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| 2014-15 Northwestern Wrestling |
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| EMU Duals |
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| Date | Saturday, Nov. 15 | 9 a.m. CT |
| Dual Meet #1 | No. 16 Northwestern (1-0) vs. Eastern Michigan (0-0) | 8 a.m. |
| Dual Meet #2 | No. 16 Northwestern (1-0) vs. Clarion (0-0) | 9:30 a.m. |
| Dual Meet #3 | No. 16 Northwestern (1-0) vs. Central Michigan (0-0) | 12:30 p.m. |
| Location | Bowen Field House | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Live Results: | TrackWrestling.com |
| Social Media | @NU_SportsLIVE  | @NU_Wrestle | Facebook  |
| 2014 Midlands Tickets | NUsports.com |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern, which now boasts four top-10 wrestlers and three in the top-5, got off to a strong start in 2014-15 dual season last week when it knocked off Stanford, 21-13, in Palo Alto. The Wildcats have returned to the Midwest and have an opportunity to add a trio of dual wins to their ledger when they compete Saturday (Nov. 15) in the Eastern Michigan Duals in Ypsilanti.
The 'Cats open the day against Eastern Michigan at 8 a.m. CT before taking on Clarion at 9:30 a.m. CT and an always-tough Central Michigan squad at 12:30 p.m. CT -- giving head coach Drew Pariano's squad early-season exposure to the challenge of wrestling two to three times in a short window of time. All three of NU's opponents are wrestling in dual action for the first time in their respective seasons.
Live statistics will be available for fans to follow on TrackWrestling.com.
Despite frequently encountering representatives from EMU, Clarion and Central Michigan in open tournaments throughout the season, the Wildcats have not squared off with any of the three since defeating Clarion, 26-9, on Dec. 16, 2012. Northwestern last met Eastern Michigan on Dec. 12, 2010 (a 34-3 Northwestern victory) and has not faced off with Central Michigan since falling 28-12 to the Chippewas in the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 9, 2010.
NU In The Rankings
Northwestern is garnering significant attention in the national rankings, particularly in InterMat's Tournament Power rankings where NU stands No. 6 in the country, behind only traditional powerhouses (in order) Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio State, Cornell and Penn State.
Individually, Northwestern features four ranked wrestlers, including two No. 1's in defending NCAA champion Jason Tsirtsis (149) and three-time All-American Mike McMullan (285). Returning All-American 165-pounder Pierce Harger joins his teammates near the top of the polls, moving up to No. 4 this week, while Alex Polizzi stands 10th at 197.
Last Time Out
No. 16 Northwestern claimed victories in six of 10 bouts to earn a 21-13 dual meet win over Stanford last Saturday in its first official competition of 2014-15. The win was Northwestern's sixth in seven meetings with the Cardinal since 2008. Though Stanford fought its way to a 13-11 lead following seven matches, Northwestern's Jameson Oster, Jason Tsirtsis and true freshman Bryce Brill strung together three straight wins to lead NU to the 21-13 win.
Secure Your Seats at 52nd Ken Kraft Midlands Championships
The 2014-15 college wrestling season underway, which means it's also time to secure your seats at one of the sport's signature events, the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern University. Slated for Dec. 29-30, the 52nd edition of the event promises to offer fans two days of non-stop competition featuring many of the nation's top-ranked teams and individuals. Fans also will want to be on hand for the first Midlands Championships since the installation of four state-of-the-art, HD-quality videoboards inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. Tickets to the event are on sale now and available by downloading and returning the 2014 ticket order form or by calling the Northwestern ticket office at 888-GO-PURPLE. All-session passes are available for as low as $40.
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