkins was pinned in his consolation quarterfinal match.
Kelly Henderson lost a tough 3-1 overtime decision to Bryce Sopko of Limestone in the quarterfinals at 174. The two traded escapes after a scoreless first period and then Sopko won it 35 seconds into the sudden-victory period with a takedown off a Henderson shot.
Jarrett Edison stayed alive with another dominating consolation victory, scoring a 15-0 technical fall over Doug Thompson of Central Missouri. It was the second straight technical fall for Edison, who had three takedowns and three near-falls in the rout.
Cody Dauphin lost his semifinal bout to fifth-ranked Jacob Southwick of Ashland, getting pinned at the 3:42 mark. The two big men battled to a scoreless first period tie, but Southwick was able to turn Cody and get the fall 42 seconds into the second period.
Tanner Keck gave UCO its third finalist, beating Limestone's Casey Bradley 8-6. Keck had two first-period takedowns in grabbing a 4-2 lead and made it 7-3 with an escape and takedown in the second before Bradley made it interesting with an escape and takedown to pull within 7-6. Keck escaped seconds later for the 8-6 lead and easily staved off Bradley's late takedown tries to move into the finals.
Ky Corley stayed in contention for a national tournament berth with an 11-3 major decision in the consolation semifinals at 141. Corey trailed Limestone's Matthew Hall 2-1 after one period, tied it with an escape late in the second and seized control when he took Hall down to his back for a five-point move in the final 10 seconds to go on top 7-2. A takedown and near-fall in the final stanza finished off the major decision.
Austin Standage also moved into the consolation finals, pulling out a 6-5 win over Truman State's Colton Schmitz at 149. Standage used a late second-period reverse to take a 5-4 lead and Schmitz escaped early in the third, but Austin broke the tie with a riding time point earned.
Another consolation semifinal winner was Kelly Henderson at 174, who pinned Findlay's Mason True in 6:34. Henderson had a first-period takedown and second-period reverse in taking a 4-2 lead into the final period, but True escaped to make it 4-3. But Henderson came through late, taking True down and straight to his back in the final 45 seconds to get the fall.
Cody Dauphin made it four in a row in the consolation semifinals with a first-period pin at heavyweight. Cody took Limestone's Tarek Alaruri down midway through the three-minute opening stanza and then turned him for his team-high 11th fall at the 3:32 mark.
Jarrett Edison finished off UCO's strong consolation showing with a 9-4 win over Tiffin's Alek Hughes at 197. It was the third straight dominating consolation win for Edison, who has bounced back strong from Friday's quarterfinal upset loss. Jarrett had four takedowns in strolling past Hughes to make the consolation finals.
Quarterfinal/Consolation Updates . . .
Trison Graham was first up for the Bronchos Friday night and the 133-pound sophomore was impressive, cruising to a 16-1 technical fall over Ouachita Baptist's Brantley Pyle. Graham had three takedowns, three near-falls and a reverse in winning his 16th straight match.
At 141, Ky Corley moved into the quarterfinals with an 8-5 win over Truman State's Ryan Maus. Corley had three first-period takedowns in opening up a 6-2 lead and went ahead 8-2 in the third with another takedown before Maus made it close with an escape and takedown.
Austin Standage picked up an exciting win at 149, pinning Central Missouri's Brandon Russow with three seconds left in the second period. Standage was leading 3-2 late in the period when Russow scored a reverse, but Standage got a reverse of his own seconds later and took Russow to his back for the fall.
Cory Dauphin used an early five-point move to take control en route to an 8-3 win at 157 over Ouachita Baptist's Bobby Williams. Dauphin head locked Williams to his back to take the 5-0 lead, saw Williams within within 5-3 in the final minute and then clinched it with an escape and takedown.
By a mere four seconds, Kelly Henderson pulled out a 2-1 win over Jonathan Forbes of King in the quarterfinals at 174. The two traded escapes, with Kelly using 1:04 of riding time to earn the tie-breaking point.
Tanner Keck moved into tomorrow's semifials with a 5-3 victory over Jerami Bartley of Belmont-Abbey. Keck had a pair of takedowns and gave up three escapes in the win.
