OU Wrestling Announces 2001-02 Schedule

Oct. 1, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma Head Wrestling Coach Jack Spates announced today the schedule for the upcoming 2001-02 season. The Sooners will host eight home duals as well as the Oklahoma Open and the Big 12 Championships. OU last hosted the Big 12 Championships in 1998.

"We head into this year with the finest team of my tenure," said Spates. "As always, we'll be tested early and often but have the talent, attitude and work ethic to prevail. OU is coming off consecutive fourth-place finishes and our goal is to win the Big 12 and contend for the NCAA championship. We have a real aggressive and talented group of guys who Sooner fans will enjoy watching."

Okahoma begins its season at the third annual Oklahoma Gold Classic held in Brockport, N.Y., on Nov. 10. The tournament is co-hosted by OU and SUNY-Brockport. The Sooners first home dual will take place on Nov. 20 when they welcome the Central Oklahoma Bronchos at 7 p.m. Other home duals include tilts with NC State (Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.), Cal Poly (Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.), Northern Iowa (Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.), Iowa State (Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.), Oklahoma State (Feb. 17 at 3 p.m.), Arizona State (Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.) and Michigan State (March 1 at 7 p.m.).

All home duals will be held at the Howard McCasland Field House (formerly the OU Field House) with the exception of the Oklahoma State Bedlam dual which will be held at the Lloyd Noble Center, as well as the Oklahoma Open (Nov. 24). In addition to its duals in Norman, OU will grapple Bacone at Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City on Jan. 3 at noon and Fresno State in Yukon at 1 p.m. on Jan. 13.

OU will face its first dual road tests when it travels to Rutgers and Rider on Dec. 1. On Dec. 9, the Sooners will face the OSU Cowboys in Stillwater. The Sooners will also compete in the Lone Star Duals in South Grand Prairie, Texas (Jan. 5), and the prestigious Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals held at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio (Jan. 19-20). Road duals with Big 12 foes Nebraska (Feb. 8) and Missouri (Feb. 10) are also included in this year's schedule.

Post-season competition begins with the Big 12 Championships held on March 9 at the Lloyd Noble Center. OU will conclude its season when qualified wrestlers compete at the NCAA Championships in Albany, N.Y., held March 21-23.

2001-02 Oklahoma Wrestling Schedule Day Date Opponent Site Time Sat. 10/20 Red/White Classic Norman, Okla. After Football Sat. 11/10 Oklahoma Gold Classic Brockport, N.Y. All Day Sun. 11/18 Missouri Open Columbia, Mo. All Day Tues. 11/20 Central Oklahoma Norman, Okla. 7 p.m. Sat. 11/24 *Oklahoma Open Norman, Okla. All Day Sat. 12/1 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. Noon Sat. 12/1 Rider Lawrenceville, N.J. 7:30 p.m. Sun. 12/9 Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. 2 p.m. Thur. 1/3 Bacone Oklahoma City (Heritage Hall) 1 p.m. Thur. 1/3 NC State Norman, Okla. 7 p.m. Sat. 1/5 Lone Star Duals South Grand Prairie, Texas All Day Harvard 10:15 a.m. Navy 1:30 p.m. Princeton 2:45 p.m. Cornell 7:30 p.m. Sun. 1/13 Fresno State Yukon, Okla. 1 p.m. Sun. 1/13 Cal Poly Norman, Okla. 7 p.m. Sat./Sun. 1/19-20 at National Duals Columbus, Ohio All Day Fri. 2/1 Northern Iowa Norman, Okla. 7 p.m. Sun. 2/3 Iowa State Norman, Okla. 2 p.m. Fri. 2/8 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 7 p.m. Sun. 2/10 Missouri Columbia, Mo. (Hickman HS) 2 p.m. Sun. 2/17 *Oklahoma State Norman, Okla. 3 p.m. Thur. 2/21 Arizona State Norman, Okla. 7 p.m. Fri. 3/1 Michigan State Norman, Okla. 7 p.m. Sat. 3/9 *Big 12 Championships Norman, Okla. All Day Thur-Sat. 3/21-23 NCAA Championships Albany, N.Y. All Day

Bold indicates home competition Home duals held at the Howard McCasland Field House *Held at Lloyd Noble Center All times local to match site