OKLAHOMA CITY – Sixth-ranked Oklahoma City heads to Iowa this weekend for the NWCA/USMC National Duals. (Bracket)
 
The Stars begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, taking on No. 14 Central Methodist.
 
OCU Notebook
Previously: Sixth-ranked Oklahoma City got the new year started right with a 40-12 win over Carl Albert on Sunday. The Stars scored three pins and two technical falls for the Senior Day victory. Third-ranked John Wiley got OCU's first pin, taking care of Monty Hall at 157 pounds in 3:59. Top-ranked Tate Picklo knocked off Jory Garrett in 95 seconds for a pin at 174 pounds. Bryce Milster, ranked 21^st in the NAIA, needed only 99 seconds to get the fall over Carmichael Gonzalez at 184. Vincent Citrano won his home debut with a 19-5 technical fall in the second period at 133 pounds over Dakota Fenwick. Kaden Wallace followed at 141 with a technical fall over Liam Sherrill in 3:30 with a 17-2 score. Ninth-ranked Cash Donnell at 125 pounds and No. 6 Jordan Lomeli at 165 pounds recorded decisions. Eighth-ranked Omari Smith got a forfeit win at 197. Prior to the match, the Stars honored seniors No. 19 Hayden Brown, Kolby DePron, Lomeli, Milster, Picklo and Wiley.
 
Rankings:  Oklahoma City's Tate Picklo took over the NAIA's top ranking in the 174-pound class, the league announced on Thursday. The Stars remained sixth in the national team ranking with Picklo moving up from second in his weight class. Also for the Stars, Cash Donnell is ninth and Hayden Wright is 17^th at 125. Kaden Fetterolf is fourth at 149. John Wiley is third and Jake Moon in ninth at 157, Jordan Lomeli is sixth and Hayden Brown is 19^th at 165. At 184, Cole Olguin is 18^th and Bryce Milster is 21^st.  Omari Smith is ranked eighth at 197.
 
Dual Threat: OCU is 5-1 in duals this season with the lone setback coming at No. 3 Southeastern. After opening this weekend with Central Methodist, the Stars will face either No. 2 Life or No. 18 Corban in their second dual of the day at noon on Friday.
 
Early Opponents: Central Methodist is 3-5 in duals this season and led by Austin Foye, the top-ranked heavyweight in the NAIA. Life is 6-0 in duals this season. The Running Eagles have two wrestlers ranked second in their weight class: Fabian Padilla at 157 and Kendall Norfleet at 184. Corban is 4-2 in duals this season and is led by Antonio Garcia, the NAIA's third-ranked heavyweight.
 
The Field: Fourteen of the 16 teams in the field are ranked in the NAIA Top 20, including No. 1 Grand View, No. 2 Life, No. 3 Southeastern, No. 4 Indiana Tech, No. 5 Southern Oregon, No. 6 OCU, No. 7 Campbellsville, No. 8 Embry-Riddle, No. 10 Providence, No. 11 Doane, No. 13 Cumberlands, No. 14 Central Methodist, No. 15 Arizona Christian and No. 18 Corban.
 
Up Next: The Stars open Sooner Athletic Conference action at Wayland Baptist on Jan. 16.