UCO suffered a huge upset at 197 when Jarrett Edison lost a 5-1 overtime decision to Ashland's Corby Running. The two traded escapes through regulation and nobody scored in the sudden-victory period before Running caught Edison with a three-point near-fall in the first tiebreaker and then escaped in the second one. Edison, a two-time regional runner-up, was the No. 2 seed and ranked fifth nationally.
Cody Dauphin ended the quarterfinals with a 2-1 double-OT win over King's Dondricus Anderson at heavyweight. Not much offense as the two big men traded escapes through regulation, no match-winning takedown in the first sudden-victory period and both escaped in the first two tiebreakers. No score in the second sudden-victory period, then Cody controlled Anderson in the third tiebreaker and escaped early in the fourth to pull out the win.
Zach Housley was eliminated from the tournament with a 4-3 loss to Belmont-Abbey's Shane Summerlin in the consolations at 125. Housley nearly turned Summerlin numerous times in the final period in gaining a riding time point, but Summerlin got the winning reverse with just 10 seconds remaining.
Derrick Adkins stayed alive at 165 with a 6-4 win over King's Patrick Spano. Adkins built a 5-0 lead midway through the first period, but Spano came back with an escape and takedown to pull within 5-3 by the end of the period and made it 5-4 with a second-period escape. Adkins went up 6-4 with an escape midway through the third and held on.
Jarrett Edison finished the day with a dominating 15-0 technical fall over Josh Price of St. Andrews in bouncing back from his upset loss to stay in contention for his third national tournament berth. Edison had three takedowns and four near-falls in the rout.
About the first round . . .
Well, some plans don't get off to such a good start.
The idea was the provide match-by-match updates of UCO's individuals in the NCAA Division II Super Regional II Wrestling Tournament that started this morning in Findlay, Ohio, but technical difficulties prevented me from getting on the internet until after the tournament started.
Anyway . . . I'll be posting updates after each UCO match throughout the tournament today and tomorrow.
Zach Housley got off to a great start against No. 3 seed Ryan Banning of Truman State at 125 with an opening-minute takedown and he later added a near-fall to go up 5-0, but Banning got a late reverse to pull within 5-2 after the opening period. Banning then took the lead with a takedown and near-fall in the second period and went on to a 9-6 win to drop Housley into the consolations.
Ky Corley held on for a 7-6 victory over Findlay's Jan Ulinski at 141. Ky got an early takedown, but a Ulinski reverse tied it and Corley ended up needing a last-second escape to end the first period with a 6-5 lead. The two traded escapes in the final two periods as Corley moved into the quarterfinals.
Cory Dauphin advanced to the quarterfinals with a 9-1 major decision over Truman State's Devon Fenstermaker. Dauphin had a takedown and near-fall in taking a 5-0 first-period lead, nearly getting a fall in the final seconds. He gave up an escape in the second period and then had an escape and takedown in the final stanza, adding a riding time point the major decision.
Derrick Adkins suffered an 8-4 upset at 165, falling to Limestone's Michael DiPierro. The fourth-seeded Adkins, a returning national qualifier, never led and didn't score an offensive point in the match as he fell into the consolations.
Jarrett Edison moved on with an easy 11-2 major decision over Phillip Bucher of Lake Erie. A two-time regional runner-up and seeded No. 2 this time, Jarrett had three takedowns, a reverse and a near-fall in coasting into the quarterfinals.
Cody Dauphin didn't waste in time advancing, needing just 58 seconds to score his team-leading 10 fall of the season over Bobby Hager of Lake Erie.
Four UCO wrestlers -- Trison Graham (133), Austin Standage (149), Kelly Henderson (174) and Tanner Keck (184) -- received first-round byes. Quarterfinal and consolation action begins at 2 p.m. and I'll provide updates again then.
Here we go . . .
Trison Graham had a 17-match winning streak ended in the 133 finals with a tough 7-5 loss to Limestone's Michael Magaha. Graham's escape and takedown in the third period gave him a 3-1 lead and he held that until the final minute, when Magaha reversed Trison to his back and added a three-point near-fall to go ahead 6-3. Graham got a reverse with 27 seconds left and immediately cut Magaha, but he couldn't get the tying takedown and lost the 7-5 decision.
