From Hilltoppersports.com
WLU Mat Slate a Treat for Wrestling Fans
8/9/2018
From Hilltoppersports.com
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University wrestling fans will have plenty of chances to see the nation's top NCAA Division II wrestlers in action this season as head coach Mitch Smith has assembled quite a challenging schedule.
The highlight of the slate comes on Feb. 23 when the ASRC will host the 2019 NCAA Division II Super Region One championship tournament but there are plenty of other hurdles to clear before that event.
Smith, who welcomes back several standouts from a team that place in the Top 25 at last year's NCAA Nationals, says that was by design.
"Finishing 23rd at Nationals last year helped propel West Liberty wrestling back into the national spotlight," said the former WLU All-American. "I wanted to build a schedule that would ensure our guys are completely prepared to make a maximum impact in the post-season."
The Hilltoppers will certainly have numerous opportunities to make an impression throughout the season as the schedule features numerous dual matches against perennial NCAA powers as well as several tournaments that will send the Black and Gold up against some of the nation's top wrestlers.
"We have been invited back to the (NWCA) National Duals – which features the top 16 programs in the country – for the first time since 2010," Smith said. "We've also lined up head-to-head matches against some of the nation's top Division II programs with three teams that finished in the Top 10 at last year's nationals coming to our mat to wrestle in front of our fans."
It all starts on Nov. 7 when Pitt-Johnstown, which finished sixth in the nation, rolls into the ASRC for a mutual season opener. Other highlights include a Dec. 8 visit from No. 5 Ashland (Ohio) and a Jan. 18 match against national runner-up Notre Dame.
Other home dates include WVU Tech on Jan. 30) and Ohio Valley on Feb. 6. The first road dual will be at Wheeling Jesuit on Dec. 2. Other away matches include a triangular with Penn State-Behrend and Washington & Jefferson at Erie, Pa. on Jan. 12 along with duals at Urbana on Feb. 1 and the regular season finale at Waynesburg, Pa. on Feb. 13.
Regular season tournament tests include the Case Western Reserve Open on Nov. 11, the Findlay (Ohio) Open on Nov. 17, the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis on Dec. 15-16, the NWCA National Duals in Louisville, Ky. on Jan. 4 and the West Virginia Invitational on Jan. 26 at Wheeling Jesuit.
"If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best," Smith said. "We want to go up against the best competition we can find throughout the season to put ourselves in position to be a factor when we host the NCAA regionals on Feb. 23."
West Liberty 2018-19 Wrestling Schedule
Nov. 7: Pitt-Johnstown 6 pm
Nov. 11: at Case Western Reserve Open 9 am
Nov. 17: at Findlay (Ohio) Open 9 am
Dec. 2: at Wheeling Jesuit TBA
Dec. 8: Ashland (Ohio) 2 pm
Dec. 15: at Midwest Classic 10 am
Dec. 16: at Midwest Classic 10 am
Jan. 4: at NWCA National Duals 9 am
Jan. 12: at Penn State-Behrend TBA
Jan. 12: vs. Wash. & Jeff. (Pa.) TBA
Jan. 18: Notre Dame (Ohio) 6 pm
Jan. 26: at W.Va. Invitational 10 am
Jan. 30: WVU Tech 6 pm
Feb. 1: at Urbana TBA
Feb. 6: Ohio Valley 6 pm
Feb. 13: at Waynesburg (Pa.) 7 pm
Feb. 23: NCAA Division II Regional TBA
March 8: at NCAA Nationals TBA
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