University Park, Pa. — Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson has announced the team's 2010-11 schedule and Nittany Lion fans will be treated to an exciting home schedule featuring seven duals in Rec Hall. The season, Sanderson's second as head coach at Penn State, culminates with the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
The 2010-11 season opens up on Friday, Nov. 12, with a short trip to Bloomsburg. The Nittany Lions will battle the Huskies at 7 p.m. Lehigh then invades Rec Hall on Sunday, Nov. 14, for the home opener set to start at 2 p.m. Penn State will close out November with a trip to the Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Binghamton, N.Y., on Sunday, Nov. 21. Penn State's foes in Binghamton will be set later this summer.
December begins with an eighth chance for fans to catch Penn State in Rec Hall as the squad takes part in the Nittany Lion Open on Dec. 5. Lock Haven visits Happy Valley on Sunday, Dec. 12, for a 2 p.m. dual before the Nittany Lions begin conference action. A revamped Big Ten schedule has conference teams opening up dual meet action in December and for Sanderson's Lions that means a home date with the Ohio State Buckeyes on Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. Penn State will then head to Greensboro, N.C., for the Southern Scuffle, a team-scored tournament on Dec. 29-30.
The new year begins with a return trip to the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. The dual meet tournament will take place on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 7-8, with the full 16-team field to be finalized later this summer. Penn State will then close out the non-conference portion of its schedule at home against Pittsburgh on Friday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The Big Ten dual season continues in earnest two days later as Penn State heads to Indiana for a 1 p.m. dual on Sunday, Jan. 23, in Bloomington, Ind. The Iowa Hawkeyes trek to Rec Hall a week later as Penn State hosts Iowa in Rec Hall at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30.
February begins with a two-dual road swing through Michigan. The Nittany Lions will take on Michigan State in East Lansing on Friday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m., and then visit Michigan for a 2 p.m. match-up on Sunday, Feb. 6. Penn State then hosts Illinois on Friday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall which is followed by a quick trip to Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 13, for a 3 p.m. dual against the Gophers in Minneapolis. Sanderson's squad closes out the regular season by hosting Wisconsin on Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
March's tournament season begins with the 2011 Big Ten Wrestling Championships hosted by Purdue. The two-day event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 5-6, in West Lafayette, Ind. The season concludes with the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, Pa. The three-day championship will take place in the Wachovia Center on Thursday through Saturday, March 17-19.
"We are happy to announce that we have seven home matches next season as well as the Nittany Lion Open in Rec Hall," Sanderson said. "This schedule will help prepare us for Nationals in Philadelphia."
All dates and times are as of June 22, 2010, and are subject to change. Season ticket prices for 2010-11 have been set at $42 for adults and $28 for youth (18 and under). Renewal applications for current season ticket holders will be available on or before October 1. Fans can place new orders for season tickets by calling Joel Diamond at 814-867-2557. A $5 per order handling fee will be added to any new orders. Reserved seat locations will be assigned and Nittany Lion Club members will be assigned best available seats according to their active membership and point level. Following fulfillment of all Nittany Lion Club season ticket requests, seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. New ticket orders will be fulfilled and mailed by November 1, 2010. Season tickets do not include the Nittany Lion Open.