Ky Corley fell in the consolation finals at 141, losing 5-2 to Truman State's Ryan Maus. Corley, who beat Maus 8-6 in Friday's quarterfinals, led 2-1 after two perios, but Maus got an escape, takedown and riding time point to hand Corley the setback. Ky will have to Central Missouri's Marcus Walker in a fourth-place challenge match, needing a win there to earn a trip to the national tournament.
UCO will have to win another fourth-place challenge match at 149 after Austin Standage dropped an 8-6 overtime decision to Central Missouri's Brandon Russow. Standage trailed 5-1 after getting turned for a three-point near-fall in the second period, but he got a reverse to pull within 5-3. Austin released Russow with 30 seconds left in the match after collecting enough riding time for a point in the third period and then tied it on a takedown with nine secords remaining to force overtime. Standage came close to a takedown early in sudden-victory period, but Russow came out on top of a scramble with 29 seconds left to end it.
The losing streak reached four at 157 where Cory Dauphin fell to Nebraska-Omaha's George Ivanov 3-2 in the finals. The top-ranked Ivanov scored an early takedown to go up 2-0, with the fifth-rated Dauphin escaping late in the period to pull within 2-1. Cory tied it with an escape early in the second and he controlled Ivanov for the first minute of the final stanza before Ivanov escaped to break the 2-2 deadlock. Dauphin couldn't come up with a takedown in the final seconds as Ivanov held on.
Kelly Henderson ended that streak with a 2-1 overtime win over Ashland's Ryan Thatcher in the 174 consolation finals. Neither wrestler scored an offensive point, trading escapes, but Kelly pulled it out midway through the sudden-victory period with a penalty point when Thatcher was hit with his second stall warning.
The Bronchos lost their third and last finals match at 184 where Tanner Keck lost to Nebraska-Omaha's Aaron Denson 2-1. Not much action in the match, with Denson's scoring on an escape and riding time point and Keck's on a penalty point in the third period.
Ky Corley stamped his ticket to the national tournament with a 7-2 win over Marcus Walker in the fourth-place challenge match at 141. Corley had two first-period takedowns to take control in holding on to fourth and qualifying for the national meet two weeks from now in Kearney, Neb.
Austin Standage did the same at 149, winning 2-1 in overtime in the fourth-place challenge match over Nicolas Stella of King. Each wrestler had an escape and then midway through the sudden victory period Stella was hit with his second stall warning call and the penalty point gave Standage the victory.
Jarrett Edison lost his second overtime match of the tournament in the consolation finals at 197, falling 6-4 to Finday's Daniel Stevenson. Edison had a 3-1 lead in the third period, but was hit with a stalling penalty and then gave up a reverse to fall behind 4-3 before tying it with a late reverse. Stevenson then ended it in the sudden victory period with a takedown, but Edison is still headed to his third national tournament.
A bad round continued for UCO as Cody Dauphin lost a last-second 3-1 decision to Nebraska-Omaha's Taylor Escamilla in the consolation finals at heavyweight. Dauphin's second-period escape broke a scoreless tie and Escamilla tied it to start the third. Cody nearly scored a takedown on the edge with 15 seconds left before the wrestlers went off the mat and Escamilla ended it on a takedown with just two seconds remaining. Dauphin will wrestle a fourth-place challenge match in 45 minutes.
And Cody Dauphin ends the tournament for UCO with a heart-stopping 6-5 win over Findlay's Andrew Tumlin, winning it on a riding time point. Dauphin had two takedowns in taking a 5-1 lead midway through the second period, but Tumlin got an escape and takedown to make it 5-4 entering the third. Tumlin escaped early in the third to tie it, but Cody's 1:10 riding time advantage gave him the point needed for the win.
The Bronchos ended up with eight individual qualifiers.
The Bronchos are third in team standings heading into Saturday with nine individuals still in line to earn a national tournament berth. Here we go with the championship semifinal and consolation quarterfinal results . . .
