NWCA National Duals 2015: Schedule and Preview of Mat Mayhem
In due time, 16 of the best wrestling teams in the country will battle in a bid for national supremacy. Saturday will see the kickoff of the 2015 National Duals.
The format for this year's event will be as such: The 16 teams are broken up into eight regions, and the eight regional champions will advance to the quarterfinal stage, which will be held at the University of Iowa's Carver–Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.
Here's a look at the full schedule, courtesy of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
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| 1 | Sun., Feb. 15 | Drexel at Cornell | 2 p.m. | Newman Arena |
| 2 | Sun., Feb. 15 | Ohio State at Edinboro | 1 p.m. | McComb Fieldhouse |
| 3 | Sat., Feb. 14 | George Mason at Lehigh | 7 p.m. | Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall |
| 4 | Sun., Feb. 15 | Oklahoma at Chattanooga | 3 p.m. | Maclellan Gymnasium |
| 5 | Sun., Feb. 15 | Kent State at Illinois | 2 p.m. | Huff Hall |
| 6 | Sun., Feb. 15 | Virginia at Iowa | 2 p.m. | Carver–Hawkeye Arena |
| 7 | Sun., Feb. 15 | American at Missouri | 1 p.m. | Hearnes Center |
| 8 | Sun., Feb. 15 | Minnesota at North Dakota State | 3 p.m. | Bentson-Bunker Fieldhouse |
| Quarterfinals | Sat., Feb. 21 | 1 p.m. | Carver–Hawkeye Arena |
| Semifinals | Sat., Feb. 21 | 4 p.m. | Carver–Hawkeye Arena |
| Finals and Consolation | Sun., Feb. 22 | 12:30 p.m. | Carver–Hawkeye Arena |
Among the favorites will be the host Hawkeyes, who are a perfect 13-0 and ranked first in the USA Today/NWCA Poll. They have a dual with Michigan on Friday before they grapple with Virginia on Sunday afternoon.
Bobby Telford will be one of the Iowa stars to watch in the regional. He's accumulated an impressive 21-1 record this season and is a few days removed from earning Big Ten Wrestler of the Week, per Iowa on BTN:
The senior will want to make a personal statement after calling out some of his teammates following a dual win over Penn State last Sunday.
"A lot of guys seemed like they were dull," Telford said, per Roger Moore of NCAA.com. "We need to get out some sharpening knives and get ready to gut some people."
You have to feel sorry for whomever Telford will take that aggression out on over the weekend.
Among the top contenders to knock off the Hawkeyes will be Missouri and Ohio State, which are ranked second and third, respectively, in the country. Like Iowa, the Tigers also own a perfect record (20-0), while the Buckeyes are a slightly less impressive 12-3, having lost to the Hawkeyes back on Jan. 4 in Columbus.
Many eyes will be on Mizzou, a team that not only secured a regular-season Mid-American Conference title but also set a school record for wins.
Sophomore J'den Cox could really shine against American University. He boasts a 26-0 record and a 46-match winning streak that dates back to last year.
"[Cox] is an amazing leader," Tigers head coach Brian Smith said in January, per Moore. "He does everything the right way; he sets an example with the way he carries himself."
Cox added that the mat is a release from his everyday grind of balancing school with wrestling.
"For me it's about having fun," Cox said. "I am serious all week, working on my shots, practicing everything, doing homework, all that stuff; for me this is the fun time. It is how I prepare, and this is the reward for all that work during the week. I love the sport, so when I am out there, I want to enjoy myself."
His approach has obviously proved wildly successful, and whatever the result for Missouri at the National Duals, Cox will almost certainly be one of the event's biggest stars.
And no matter which school captures this year's title, wrestling fans will have a great two weekends of wall-to-wall action.
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