WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue wrestling program announced its 2011-12 schedule on Wednesday, unveiling a solid lineup of duals and tournaments capped by the 2012 Big Ten Championships at Mackey Arena and the 2012 NCAA Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The Boilermakers will host five dual contests this year, including four Big Ten Duals in Holloway Gymnasium.
Purdue opens up its season on Nov. 5, returning to the Eastern Michigan Open after a year's absence. The squad then heads out to Columbia, Mo. on Nov. 13 for a tilt with the Missouri Tigers, looking to knock them off for the third straight season and 15th time in school history. The Boilermakers have their home opener on Nov. 18, hosting NCAA Division II foe Indianapolis, and close out the month with a rigorous schedule at the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., where they're scheduled to face Binghamton, Lock Haven, Rutgers and American.
The Boilermakers head back out on the road to start December, traveling on Dec. 1 to Dekalb, Ill. where they'll square off with Northern Illinois for the 26th time in Purdue's history and the first time since 2008. They return home on Dec. 9 to open the Big Ten Dual slate, hosting Michigan State in Holloway Gymnasium for the second straight year. Purdue took a 22-9 victory last season and looks to open the conference schedule with a victory for the second time in the last three years. The Old Gold and Black has scheduled a trip to Edwardsville, Ill. before the holiday break on Dec. 18, heading over for a pair of duals against Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Truman State. They'll restart the season at the prestigious Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern on Dec. 28 and 29, returning as a team after sending just six athletes in 2010.
The New Year opens with Illinois on Jan. 6, with plans for a special celebration for Military Appreciation Day. Purdue then heads to Columbus, Ohio the following Friday, Jan. 13, to face the Buckeyes, and comes back home on Sunday, Jan. 15 for a clash with the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. The Boilermakers start a grueling trip on Jan. 19, heading up to Madison, Wis. for a Friday night battle (Jan. 20) with the Badgers before heading out to Lincoln, Neb. for their first-ever Big Ten Dual with conference newcomer Nebraska on Sunday, Jan. 22. The last two Big Ten Duals are set for Jan. 27 and Feb. 5 as Purdue hosts Northwestern on the 27th and then heads down the road for the 98th showdown with archrival Indiana on the 5th.
The Boilermakers are set to be a part of the new format of the NWCA National Duals, scheduled for Feb. 10-12, heading to Cornell for a six-team regional tournament. Joining Purdue in Ithaca, N.Y. is Central Michigan, Illinois, Oklahoma, American and the host Big Red. The winner of the region will advance to a four-team championship weekend, set for Feb. 19 at a location to be determined. Unless they advance, the Boilermakers close out their regular season schedule on Feb. 19, facing Central Michigan on neutral turf in Toledo, Ohio.
After being forced to pass on hosting in 2011 with the Mackey Project in full swing, the Boilermakers bring the Big Ten Championships to West Lafayette for the first time since 2000. It's been a mixed bag for Purdue in recent history, but they'll aim for their first top-five showing at the conference tournament since 1992, after finishing sixth in 2004 and 2009. The national meet returns to St. Louis after a two-year absence as Purdue works to place its third All-American in the last four seasons.
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