Army West Point Athletics
Wrestling Announces 2019-20 Schedule
August 23, 2019 | Wrestling
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point head wrestling coach Kevin Ward announced the Black Knights' 2019-20 competition schedule this week.Â
The slate consists of five regular season tournaments, one tri-dual and six duals, with five events at West Point.
"No question we have put together probably the most challenging schedule we have had over the past several years," said Ward. "I couldn't be more excited about some of the matchups we have been able to put on the schedule and the opportunity for our guys to represent themselves, and our program, at a national level."Â
Army opens up the season Nov. 1 when they travel to San Diego, Calif. to compete against Fresno State and Wisconsin in the 'Battle of the Midway' tournament. The Black Knights next head to Chattanooga, Tenn. on Nov. 10 to take on Illinois and host Tennessee Chattanooga in a tri-dual.Â
The cadets will get their first opportunity to showcase their skills at home in front of the Army fans on Nov. 17 in one of the marquee events in all of collegiate wrestling -- the Black Knight Invite. Hofstra, Central Michigan, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Bloomsburg, and defending NCAA National Champion Penn State will all be in attendance.Â
"The Battle on the Midway will be a really fun event for our guys, not only a unique setting, but some very quality competition," said Ward. "Also to see our tournament at West Point, the Black Knight Invite, grow into the premier collegiate tournament of that particular weekend has been a lot of fun. Anytime you have the defending NCAA Champions coming to your place, it immediately raises the bar for everyone in the tournament."Â
West Virginia visits the Banks of the Hudson on Nov. 24 for Army's first dual of the year. The tournament slate then picks back up with trips to Fairfax, Va. on Dec. 7 for the Patriot Open and back-to-back days in Chicago for the Midlands Championships on Dec. 29-30.Â
The Black Knights return home after the new year for the West Point Duals on Jan. 4 and against EIWA foe Penn on Jan. 17. At the duals, Army welcomes Wyoming, American, and North Carolina to West Point.Â
After a trip to Lock Haven to take on the Bald Eagles on Jan. 25, the conference schedule continues with a visit from two-time defending EIWA team champions, Lehigh. Trips to Bucknell (Feb. 16) and Navy (Feb. 22) will round out the duals schedule.
The postseason begins with a visit to Lehigh for this year's EIWA Championships on March 6-7. The 2020 NCAA Wrestling Championships will run from March 19-21 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.Â
"I feel like we've been able to create a really interesting mix of EIWA and out of conference dual meets, as well as some of the toughest tournaments in the country," added Ward. "Overall we are just really looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves against some of the nation's best. Our program really values competition and we believe it brings out the best in us, so we are looking forward to a season that offers a lot of opportunity for growth."
Army finished the 2018-19 season with an 8-3 overall team record -- 7-1 in EIWA matches. The Black Knights entered the NWCA Division I Coaches Poll for the first time since 2005 and also won their third straight Star Meet against service-academy rival Navy. Army had seven NCAA qualifiers last season, marking just the third time in program history there was at least seven Black Knights to qualify, and first since 1987.Â
For more information on Army West Point wrestling, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_Wres on Twitter and Instagram.Â
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