Starting it off for UCO was Trison Graham in the 133 semifinals and he marched into the finals with a 12-4 major decision over Scott Meyer of Ashland. Meyer got a quick takedown to take the early lead, but Graham tied it with a reverse and then went ahead 7-2 in the second period with a reverse, near-fall and penalty point. Trison added a pair of third-period takedowns to complete the big win and clinch a spot in the national tournament.
Ky Corley dropped a wild 13-10 decision to top-ranked Mario Morgan of Nebraska-Omaha in the 141 semifinals. Corley tied it 5-5 late in the first period, but Morgan got an escape and takedown in the final nine seconds to go on top 8-5 and the only scoring in the second period was a Morgan escape that made it 9-5. It was a 13-8 deficit late in the match when Corley got a takedown , but he couldn't turn Morgan in the final seconds.
Austin Standage was pinned by Nebraska-Omaha's No. Esai Dominguez in 1:36 at 149 to drop into the consolations.
Cory Dauphin moved into the finals with a methodical 10-3 victory over Appolon Jean-Paul of Belmont-Abbey. The fifth-ranked freshman broke a scoreless tie in the final minute of first period with a takedown before Jean-Paul escaped 45 seconds later. Dauphin then took control in the second period with an escape and a pair of takdowns that made it 7-2 and had added a third-period takedown to win going away. Cory will take on UNO's George Ivanov in the finals.
The Bronchos had their second individual eliminated at 165 when Derrick Adkins was pinned in his consolation quarterfinal match.
Kelly Henderson lost a tough 3-1 overtime decision to Bryce Sopko of Limestone in the quarterfinals at 174. The two traded escapes after a scoreless first period and then Sopko won it 35 seconds into the sudden-victory period with a takedown off a Henderson shot.
Jarrett Edison stayed alive with another dominating consolation victory, scoring a 15-0 technical fall over Doug Thompson of Central Missouri. It was the second straight technical fall for Edison, who had three takedowns and three near-falls in the rout.
Cody Dauphin lost his semifinal bout to fifth-ranked Jacob Southwick of Ashland, getting pinned at the 3:42 mark. The two big men battled to a scoreless first period tie, but Southwick was able to turn Cody and get the fall 42 seconds into the second period.
Tanner Keck gave UCO its third finalist, beating Limestone's Casey Bradley 8-6. Keck had two first-period takedowns in grabbing a 4-2 lead and made it 7-3 with an escape and takedown in the second before Bradley made it interesting with an escape and takedown to pull within 7-6. Keck escaped seconds later for the 8-6 lead and easily staved off Bradley's late takedown tries to move into the finals.
Ky Corley stayed in contention for a national tournament berth with an 11-3 major decision in the consolation semifinals at 141. Corey trailed Limestone's Matthew Hall 2-1 after one period, tied it with an escape late in the second and seized control when he took Hall down to his back for a five-point move in the final 10 seconds to go on top 7-2. A takedown and near-fall in the final stanza finished off the major decision.
Austin Standage also moved into the consolation finals, pulling out a 6-5 win over Truman State's Colton Schmitz at 149. Standage used a late second-period reverse to take a 5-4 lead and Schmitz escaped early in the third, but Austin broke the tie with a riding time point earned.
Another consolation semifinal winner was Kelly Henderson at 174, who pinned Findlay's Mason True in 6:34. Henderson had a first-period takedown and second-period reverse in taking a 4-2 lead into the final period, but True escaped to make it 4-3. But Henderson came through late, taking True down and straight to his back in the final 45 seconds to get the fall.
Cody Dauphin made it four in a row in the consolation semifinals with a first-period pin at heavyweight. Cody took Limestone's Tarek Alaruri down midway through the three-minute opening stanza and then turned him for his team-high 11th fall at the 3:32 mark.
Jarrett Edison finished off UCO's strong consolation showing with a 9-4 win over Tiffin's Alek Hughes at 197. It was the third straight dominating consolation win for Edison, who has bounced back strong from Friday's quarterfinal upset loss. Jarrett had four takedowns in strolling past Hughes to make the consolation finals.
Quarterfinal/Consolation Updates . . .
