UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Two of the nation's premier wrestling teams will indeed meet this season as Penn State and Iowa have announced the scheduling of a non-conference dual. After a Twitter conversation between head coaches Cael Sanderson and Tom Brands Thursday (Sept. 5), Penn State will visit Iowa on Saturday, Dec. 21, for an 9 p.m. (Eastern) dual in Carver Hawkeye Arena.
With the squads not scheduled to meet in the Big Ten's rotating eight dual regular season slate, the two teams will get together in Carver Hawkeye for a non-conference dual in December. The Big Ten Network will air the dual meet live. Penn State and Iowa, which have met every year since 1982, have combined to win the last six NCAA titles (Penn State in '13, '12 and '11; Iowa in '10, '09 and '08). The Nittany Lions enter the 2013-14 season as three-time defending NCAA and Big Ten champions while Iowa has won 23 team titles during its program's history.
Penn State now has eight non-conference duals. The Lions host Lock Haven, Pittsburgh (in the Bryce Jordan Center), Oklahoma State and Clarion and will visit Rider, Lehigh, Boston and Iowa. Penn State's eight conference duals include Ohio State, Purdue, Northwestern and Illinois at home as well as Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan and Minnesota on the road. The Nittany Lion schedule now features the other top three teams from last year's NCAA Championships (Oklahoma State, Minnesota and now Iowa).
The addition of the Iowa dual will alter the Nittany Lions' participation at the Binghamton Open. Penn State's attached contingent to BU would be limited to six in order to add another scheduled event. Any other Nittany Lions going to Binghamton would have to attend unattached.
Once again, the full season of Rec Hall duals is sold out on a season-ticket basis but single dual standing room only tickets will be available. This year's season ticket package features eight duals (including the Pitt dual in the BJC). Information on season ticket renewals will be arriving to season ticket holders very soon. The sales of SRO tickets for the Rec Hall duals as well as the general public sale for the BJC dual will begin in October with an announcement on details and instructions being made at that time.
For information on Penn State wrestling tickets (including being placed on a waiting list for season tickets) call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Penn State ticket office in the BJC during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWRES and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling.
The newly revised full 2013-14 Penn State Wrestling Schedule is as follows:NOVEMBERSat. 16 -- at Rider, 6 p.m.Sun. 17 -- at Lehigh, 3 p.m.Sun. 24 -- LOCK HAVEN, 2 p.m.DECEMBERFri. 6 -- at Boston 7 p.m.Sun. 8 -- PITTSBURGH (in BJC), 2 p.m.Sun. 15 -- OHIO STATE*, 2 p.m.Sat. 21 - at Iowa, 9:00 p.m.JANUARYW/Th. 1-2 -- Southern Scuffle, Chattanooga, Tenn., All DaySun. 12 -- PURDUE*, 2 p.m.Fri. 17 -- at Indiana*, 7 p.m.Sun. 19 -- NORTHWESTERN*, 2 p.m.Fri. 24 -- ILLINOIS*, 7 p.m.Fri. 31 -- at Michigan State*, 7 p.m.FEBRUARYSun. 2 -- at Michigan*, 2 p.m.Sun. 9 -- at Minnesota*, 2 p.m.Sun. 16 -- OKLAHOMA STATE, 2 p.m.Sun. 23 -- CLARION, 2 p.m.MARCHSa./Su. 8-9 -- Big Ten Championships, Madison, Wis., Times TBASat. 8 -- Session 1 -- Opening RoundSession 2 -- SemifinalsSun. 9 -- Session 3 -- Consolation, 7th place boutsSession 4 -- Championship Finals, 3rd and 5thTh./Sa. 20-22 2013 NCAA Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla., Times TBAThur. 20 -- Session 1 -- 1st RoundThur. 20 -- Session 2 -- 2nd Round/ConsolationsFri. 21 -- Session 3 -- Quarterfinals/ConsolationsFri. 21 -- Session 4 -- Semifinals/All-America RoundSat. 22 -- Session 5 -- Medal RoundsSat. 22 -- Session 6 -- Championship Finals* Big Ten DualAll dates and times subject to change - All times EASTERN