The St. Cloud Husky Wrestling program looks to start its 61st wrestling season this year with another challenging competition schedule. The Huskies will be facing 10 different teams that placed in the top 25 in their respective collegiate division last season. The Huskies will also be competing in four open tournaments and three regular season dual meet tournaments.
The Huskies begin their 2011-2012 Season with the annual Black/Red Classic on November 4. The Huskies start their open tournament schedule when they travel to Brookings, S.D. for the Daktronics Open on November 6, Ames, Iowa for the Harold Nicholas Open on November 13, Minneapolis for the Auggie/Brute/Addidas Open on November 19, and finally they end the Open season with their annual Holiday Inn/Husky Open on December 10.
Traveling to the University of La Crosse December on 3, the Huskies will face the host Eagles who placed third at the NCAA Division III tournament in 2011. At Grand Canyon University on December 31, SCSU is scheduled to face the host GCU who finished 7th in last year’s NCAA Division II meet along with Findlay University, Mesa State College, and Mercyhurst College.
On January 7-8, the Huskies will be headed to the prestigious NWCA National Duals in Springfield, Ill. The Huskies finished third n last year’s NWCA event and look to improve on last year’s finish.
The Huskies will then travel to non-conference opponent Concordia College in Moorhead on January 20. The Cobbers finished seventh at last year’s DIII meet and on February 2, the Huskies will host nearby rival St. John’s, which placed sixth at the 2011 NCAA DIII championships. SCSU will complete its non-conference dual schedule on February 7 with a home match against UW-Eau Claire.
The Huskies will open their conference schedule on the road in Aberdeen SD, where they will take on Northern State on January 13. The Huskies then travel to Bismarck to take on the University of Mary on January 14. SCSU will travel to Minnesota State, Moorhead on January 21 and then host defending NSIC champions Augustana College on January 27. Augie placed third at last year’s NCAA Division II championships behind champ UN-Omaha and runner-up St. Cloud State.
In special match in Canby, Minn. (hometown of the Huskies’ Tad Merritt), SCSU and Southwest Minnesota State will wrestle on Janurary 28.
SCSU will host the Upper Iowa Peacocks on Feburary 12 and SCSU will complete its regular season with a dual match at Minnesota State, Mankato. Of note, Upper Iowa was fourth in the nation last year and MSU finished 2011 with a 10th place finish at the NCAA Division II championships.
St. Cloud State will then battle for the post season awards as it hosts the 2012 Super Region Three Championships on February 26 in Halenbeck Hall. On March 9-10, SCSU will head to Pueblo, Colo for the 2012 NCAA Division II Championships.
In 2010-11, SCSU enjoyed one of its best seasons in team history. The Huskies placed second in the nation at the 2011 NCAA Division II Championships, won the 2011 NCAA Division II Super Region #3 title and set a team record with a 19-2 dual meet record in 2010-11.
The second place national finish was the highest national tournament finish for the Huskies in team history, and the Huskies also posted a solid third place finish at the elite NWCA National Duals in 2011.
2011-12 SCSU Wrestling Schedule Link:
http://www.stcloudstate.edu/athletics/sports/wrestling/schedule.asp