Wrestling Announces 2010-11 Schedule

KENT, Ohio -  Boasting a lineup loaded with returning starters and national qualifiers, Kent State will be tested early and often throughout the 2010-11 season.  The Golden Flashes’ schedule, which begins with a Nov. 6 dual against Iowa State, was released Monday.

“It’s a very challenging schedule, but I think this team is ready for it,” Head Coach Jim Andrassy said.  “As we continue to get better, we continue to make upgrades to our schedule.”

KSU will take on both Iowa State and Chattanooga in Salem, Va., before competing in the Hokie Open the next day (Nov. 7).  The Cyclones finished third at the 2010 NCAA Championships and were ranked No. 2 in last season’s final NWCA Coaches Poll.

 
“Our guys are definitely excited about Iowa State,” Andrassy said.  “My goal was to get the toughest schedule possible in hopes of bringing some of those bigger names to our campus next year.  It’s disappointing that there are some programs in the region that won’t wrestle us, but we’ll do the best we can with the ones who will.”

In the second weekend of competition, the Golden Flashes will take on three Atlantic Coast Conference opponents (Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia Tech) Nov. 13 at the Hershey Duals in Hershey, Pa.  Kent State will then seek a second straight Body Bar Invitational championship on Nov. 20 in Ithaca, N.Y., before heading to Missouri for a Dec. 4 dual against the 10th-place finishers from last year’s NCAA Championships.

“There are seven teams on our schedule that should be ranked in the top 25 to begin the year,” Andrassy said.  “And of the 16 teams at the Virginia Duals (Jan. 7-8), 10 of those will more than likely be top 25 teams.”

Following a one-year hiatus, KSU will renew its rivalry with Pittsburgh on Dec. 12 in the Steel City.  The Southern Scuffle, always among the toughest tournaments of the college season, will take place Dec. 29-30 in Greensboro, N.C.  
Jan. 4 will mark the first meet of the new year for the Flashes at nearby Cleveland State.  A rematch with Purdue will highlight KSU’s day at the Wendy’s Duals Jan. 15 at Ashland.  Mid-American Conference action begins Jan. 21 with the Flashes’ home opener against Northern Illinois.  Clarion heads to the M.A.C. Center the following weekend (Jan. 28).

Kent State closes out the regular season with four MAC meets beginning Feb. 4 at Buffalo.  Rival Ohio travels to Kent on Feb. 11 and two days later, the Flashes visit Eastern Michigan (Feb. 13).   A Feb. 20 trip to Mount Pleasant will likely decide the regular season crown when KSU takes on defending conference champion Central Michigan.

“It will probably come down to us and Central again this year and it will probably be very close,” Andrassy said.  “The other MAC teams are improving, but no one’s better than the two of us right now.  We’ll probably be the favorite when the coaches poll comes out because of all our guys returning.”

Northern Illinois will play host to the 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament March 5-6 in DeKalb.  Looking to add to its four All-Americans in the past two seasons, the Golden Flashes will head to Philadelphia March 17-19 for the 2011 NCAA Championships.

The 16-team bracket for the Virginia Duals and Kent State’s third opponent at the Ashland Duals will be announced at later dates.

The Golden Flashes return nine starters from its 2009-10 team that was ranked No. 16 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll.  Also returning is 2009 All-American Nic Bedelyon (125), who redshirted last year.