Big Ten Conference

2021-22 Big Ten Wrestling Schedule Announced

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference office announced the dates and opponents for the 2021-22 wrestling season Wednesday. The schedule features eight conference duals for each of the 14 Big Ten programs and concludes with the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, to be held over the first weekend in March at Nebraska.

All 14 teams will open Big Ten action Jan. 7-17. On opening night, Jan. 7, reigning Big Ten Champion Iowa will play host to Minnesota, while Big Ten Dual Meet Co-Champion Penn State will travel to Maryland. Indiana will open its conference slate against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., Northwestern will visit Wisconsin, and Purdue will travel to Nebraska. The following weekend (Jan. 14-17), Illinois and Michigan will make their conference season debuts by traveling to Rutgers and Ohio State, respectively.

The final regular-season dual will take place Feb. 20, with Nebraska hosting the defending Big Ten Dual Meet Co-Champion Iowa.

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Big Ten Wrestling Pre-Seeds Announced

Iowa paces conference teams with four top-seeded wrestlers

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the preliminary seeds for the 2021 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, which are set for March 6-7 at Penn State. Six schools boast at least one top-seeded wrestler, with Iowa leading the way with four No. 1 seeds. The pre-seeds, as voted on by the conference’s coaches, rank 14 starters in all 10 weight classes.

The Hawkeyes boast four top-seeded wrestlers, with 125-pounder Spencer Lee, 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman, 165-pounder Alex Marinelli and 174-pounder Michael Kemerer. Minnesota’s Gable Steveson (285), Nebraska’s Eric Schultz (197), Northwestern’s Ryan Deakin (157), Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso (149), along with Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young (133) and Aaron Brooks (184) round out the group of top-ranked grapplers.

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BTN announces coverage plan for Big Ten Wrestling Championships

The Big Ten Network is the destination for college wrestling fans this weekend as coverage of the 2021 Big Ten Wrestling Championships includes nearly 10 hours dedicated to the best collegiate wrestling in the country.

As a result of schedule adjustments creating additional telecast windows, the Big Ten Network will broadcast live on Saturday of the championships for the first time ever. On Saturday, March 6, from 10 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET, BTN will provide whip-around coverage highlighting the best matchups of session 1 with limited commercial interruptions. On Big Ten Network+, individual mat cameras will be also available to provide a comprehensive look at the opening session. On Saturday night from 7:30 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET, a double-box presentation will be available on television for the session 2 semifinals while consolation mats will once again be streamed live on Big Ten Network+.

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Gophers Head East for 2020 Big Ten Championships

The Gophers head to New Jersey for the 2020 Big Ten Wrestling Championships hosted by Rutgers University at the Rutgers Athletic Center. The best wrestling conference in the country will put their talents on display from March 7 at 9 am through the final session on March 8 at 2:30 pm.

The Gophers have six wrestlers seeded top-six entering the tournament. For a full review of the preseeds check HERE.

The tournament marks the first postseason experience for Pat McKee, Lee, Thomas, and O’Reilly. Dryden and Webster will get their first Division I action after previously competing at the NJCAA and Division III levels respectively.

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Brayton Lee Earns First Big Ten Award

Redshirt freshman Brayton Lee earned his first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week award after claiming the 149-pound Cliff Keen Las Vegas title, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Lee, who shares this week’s award with Purdue’s Dylan Lydy, went 5-0 on the weekend including his final three victories over top-ten opponents. As the five-seed Lee was the lowest seeded wrestler to win the title as well as the youngest wrestler to accomplish the feat this weekend.

After reaching the semifinals, Lee fell behind to then-No.5 Max Thomsen of Northern Iowa. Still, Lee showed off his conditioning with a late takedown to force sudden victory before he finished another leg attack early in the extra period. Lee then took care of business against Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso with a pair of takedowns in the championship bout for a 6-4 decision victory.

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