Big Ten Wrestling Championships 2016: Qualifying Dates, Schedule and More
The Big Ten is arguably the deepest and most talented wrestling conference in the country, and its top competitors will meet this weekend in the Big Ten Championships for a chance to take part in the NCAA Championships later this month.
Ten different weight classes will be contested in Iowa City, Iowa, with the top performers moving on to battle the best wrestlers in the nation.
With five schools in the Top 10 of the USA Today/NWCA Coaches poll, the level of competition at the Big Ten Championships promises to be among the best in college wrestling.
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Here is a full rundown of when and where to watch every session of the 2016 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, as well as a closer look at some of the most talented teams that will lock horns in Iowa.
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa
When: Saturday, March 5, to Sunday, March 6
Watch: Big Ten Network
Live Stream: BTN2Go
Tournament Schedule
| Saturday, March 5 | 11 a.m. | Session 1 - Mat 1 | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, March 5 | 11 a.m. | Session 1 - Mat 2 | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, March 5 | 11 a.m. | Session 1 - Mat 3 | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, March 5 | 11 a.m. | Session 1 - Mat 4 | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, March 5 | 7 p.m. | Session 2 - Mat 1 | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, March 5 | 7 p.m. | Session 2 - Mat 2 | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, March 5 | 7 p.m. | Session 2 - Mat 3 | BTN2Go |
| Saturday, March 5 | 7 p.m. | Session 2 - Mat 4 | BTN2Go |
| Sunday, March 6 | 1 p.m. | Session 3 - Mat 1 | BTN2Go |
| Sunday, March 6 | 1 p.m. | Session 3 - Mat 2 | BTN2Go |
| Sunday, March 6 | 1 p.m. | Session 3 - Mat 3 | BTN2Go |
| Sunday, March 6 | 4 p.m. | 3rd Place Mat | BTN2Go |
| Sunday, March 6 | 4 p.m. | 5th Place Mat | BTN2Go |
| Sunday, March 6 | 4 p.m. | Big Ten Championships | Big Ten Network |
Top Teams to Watch
Penn State
The Nittany Lions enter the Big Ten Championships as the No. 1 ranked team in the country with a perfect record of 16-0. They have an impressive four No. 1 seeds in their respective weight classes and one entrant in every class.
No. 1 seeds such as Zain Retherford, Jason Nolf, Bo Nickal and Morgan McIntosh will receive much of the attention in Iowa City, but PSU also boasts some intriguing underdog stories despite its undefeated season.
Chief among them is Geno Morelli, who enters the Big Ten Championships as somewhat of an afterthought as the No. 7 wrestler at 165 pounds.
Even so, he has a great deal of confidence and believes he can join some of his more highly touted teammates at the NCAA Championships, according to Evan Murach of the Daily Collegian: "I've had some close matches with some good guys. I mean I'm not protecting anything, obviously. So, I just get to go in and just wrestle and just be free at the Big Tens and nationals. I'm not expected to win or anything, but I know I can win both the tournaments."
Saturday and Sunday could be huge days for the Nittany Lions if their favored wrestlers come through, but they'll also have a target on their backs due to their unblemished record.
The Nittany Lions have been tested plenty this season, but they have a chance to prove that they are deserving of their billing by performing on the big stage in what figures to be a hostile environment.
Iowa
The Hawkeyes boast one of the most storied programs in the history of collegiate wrestling, and they have a chance to add to their legacy this weekend with a strong showing in front of their home crowd.
Iowa is ranked No. 4 in the nation at 16-1, with its only loss coming against second-ranked North Carolina State last month.
That defeat could give Iowa somewhat of a chip on its shoulder, and it is clear that the athletes are excited and prepared to compete in the Big Ten Championships, as seen in this video via Hawkeye Wrestling:
The Hawkeyes boast seven wrestlers who are seeded third or better in their respective weight classes, which includes senior Nathan Burak, who is looking forward to testing his skills against the best 197-pounders the Big Ten has to offer, per Darren Miller of HawkeyeSports.com: "It is super exciting. The atmosphere will be awesome and fun to wrestle in. We'll have a lot of Iowa fans; a lot of good things to get up for and excited about. I have to go out and score points. I'm feeling confident and ready to go, I'm confident in my training and excited to compete."
Iowa is second all time with 23 national championships, and it also has 33 conference championships to its credit, including last year's event.
The Hawkeyes have a chance to repeat based solely on talent, but the added benefit of competing at home could very well give them an advantage over the Nittany Lions despite their perfect record.
Michigan
Much of the focus in Iowa will undoubtedly be on the Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes, but eighth-seeded Michigan has the talent needed to make some noise as well.
The Wolverines have a pair of top-rated wrestlers in Adam Coon at 285 pounds and Dom Abounader at 184 pounds to go along with plenty of depth as well.
Abounader's only loss this season came to Cornell's Gabe Dean, but the captain believes he is well-equipped to thrive in the Big Ten Championships and beyond, according to Mike Persak of the Michigan Daily:
"Since then, I've definitely picked up my offense and I'm not so defensive anymore. Also, I'm in way better shape. Me and a couple of the guys have been coming in extra mornings and getting those workouts in. If it's a close match down the stretch, I'm confident that my lungs will still be there, which they weren't the first time I wrestled Gabe Dean.
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While Abounader will be a driving force behind the Wolverines at the Big Ten Championships, they have some less-heralded athletes capable of making noise as well.
Brian Murphy has a chance to do just that despite being only the sixth seed at 157 pounds. As seen in this video courtesy of Michigan Wrestling on Twitter, he has excellent technique that makes him a threat regardless of the opponent:
The Wolverines remarkably haven't won a Big Ten title since 1973, and while they aren't favored to end that drought, this may be one of their best chances in years.
Michigan will need some overachieving performances from unlikely candidates, but if that does happen, then a conference crown is very much within reach.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.
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