Trison Graham was first up for the Bronchos Friday night and the 133-pound sophomore was impressive, cruising to a 16-1 technical fall over Ouachita Baptist's Brantley Pyle. Graham had three takedowns, three near-falls and a reverse in winning his 16th straight match.
At 141, Ky Corley moved into the quarterfinals with an 8-5 win over Truman State's Ryan Maus. Corley had three first-period takedowns in opening up a 6-2 lead and went ahead 8-2 in the third with another takedown before Maus made it close with an escape and takedown.
Austin Standage picked up an exciting win at 149, pinning Central Missouri's Brandon Russow with three seconds left in the second period. Standage was leading 3-2 late in the period when Russow scored a reverse, but Standage got a reverse of his own seconds later and took Russow to his back for the fall.
Cory Dauphin used an early five-point move to take control en route to an 8-3 win at 157 over Ouachita Baptist's Bobby Williams. Dauphin head locked Williams to his back to take the 5-0 lead, saw Williams within within 5-3 in the final minute and then clinched it with an escape and takedown.
By a mere four seconds, Kelly Henderson pulled out a 2-1 win over Jonathan Forbes of King in the quarterfinals at 174. The two traded escapes, with Kelly using 1:04 of riding time to earn the tie-breaking point.
Tanner Keck moved into tomorrow's semifials with a 5-3 victory over Jerami Bartley of Belmont-Abbey. Keck had a pair of takedowns and gave up three escapes in the win.
UCO suffered a huge upset at 197 when Jarrett Edison lost a 5-1 overtime decision to Ashland's Corby Running. The two traded escapes through regulation and nobody scored in the sudden-victory period before Running caught Edison with a three-point near-fall in the first tiebreaker and then escaped in the second one. Edison, a two-time regional runner-up, was the No. 2 seed and ranked fifth nationally.
Cody Dauphin ended the quarterfinals with a 2-1 double-OT win over King's Dondricus Anderson at heavyweight. Not much offense as the two big men traded escapes through regulation, no match-winning takedown in the first sudden-victory period and both escaped in the first two tiebreakers. No score in the second sudden-victory period, then Cody controlled Anderson in the third tiebreaker and escaped early in the fourth to pull out the win.
Zach Housley was eliminated from the tournament with a 4-3 loss to Belmont-Abbey's Shane Summerlin in the consolations at 125. Housley nearly turned Summerlin numerous times in the final period in gaining a riding time point, but Summerlin got the winning reverse with just 10 seconds remaining.
Derrick Adkins stayed alive at 165 with a 6-4 win over King's Patrick Spano. Adkins built a 5-0 lead midway through the first period, but Spano came back with an escape and takedown to pull within 5-3 by the end of the period and made it 5-4 with a second-period escape. Adkins went up 6-4 with an escape midway through the third and held on.
Jarrett Edison finished the day with a dominating 15-0 technical fall over Josh Price of St. Andrews in bouncing back from his upset loss to stay in contention for his third national tournament berth. Edison had three takedowns and four near-falls in the rout.
About the first round . . .
Well, some plans don't get off to such a good start.
The idea was the provide match-by-match updates of UCO's individuals in the NCAA Division II Super Regional II Wrestling Tournament that started this morning in Findlay, Ohio, but technical difficulties prevented me from getting on the internet until after the tournament started.
Anyway . . . I'll be posting updates after each UCO match throughout the tournament today and tomorrow.
Zach Housley got off to a great start against No. 3 seed Ryan Banning of Truman State at 125 with an opening-minute takedown and he later added a near-fall to go up 5-0, but Banning got a late reverse to pull within 5-2 after the opening period. Banning then took the lead with a takedown and near-fall in the second period and went on to a 9-6 win to drop Housley into the consolations.
Ky Corley held on for a 7-6 victory over Findlay's Jan Ulinski at 141. Ky got an early takedown, but a Ulinski reverse tied it and Corley ended up needing a last-second escape to end the first period with a 6-5 lead. The two traded escapes in the final two periods as Corley moved into the quarterfinals.
