West Virginia Wrestling

Big 12 Adds Affiliates for Gymnastics, Wrestling

July 29, 2015
IRVING, Texas - The Big 12 Conference has added six affiliate members to its postseason wrestling competition as Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming will join Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia in future Big 12 Wrestling Championships. Additionally, Denver will take part in the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship with Iowa State, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

The affiliate member additions are effective beginning with the 2015-16 academic year. Affiliate members will compete for the Conference’s postseason championship and the league’s automatic qualification to NCAA postseason competition.

In wrestling, the 10-team Big 12 Championship will shift to a neutral site and expand to a two-day event with the 2016 championship set for March 5-6, at Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Big 12 Gymnastics Championship will also make its neutral site debut in 2016 with Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas, hosting the meet on Saturday, March 19.

“We are excited to announce the addition of affiliate members in sports where the league already maintains a strong competition level,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. “The additional institutions will improve and strengthen what are already strong postseason events for the Big 12. We are looking forward to welcoming coaches, student-athletes and fans from each of the affiliate institutions to future Big 12 Gymnastics and Wrestling Championships.”

In addition to gymnastics and wrestling, the Big 12 also includes affiliate members in the sport of rowing.

WVU wrestling coach Sammie Henson
The addition of these six teams will lead the Big 12 Conference into the future and solidify a balance needed for our conference. We are encouraged by the universities added and believe the strength of the overall schedule will lead to added success for all teams involved.


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