Iowa wrestling 2022 Big Ten dual schedule released

The Big Ten Conference announced its 2022 conference wrestling dual schedule Wednesday.

Conference teams will compete in eight conference duals, beginning in January.

Defending NCAA and Big Ten champion Iowa will open the conference dual season against Minnesota on Jan. 7 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa returns 10 starters from a year ago and 10 total All-Americans, including three-time NCAA champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner Spencer Lee. Coach Tom Brands was named the conference and national coach of the year in 2021.

The home slate is highlighted by Penn State coming to Iowa City on Jan. 28. Last year, the two teams did not meet in State College, Pa., when Iowa’s medical staff called for a pause to the Hawkeyes’ season due to positive COVID-19 tests.

Iowa topped Penn State for the conference and national tournament titles. The Hawkeyes won the previous dual between the two powers. Heavyweight Tony Cassioppi posted a 7-0 decision over Seth Nevills to cement a 19-17 victory for top-ranked Iowa over No. 2 Penn State in 2020.

Iowa will also host Purdue on Jan. 9 and Wisconsin on Feb. 5. Purdue is coached by former Hawkeye and Humboldt native Tony Ersland.

The Hawkeyes’ conference road schedule consists of duals at Northwestern and Illinois on Jan. 14 and 16, respectively, at Ohio State (Jan. 21) and the season finale at Nebraska on Feb. 20.

Nebraska will also host the Big Ten Conference tournament March 5-6. The NCAA tournament is set for Detroit March 17-19.

Iowa’s non-conference schedule will be released at a later date.

Iowa wrestling 2022 Big Ten schedule

Friday, Jan. 7 — Minnesota

Sunday, Jan. 9 — Purdue

Friday, Jan. 14 — at Northwestern

Sunday, Jan. 16 — at Illinois

Friday, Jan. 21 — at Ohio State

Friday, Jan. 28 — Penn State

Saturday, Feb. 5 — Wisconsin

Sunday, Feb. 20 — at Nebraska