Cory Dauphin advanced to the quarterfinals with a 9-1 major decision over Truman State's Devon Fenstermaker. Dauphin had a takedown and near-fall in taking a 5-0 first-period lead, nearly getting a fall in the final seconds. He gave up an escape in the second period and then had an escape and takedown in the final stanza, adding a riding time point the major decision.
Derrick Adkins suffered an 8-4 upset at 165, falling to Limestone's Michael DiPierro. The fourth-seeded Adkins, a returning national qualifier, never led and didn't score an offensive point in the match as he fell into the consolations.
Jarrett Edison moved on with an easy 11-2 major decision over Phillip Bucher of Lake Erie. A two-time regional runner-up and seeded No. 2 this time, Jarrett had three takedowns, a reverse and a near-fall in coasting into the quarterfinals.
Cody Dauphin didn't waste in time advancing, needing just 58 seconds to score his team-leading 10 fall of the season over Bobby Hager of Lake Erie.
Four UCO wrestlers -- Trison Graham (133), Austin Standage (149), Kelly Henderson (174) and Tanner Keck (184) -- received first-round byes. Quarterfinal and consolation action begins at 2 p.m. and I'll provide updates again then.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Winter Teams Roll On
It's been quite the winter sports season for UCO. That's actually an understatement, as the three teams currently competing -- men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling -- have a combined record of 41-9 through games/matches of Jan. 22! Talk about impressive.
The Bronchos are ranked 13th in men's hoops and will certainly move up later this week when the new poll comes out. Terry Evans' crew is a snazy 18-2 on the year and 4-0 in Lone Star Conference North Division play, having won eight games in a row.
UCO is also riding a 20-game home winning streak. Amazingly, only three home games remain this season -- Jan. 29 against East Central, Feb. 2 against Northeastern State and Feb. 23 against Southwestern Oklahoma.
This team has a chance to go deep in the NCAA Division II playoffs this season, showcasing great depth and the ability to wear teams out with their fast-paced tempo and defensive pressure. All-American Dauntae Williams is simply a stud and he gets most of the press, but there are several other key parts on this squad.
Brent Friday, with his ability to go inside and score against the big boys while also playing shut-down defense on the perimeter. Jarrod McDaniel, another stout defender with amazing quickness who gets UCO's running game going. Tyler Phillips with his toughness and outside shooting ability. This team plays well together and looks to be on a mission.
UCO's women are a somewhat surprising 11-5 overall and 4-0 in the North Division. I say that because the Bronchos are getting major minutes and increasingly better production from a trio of freshmen, and with first-year players you never quite know what you're gonna get.
Guy Hardaker has five players -- three returners, two newcomers -- on the bench sitting out this year with injury who would have been major contributors this season, yet his team has still prospered. The Bronchos literally get better every time they take the court and if that continues they will definitely be a factor come post-season time.
Ashley Beckley is the lone senior on the squad and what a year she's having. The nicest young lady you could ever hope to meet off the court and an absolute demon on it, A-Beck has been dominating this season with her all-around play in the paint. And she's one heckuva leader, too.
Courtney Allen and Alyssa Fuxa are junior veterans who have both played really well, having taken over games in their own right this winter. But the play of rookies Britney Morgan, Kylie Mayes and Tarrington Oakes has absolutely been the key to UCO's success. Morgan has started every game and grown by leaps and bounds, Mayes is becoming more of an inside terror by the day and Oakes has improved perhaps more than any other player since the start of the season.
Fans have four more chances to see this team in action -- doubleheaders on the same dates as the men along with a Feb. 16 meeting with Texas Woman's.
Speaking of teams winning with youngsters . . . how 'bout those Broncho grapplers? Long-time coach David James has probably the youngest team he's ever had with nine -- count 'em, nine! -- freshmen and sophomores in his 10-man lineup and yet UCO is 12-2 and riding a 10-match winning streak.
Oh, and the Bronchos are ranked fifth in the country.
Last year's 15th-place national tournament finish didn't set too well with D.J. and the 29th-year skipper brought in several highly-regarded freshmen plus a key transfer to go along with some young talent already in the room. Mix it all together and UCO appears on its way back to being a Division II powerhouse once again, one that will be a major contender in the national championship race every year.
