Photo by: Mary Ginsbach
Air Force Wrestling Announces 2023-24 Competition Schedule
9/7/2023 12:00:00 PM | Wrestling
USAF ACADEMY – Falcon wrestling has announced the competition schedule for the 2023-24 season. The Falcons will host seven dual opponents on six dates in Clune Arena.
"Coming off the historic 2023 season with great success in dual meets, at the Big 12 Championships, and the NCAA Championships—I kind of wanted to replicate last season's schedule," head coach Sam Barber said. "We have eight returning starters highlighted by three NCAA qualifiers and of course an All-American in Wyatt Hendrickson, so going off last year's schedule we had the perfect amount of opportunity to wrestle some of the best wrestlers and teams in the country. In doing that we had the right mixture of success—we were 70-percent duals, dug pretty deep into the coaches' rankings and RPI, and also managed to peak at the right time, wrestling our best at the Big 12 Championships."
Air Force kicks off the campaign with the annual Black and Blue Challenge on October 28. The Falcons open the regular season with a double-header against Western State and CSU-Pueblo on November 4 in Clune Arena.
The Falcons will battle in four competitive tournaments leading up to conference dual meets— the Mountaineer Invitational (Nov. 11), the Navy Classic (Nov. 18), the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite (Dec. 1-2), and the David Lehman Open at Franklin & Marshall (Jan. 5). Non-conference duals include Cal Poly on the road and American University at home.
Air Force opens the Big 12 Conference Slate against West Virginia (Dec. 8) in Clune Arena. The Falcons will also host California Baptist (Feb. 3), Utah Valley (Feb. 9), and conclude with Northern Colorado (Feb. 18) for Senior Night. The road slate starts at national powerhouse Missouri (Dec. 17), and rolls through Wyoming (Jan. 12), South Dakota State (Jan. 26) and North Dakota State (Jan. 28).
"The opportunities in the schedule get us from coast-to-coast again, holding up to our national brand of Air Force wrestling," Barber continued. "We're going to have great balance from our non-conference competition and into the Big 12. We'll see some of the toughest teams and toughest individuals again this year but also have room for success throughout the schedule—from the great talent at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite to the competitive Big 12 dual schedule, and ultimately peaking at the conference championships in Tulsa, and beyond at the NCAA Championships in Kansas City."
The Falcons will battle for Big 12 titles in Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 9-10, in the BOK Center. Those who qualify for the 2024 NCAA Championships will travel to Kansas City, Missouri, March 21-23, to take their shot at All-America status and beyond.
"Coming off the historic 2023 season with great success in dual meets, at the Big 12 Championships, and the NCAA Championships—I kind of wanted to replicate last season's schedule," head coach Sam Barber said. "We have eight returning starters highlighted by three NCAA qualifiers and of course an All-American in Wyatt Hendrickson, so going off last year's schedule we had the perfect amount of opportunity to wrestle some of the best wrestlers and teams in the country. In doing that we had the right mixture of success—we were 70-percent duals, dug pretty deep into the coaches' rankings and RPI, and also managed to peak at the right time, wrestling our best at the Big 12 Championships."
Air Force kicks off the campaign with the annual Black and Blue Challenge on October 28. The Falcons open the regular season with a double-header against Western State and CSU-Pueblo on November 4 in Clune Arena.
The Falcons will battle in four competitive tournaments leading up to conference dual meets— the Mountaineer Invitational (Nov. 11), the Navy Classic (Nov. 18), the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite (Dec. 1-2), and the David Lehman Open at Franklin & Marshall (Jan. 5). Non-conference duals include Cal Poly on the road and American University at home.
Air Force opens the Big 12 Conference Slate against West Virginia (Dec. 8) in Clune Arena. The Falcons will also host California Baptist (Feb. 3), Utah Valley (Feb. 9), and conclude with Northern Colorado (Feb. 18) for Senior Night. The road slate starts at national powerhouse Missouri (Dec. 17), and rolls through Wyoming (Jan. 12), South Dakota State (Jan. 26) and North Dakota State (Jan. 28).
"The opportunities in the schedule get us from coast-to-coast again, holding up to our national brand of Air Force wrestling," Barber continued. "We're going to have great balance from our non-conference competition and into the Big 12. We'll see some of the toughest teams and toughest individuals again this year but also have room for success throughout the schedule—from the great talent at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite to the competitive Big 12 dual schedule, and ultimately peaking at the conference championships in Tulsa, and beyond at the NCAA Championships in Kansas City."
The Falcons will battle for Big 12 titles in Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 9-10, in the BOK Center. Those who qualify for the 2024 NCAA Championships will travel to Kansas City, Missouri, March 21-23, to take their shot at All-America status and beyond.
Players Mentioned
HWT
/ WrestlingWyatt Hendrickson Visit
Monday, April 07
Sam Barber Interview March 12, 2025
Wednesday, March 12
Sam Barber Interview March 5, 2025
Wednesday, March 05
Sam Barber Interview February 25, 2025
Tuesday, February 25
