Wrestling Opens Season on the Road

The University of Central Oklahoma’s wrestling team started its 2025-2026 season this past Saturday in Park City, Kansas, at the Falcon Open, where 10 of the 23 men placed in two different divisions. 

The Open was split into the Amateur and Elite Brackets, with UCO placing five wrestlers in the top five in both divisions. 

In the Amateur Bracket, Cooper Zickefoose placed first at 174 pounds. Cole Mayfield and Hayze Ivey finished as co-champions, and Dylan Bratt placed third, all at 157. Taking third at 197 for the Bronchos was Jackson Blackburn.

In the Elite Bracket, 133 Dailey Jennings and 165 Brady Benham took second place, while 133 Easton Taylor and heavyweight Paul Sharp finished the tournament in third. 184 Cameron Johnson took fourth place for the Bronchos.

After the Bronchos competed Saturday at the Falcon Open, the team sent their starters to Little Rock, Arkansas, on Sunday, where they competed in two different duels in one day. 

Central Oklahoma began at noon on Sunday, facing Ouachita Baptist, where the Bronchos won, finishing the duel with a score of 47-0

UCO won every match, with four pins, three decisions, two technical falls, and one major decision as a collective.

Senior Jason Henschel stood out for UCO, as he delivered an upset in his first appearance with the Bronchos, taking down the No. 1-ranked 133-pound wrestler in the country, James Anderson, 10-5.

Henschel was also named the week one MIAA Co-Wrestler of the week after his standout performance.

Two-time defending champion, 157 Gabe Johnson, recorded the quickest fall of the day against Eli Silva, throwing Silva to his back in just 25 seconds. Johnson ended the match shortly after, with a total time of 50 seconds.

Later that afternoon, the Bronchos faced off against the Little Rock Trojans. Going into this season, the Division I Trojans are ranked No. 22 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. This was also the first time since 2011 that UCO has dueled against a Division I opponent.

The Bronchos fell to Little Rock 27-11, all by decisions and technical falls.

Despite the team’s loss, Garrett Wells, Johnson, and Henschel all collected individual wins for the Bronchos. Johnson won 8-4, while Wells finished 5-0, and Henschel completed a 22-6 technical fall to get his victory. 

The team takes a two-week break before returning to the road on November 15, when they will compete individually in the Drury Open in Springfield, Missouri. The starters will go to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to dual against Augustana on November 16.