UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, winner of eight of the last nine NCAA National Championships including the last four straight, has announced its 2019-20 schedule. A trip to the Southwest, yet another Big Ten clash in the Bryce Jordan Center and a couple in-state rivalries await the Penn State faithful this season.
The Nittany Lions will have eight home duals once again, including five Big Ten home match-ups and three non-conference battles. The Nittany Lions are on the road for four Big Ten duals, two non-conference duals and a new in-season tournament. The post-season once again begins in March.
Penn State opens up its season in the friendly confines of Rec Hall on Sunday, Nov. 10, when head coach Cael Sanderson's squad welcomes Navy for a 2 p.m. dual. Penn State last wrestled Navy in 2005 and owns a 48-30-7 lead in the all-time series, including wins in the last five. Moving on to another of our nation's service academies, Penn State will take part in the Army West Point Invite on Sunday, Nov. 17. The invitational tournament starts at 10 a.m. at West Point, N.Y. It is Penn State's first-ever appearance at the event.
The first away dual for Penn State takes the team to Arizona State for a dual meet with the Sun Devils. The dual is set for Friday, Nov. 22 with the time to be determined. Penn State leads the series 4-3-1 having won the last two, including last year's victory in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to take on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Friday, Dec. 6 with the time to be announced. Penn State has won the last nine duals with Lehigh, including last season, and owns a 70-34-3 lead in the all-time series. Penn State closes out December by hosting Penn in Rec Hall at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. The Lions last wrestled Penn in 2009 and own a 21-3 lead in the all-time series.
Penn State opens up Big Ten action with three straight home duals. The Nittany Lions host Illinois on Friday, Jan. 10. Penn State leads the all-time series 11-7, including the last five. Penn State won in Champaign a year ago. The Nittany Lions host Northwestern two days later on Sunday, Jan. 12. Penn State has won 14 straight against the Wildcats and leads the all-time series 16-1. Sanderson and company won in Evanston a year ago. Penn State welcomes Rutgers to Rec Hall a week later on Sunday, Jan. 19. The Nittany Lions have a 20-0 lead in the all-time series, including a victory at Rutgers two years ago in 2018. The two teams did not meet last season.
The Nittany Lions head to Lincoln, Neb., to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday, Jan. 24. Penn State leads the all-time series with Nebraska 9-8-1 including the last five straight. The Lions won in Rec Hall last season. A week later, Penn State visits Iowa on Friday, Jan. 31. Iowa leads the series 26-11-2 with Penn State having won the last two, including the last meeting in the BJC two seasons ago. The two teams did not meet last year. A quick turnaround is in line for Penn State as it welcomes Maryland to Rec Hall for a dual just two days later. The Lions and Terrapins meet on Sunday, Feb. 2. Penn State owns a 41-2-2 lead in the all-time series including 26 straight. Penn State won at Maryland two season ago and the two squads did not wrestle last year.
Penn State wraps up a challenging Big Ten road schedule with two dual meets the next weekend. The Nittany Lions visit Wisconsin on Friday, Feb. 7. Penn State has won seven in a row against the Badgers and has a 16-8 lead in the all-time series. The Nittany Lions were victorious a year ago in Rec Hall. Penn State then heads to Minneapolis two days later to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sunday, Feb. 9. Minnesota leads the all-time series 15-8-1 with Penn State having won the last two contests. The two teams did not wrestle last year, and Penn State won in Rec Hall during the 2018 season.
The Nittany Lions will once again host a dual in the near-16,000 seat Bryce Jordan Center. The 2020 BJC Dual will feature Big Ten opponent Ohio State and will take place on Saturday, Feb. 15. Penn State leads the series with the Buckeyes 21-12 and has won the last four meetings, including a victory in Columbus last year. The Lions close out their dual meet season by hosting American University in Rec Hall on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. This will be the first-ever dual meet between the two schools.
The 2020 Big Ten Championship will take place in Piscataway, N.J., on the campus of Rutgers University on Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8. The two-day crowns the Big Ten Champion and serves as the NCAA qualifier for the Big Ten's 14 teams. History will be made two weeks later when the 2020 NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. The three-day event, taking place at the home of the Minnesota Vikings, will take place on Thursday through Saturday, March 19-21.
The Nittany Lions have won eight of the last nine NCAA Championships (including the last four straight) and are the defending Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament Champions. Penn State went 14-0 in duals a year ago, including a 9-0 Big Ten mark.
With Penn State Wrestling season tickets once again sold out, fans have the opportunity to join the Penn State Wrestling season ticket interest list by calling 1-800-NITTANY. Information on single dual standing room only tickets for Penn State's seven Rec Hall duals as well as 2020 BJC Dual single ticket sales is forthcoming.
Fans should note that all times for Big Ten duals are to be announced at this moment as the conference prepares to announce the schedule of televised duals this season. All dates and times on the schedule are, as always, subject to change.
Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
2019-20 SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER
Sun. 10 NAVY 2 p.m.
Sun. 17 at Army-West Point Invite 10 a.m.
Fri. 22 at Arizona State TBA
DECEMBER
Fri. 6 at Lehigh TBA
Sun. 8 PENN 2 p.m.
JANUARY
Fri. 10 ILLINOIS* TBA
Sun. 12 NORTHWESTERN* TBA
Sun. 19 RUTGERS* TBA
Fri. 24 at Nebraska* TBA
Fri. 31 at Iowa* TBA
FEBRUARY
Sun. 2 MARYLAND* TBA
Fri. 7 at Wisconsin* TBA
Sun. 9 at Minnesota* TBA
Sat. 15 OHIO STATE* (BJC) TBA
Sun 23 AMERICAN 2 p.m.
MARCH
Sat.-Sun. 7-8 Big Ten Championships (Piscataway, N.J.)
Sat. 7 Session 1 -- Opening Round
Sat. 7 Session 2 -- Semifinals
Sun. 8 Session 3 -- Conso/Places/Championships
Thur.-Sat. 19-21 NCAA Championships (US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.)
Thur. 19 Session 1 -- 1st Round
Thur. 19 Session 2 -- 2nd Round/Consolations
Fri. 20 Session 3 -- Quarterfinals/Consolations
Fri. 20 Session 4 -- Semifinals/All-America Round
Sat. 21 Session 5 -- Medal Rounds
Sat. 21 Session 6 -- Championship Finals
* Big Ten Dual
All Dates and Times Subject to Change -- All Times EASTERN