This young group has improved mightily since November, though D.J. continues to emphasize that much work still remains.
Jarrett Edison is the lone upperclassmen in the starting lineup and the junior 197-pounder is enjoying a stellar season, as are sophomore returners Trison Graham, Derrick Adkins and Kelly Henderson. Freshmen brothers Cory and Cody Dauphin have infused the team with talent and personality and sophomore Ky Corley has been a big-time addition.
Fans will have just one more chance to see this team in action, with the Bronchos set to host Ouachita Baptist and Newman on Feb. 11.
It's been a great winter so far for the Bronchos and the stretch run of February and March should be an exciting time for all three teams.
The Bronchos are ranked 13th in men's hoops and will certainly move up later this week when the new poll comes out. Terry Evans' crew is a snazy 18-2 on the year and 4-0 in Lone Star Conference North Division play, having won eight games in a row.
UCO is also riding a 20-game home winning streak. Amazingly, only three home games remain this season -- Jan. 29 against East Central, Feb. 2 against Northeastern State and Feb. 23 against Southwestern Oklahoma.
This team has a chance to go deep in the NCAA Division II playoffs this season, showcasing great depth and the ability to wear teams out with their fast-paced tempo and defensive pressure. All-American Dauntae Williams is simply a stud and he gets most of the press, but there are several other key parts on this squad.
Brent Friday, with his ability to go inside and score against the big boys while also playing shut-down defense on the perimeter. Jarrod McDaniel, another stout defender with amazing quickness who gets UCO's running game going. Tyler Phillips with his toughness and outside shooting ability. This team plays well together and looks to be on a mission.
UCO's women are a somewhat surprising 11-5 overall and 4-0 in the North Division. I say that because the Bronchos are getting major minutes and increasingly better production from a trio of freshmen, and with first-year players you never quite know what you're gonna get.
Guy Hardaker has five players -- three returners, two newcomers -- on the bench sitting out this year with injury who would have been major contributors this season, yet his team has still prospered. The Bronchos literally get better every time they take the court and if that continues they will definitely be a factor come post-season time.
Ashley Beckley is the lone senior on the squad and what a year she's having. The nicest young lady you could ever hope to meet off the court and an absolute demon on it, A-Beck has been dominating this season with her all-around play in the paint. And she's one heckuva leader, too.
Courtney Allen and Alyssa Fuxa are junior veterans who have both played really well, having taken over games in their own right this winter. But the play of rookies Britney Morgan, Kylie Mayes and Tarrington Oakes has absolutely been the key to UCO's success. Morgan has started every game and grown by leaps and bounds, Mayes is becoming more of an inside terror by the day and Oakes has improved perhaps more than any other player since the start of the season.
Fans have four more chances to see this team in action -- doubleheaders on the same dates as the men along with a Feb. 16 meeting with Texas Woman's.
Speaking of teams winning with youngsters . . . how 'bout those Broncho grapplers? Long-time coach David James has probably the youngest team he's ever had with nine -- count 'em, nine! -- freshmen and sophomores in his 10-man lineup and yet UCO is 12-2 and riding a 10-match winning streak.
Oh, and the Bronchos are ranked fifth in the country.
Last year's 15th-place national tournament finish didn't set too well with D.J. and the 29th-year skipper brought in several highly-regarded freshmen plus a key transfer to go along with some young talent already in the room. Mix it all together and UCO appears on its way back to being a Division II powerhouse once again, one that will be a major contender in the national championship race every year.
This young group has improved mightily since November, though D.J. continues to emphasize that much work still remains.
Jarrett Edison is the lone upperclassmen in the starting lineup and the junior 197-pounder is enjoying a stellar season, as are sophomore returners Trison Graham, Derrick Adkins and Kelly Henderson. Freshmen brothers Cory and Cody Dauphin have infused the team with talent and personality and sophomore Ky Corley has been a big-time addition.
Fans will have just one more chance to see this team in action, with the Bronchos set to host Ouachita Baptist and Newman on Feb. 11.
It's been a great winter so far for the Bronchos and the stretch run of February and March should be an exciting time for all three teams.
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