The Nebraska wrestling team announced a challenging schedule for the 2012-13 season on Wednesday, which includes a trip to Madison Square Garden as well as matches against the top three NCAA finishers from 2012.
The Huskers open their season on Nov. 4 at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open in Brookings, S.D. Last season Nebraska sent 13 wrestlers to the tournament, which was hosted by South Dakota State. All-American James Green led the Huskers, winning the tournament at 157 pounds.
The first dual of the season is against Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Nov. 10. It is the first of two non-conference road duals as the next night the Huskers face Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo.
The Huskers’ first conference home dual of the season is on the night of Nov. 16, as they will host 2012 NCAA runner-up Minnesota at the NU Coliseum at 7 p.m. Two days later, Nebraska hosts a pair of afternoon non-conference duals against North Carolina and South Dakota State. The Huskers hold a 10-1 advantage over the Tar Heels in the all-time series.
Nebraska heads to Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 30-Dec. 1, for the Cliff Keen Invitational. Last season the Huskers finished fourth with 106 points. NU then returns home for a pair of duals against Arizona State (Dec. 8) and Wisconsin (Dec. 9). In 2011-12, the Huskers shut out both opponents by a combined score of 78-0.
On Dec. 16, the Huskers are set to compete in the first Grapple at the Garden in New York, N.Y. NU faces Maryland at 9:30 a.m., before wrestling Rutgers at 11:30 a.m. Other teams participating in the Grapple at the Garden include Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Iowa, Hofstra, Chattanooga and Bucknell. To close out 2012, the Huskers compete at the Midlands Invitational in Evanston, Ill., Dec. 29-30.
January begins with two road Big Ten duals against Michigan and Northwestern. The Huskers head to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Jan. 11 before a trip to Evanston, Ill., on Jan. 13. Nebraska returns home to face Illinois on Jan. 18. The Fighting Illini finished seventh at the 2012 NCAA Championships. Nebraska then heads to University Park, Pa., for a showdown against defending national champion Penn State on Jan. 27.
On Feb. 1, the Huskers host Michigan State at the NU Coliseum. Last season the Big Red crushed the Spartans 27-8 in East Lansing, Mich. The final Big Ten dual of the 2012-13 campaign comes Feb. 10 against Iowa, which finished third at the 2012 NCAA Championships. The Huskers will compete at the NWCA National Duals in Ithaca, N.Y., on Feb. 17. Their opponents are to be determined.
On March 9-10, Nebraska will make its second appearance in the Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill. Last season the Huskers produced four top-five finishers. The 2012-13 season concludes March 21-23 at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Last year Nebraska finished 21st with 28 points. Freshman James Green (157) and junior Josh Ihnen (184) earned All-America honors, as eight Huskers qualified for the 2012 NCAA Championships.
Prior to the regular season, on Nov. 2 Nebraska will hold its annual Red-Black Intersquad meet at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Date Opponent/Tournament
Nov. 2 NU Intersquad Devaney Center 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open Brookings, S.D. TBA
Nov. 10 Northern Colorado
Nov. 11 Wyoming
Nov. 16 Minnesota
Nov. 18 North Carolina, South Dakota State NU Coliseum Noon/2 p.m.
Nov.30-Dec. 1 Cliff Keen Invitational Las Vegas, Nev. TBA
Dec. 8 Arizona State NU Coliseum 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 Wisconsin
Dec. 16 Grapple at the Garden
Dec. 29-30 Midlands Invitational Evanston, Ill. TBA
Jan. 11 Michigan
Jan. 13 Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 2 p.m.
Jan. 18 Illinois NU Coliseum 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 Penn State University Park, Pa. 1 p.m.
Feb. 1 Michigan State NU Coliseum 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 Iowa
Feb. 17 NWCA National Duals Ithaca, N.Y. TBA
Feb. 24 NWCA National Duals TBA TBA
March 9-10 Big Ten Championships Champaign, Ill. TBA
March 21-23 NCAA Championships Des Moines, Iowa TBA
— Connor Stange, Nebraska Sports Information