Wrestling Announces 2018-19 Schedule
8/30/2018 3:36:00 PM | Wrestling
The schedule is highlighted by five home duals at Clune Arena
USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy wrestling team and Head Coach Sam Barber announced its 2018-19 schedule today, August 30. The slate is highlighted by five home duals set to take place inside Clune Arena.
"The 2018-19 schedule is the most competitive and comprehensive schedule I have ever seen at the United States Air Force Academy," Barber exclaimed. "This will be the first year of a two year scheduling agreement with our Big 12 peers. We have four home, and four away Big 12 duals this season, and in 2019-20 those eight teams will remain on the schedule with opposing locations."
The season kicks off in Laramie, Wyo. for the Cowboy Open, Nov. 3. The open will serve as an opportunity for Coach Barber to see a majority of his wrestlers on the mats in competition before setting his lineup for the ensuing dual schedule.
Dual action starts off with a marquee matchup as Air Force hosts perennial Big Ten power Minnesota inside Clune Arena, Nov. 9. The dual concludes a home-and-home with the Golden Gophers as Air Force traveled to the Twin Cities last season. Air Force's fourth season in the Big 12 Conference opens up that same weekend, Nov. 11, when it hosts Fresno State.
"We kick off our home season with Minnesota and Fresno State, two duals that will set the expectation and pace of how we will compete the reminder of the year," Barber added.
The following weekend, Nov. 17, the Falcons flock to the east coast for the Navy Classic in Annapolis, Md. Two weeks later, Air Force remains in tournament action as they head to Las Vegas for the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
Big 12 action continues, Dec. 8, as Air Force hosts the Bison of North Dakota State. The dual marks the final event of the 2018 calendar year.
2019 will be kicked off in a big way with the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two-day tournament runs Jan. 1-2. Barber cites both the Cliff Keen and Southern Scuffle tournaments as "the two toughest regular season tournaments in the country."
The Falcons then dip back into dual action, Jan. 12, for the 29th annual Tracy Borah Duals hosted by Western State Colorado University. The matchups are to be determined, but Air Force will get the opportunity to wrestle against three other opponents in a full day of competition.
Air Force's first road Big 12 trip comes the following weekend when it first heads up the road to Laramie to battle Wyoming, Jan. 18, before jetting east to take on Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Jan. 20.
The All Academy Championships take place the next Saturday, Jan. 26, hosted by Norwich University. The tournament allows all service academies, regardless of division, to compete for the service academy crown.
The regular season schedule rounds out in February with five duals spread out over three weekends. The month begins with road contests at Big 12 foe Oklahoma State, Feb. 8, followed by the non-conference finale at Cal Poly, Feb. 10.
Home events conclude the following weekend with a pair of conference contests as the Blue and Silver host Oklahoma, Feb. 15, followed by Senior Day against Utah Valley, Feb. 16. The regular season and conference finale will be in Greeley against Northern Colorado, Feb. 24.
Then it is time for the postseason as the Big 12 Championships, taking place March 9-10 in Tulsa, Okla., will serve as the battle ground for any wrestlers trying to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championships. The Falcon wrestlers who make it to the NCAA's will head to Pittsburgh, Pa., March 21-23, for a chance to become the USAFA's first All-American since 2003.
"This is the right schedule for this Air Force Squad," Barber continued. "We have much experience retuning, the addition of an outstanding group of underclassmen, and our cadet-athletes' personal and team expectations make this an outstanding platform to reach our goals and potential. Our future warriors love to compete, and we will fight with great effort and courage because that is what we are trained to do!"
"The 2018-19 schedule is the most competitive and comprehensive schedule I have ever seen at the United States Air Force Academy," Barber exclaimed. "This will be the first year of a two year scheduling agreement with our Big 12 peers. We have four home, and four away Big 12 duals this season, and in 2019-20 those eight teams will remain on the schedule with opposing locations."
The season kicks off in Laramie, Wyo. for the Cowboy Open, Nov. 3. The open will serve as an opportunity for Coach Barber to see a majority of his wrestlers on the mats in competition before setting his lineup for the ensuing dual schedule.
Dual action starts off with a marquee matchup as Air Force hosts perennial Big Ten power Minnesota inside Clune Arena, Nov. 9. The dual concludes a home-and-home with the Golden Gophers as Air Force traveled to the Twin Cities last season. Air Force's fourth season in the Big 12 Conference opens up that same weekend, Nov. 11, when it hosts Fresno State.
"We kick off our home season with Minnesota and Fresno State, two duals that will set the expectation and pace of how we will compete the reminder of the year," Barber added.
The following weekend, Nov. 17, the Falcons flock to the east coast for the Navy Classic in Annapolis, Md. Two weeks later, Air Force remains in tournament action as they head to Las Vegas for the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
Big 12 action continues, Dec. 8, as Air Force hosts the Bison of North Dakota State. The dual marks the final event of the 2018 calendar year.
2019 will be kicked off in a big way with the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. The two-day tournament runs Jan. 1-2. Barber cites both the Cliff Keen and Southern Scuffle tournaments as "the two toughest regular season tournaments in the country."
The Falcons then dip back into dual action, Jan. 12, for the 29th annual Tracy Borah Duals hosted by Western State Colorado University. The matchups are to be determined, but Air Force will get the opportunity to wrestle against three other opponents in a full day of competition.
Air Force's first road Big 12 trip comes the following weekend when it first heads up the road to Laramie to battle Wyoming, Jan. 18, before jetting east to take on Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Jan. 20.
The All Academy Championships take place the next Saturday, Jan. 26, hosted by Norwich University. The tournament allows all service academies, regardless of division, to compete for the service academy crown.
The regular season schedule rounds out in February with five duals spread out over three weekends. The month begins with road contests at Big 12 foe Oklahoma State, Feb. 8, followed by the non-conference finale at Cal Poly, Feb. 10.
Home events conclude the following weekend with a pair of conference contests as the Blue and Silver host Oklahoma, Feb. 15, followed by Senior Day against Utah Valley, Feb. 16. The regular season and conference finale will be in Greeley against Northern Colorado, Feb. 24.
Then it is time for the postseason as the Big 12 Championships, taking place March 9-10 in Tulsa, Okla., will serve as the battle ground for any wrestlers trying to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championships. The Falcon wrestlers who make it to the NCAA's will head to Pittsburgh, Pa., March 21-23, for a chance to become the USAFA's first All-American since 2003.
"This is the right schedule for this Air Force Squad," Barber continued. "We have much experience retuning, the addition of an outstanding group of underclassmen, and our cadet-athletes' personal and team expectations make this an outstanding platform to reach our goals and potential. Our future warriors love to compete, and we will fight with great effort and courage because that is what we are trained to do!"
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