Aug. 18, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern has announced the wrestling schedule for the 2005-06 season. The schedule features eight conference matches, three regular-season tournament appearances and four matches against in-state rivals.
The campaign begins Nov. 12, with the Wildcats traveling to East Lansing, Mich., for the Michigan State Open. The two-day affair will feature some of the best teams and wrestlers around the country. The `Cats performed admirably in last year's open, placing in six weight classes.
Northwestern then heads to DeKalb, Ill., to square off against Northern Illinois on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Last season the `Cats beat the Huskies, who finished ranked 22 in the USA Today/NWCA poll, by a score of 21-13.
After a two-week hiatus, Northwestern returns to Evanston for its first home meet of the year on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. The duals meet will pit NU against the University of Chicago as well the University of Indianapolis.
Northwestern's next five matches will be on the road. The `Cats will leave the Chicagoland area for Reno, Nev., to participate in the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 18. The tournament will feature 20 teams, four of which finished top 25 in last year's USA Today/NWCA coach's poll, including 2004-05 NCAA champion Oklahoma State.
The `Cats return home Dec. 29-30 for the 43rd annual Midlands Tournament. As a team, Northwestern finished seventh last year, its best Midlands finish since the 1992-93 season.
Northwestern will ring in the new year by traveling to Charleston, Ill., to take on Eastern Illinois Jan. 8 at 1:30 p.m. The `Cats defeated Eastern Illinois 41-3 last season.
After participating in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals on Jan. 14-15, Northwestern will open Big Ten competition in Minneapolis to take on the University of Minnesota on Jan. 20 at 1 p.m.
The `Cats travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., two days later, taking on NCAA runner-up Michigan on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.
Northwestern returns home for its next three matches, the team's longest home stretch of the season. Ohio State comes to Evanston on Feb. 3, followed by Big Ten champions Illinois on Feb. 5 and Michigan State on Feb. 10. All of those matches begin at 7 p.m.
The Big Ten season continues as the `Cats travel to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. NU defeated Iowa last year, 22-19, its first win over the Hawkeyes in 37 years.
Northwestern wraps up regular-season action at home against Indiana on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
The Big Ten Championships will be hosted by Indiana University this year. The tournament will be held March 4-5 in Bloomington, Ind.
Oklahoma City will host the NCAA championships, which will take place March 16-18.
All Northwestern home meets will take place in Welsch-Ryan Arena.