Hawkeyes open wrestling season Nov. 15

The University of Iowa released the schedule for the 2013-14 wrestling season Monday.

The latest version includes some attractive dates to go along with some notable programs that won't be on the dual docket.

The Hawkeyes will return to Northwestern's Midlands Championships and hosts rivals Oklahoma State and Minnesota, according to the UI Sports Information release. This year's season will not include, however, duals with University of Northern Iowa, two-time defending NCAA and Big Ten champion Penn State, Ohio State University and University of Illinois.

Iowa opens the season the weekend of Nov. 15 with a road tournament yet to be determined and then hosts its first event with the Iowa City Duals at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including NAIA's Baker (Mo.) University, Cornell College and NJCAA power Iowa Central.

The annual Iowa-Iowa State dual will take place at Hilton Coliseum in Ames Sunday, Dec. 1. The first home dual is Thursday, Dec. 12. against Buffalo.

The home schedule is highlighted by two classic rivals. Oklahoma State makes its return trip to Iowa City for a dual Friday, Jan. 10. Minnesota will face Iowa at CHA on Sunday, Jan. 26. Other home dates include Michigan State (Jan. 5), Indiana (Jan. 12) and Michigan (Feb. 9).

Ken Kraft Midlands Championships will be Dec. 29-30 at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.

The postseason begins March 8-9 with the Big Ten Championships at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis. The NCAA Championships will be held March 20-22 At Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla.

It's the first time Penn State has not been on the dual schedule since 1981-82 season and the first time Ohio State has not wrestled Iowa in a dual since 2008-09. I believe, the Big Ten handles the conference scheduling is the only entity that determines conference opponents.

Below is the release from the UI:

IOWA WRESTLING

HAWKEYES RELEASE 2013-14 SCHEDULE

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa wrestling program released its 2013-14 schedule Monday, and the calendar includes seven home dates and a return to the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships.

Iowa, the national attendance leader each of the last seven seasons, opens the home schedule on Mediacom Mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Nov. 22, hosting Baker University, Cornell College, and Iowa Central in the Iowa City Duals.

Nonconference foes Buffalo (Dec. 12) and Oklahoma State (Jan. 10), and Big Ten opponents Michigan State (Jan. 5), Indiana (Jan. 12), Minnesota (Jan. 26), and Michigan (Feb. 9) are also on the home schedule.

Iowa's road schedule includes a pair of visits to Evanston, Ill. The Hawkeyes will aim for their record 23rd Midlands Championship at Welsh Ryan Arena on Dec. 29-30, before returning to Northwestern on Jan. 31 to face the Wildcats in one of four conference road duals. The Big Ten schedule also includes duals at Purdue (Jan. 3), Nebraska (Jan. 17), and Wisconsin (Feb. 23).

The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series continues Dec. 1 in Ames, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have won all nine meetings against the Cyclones since the Cy-Hawk Series' inception in 2004-05.

The nonconference schedule also include duals at Edinboro (Dec. 5) and Lehigh (Feb. 14).

Wisconsin hosts the Big Ten Championships on March 8-9, and the NCAA Championships will be contested March 20-22 in Oklahoma City.

The Hawkeyes open the season Nov. 15 at a tournament yet to be determined.

All start times for the 2013-14 season will be announced at a later date.

2013-14 Wrestling Schedule

Nov. 15 (Friday)

Nov. 16 (Saturday) at Away Tournament TBD

Nov. 17 (Sunday)

Nov. 22 (Friday) Iowa City Duals Iowa City, Iowa

Dec. 1 (Sunday) at Iowa State Ames, Iowa

Dec. 5 (Thursday) at Edinboro Edinboro, Iowa

Dec. 12 (Thursday) Buffalo Iowa City, Iowa

Dec. 29 (Sunday) at Midlands Evanston, Ill.

Dec. 30 (Monday) at Midlands

Jan. 3 (Friday) at Purdue West Lafayette, Ind.

Jan. 5 (Sunday) Michigan State Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 10 (Friday) Oklahoma State Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 12 (Sunday) Indiana Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 17 (Friday) at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb.

Jan. 26 (Sunday) Minnesota Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 31 (Friday) at Northwestern Evanston, Ill.

Feb. 9 (Sunday) Michigan Iowa City, Iowa

Feb. 14 (Friday) at Lehigh Bethlehem, Pa.

Feb. 23 (Sunday) atWisconsin Madison, Wis.

Mar. 8 (Saturday) at Big Ten Championships Madison, Wis.

Mar. 9 (Sunday) at Big Ten Championships Madison, Wis.

Mar. 20 (Thursday) at NCAA Championships Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mar. 21 (Friday) at NCAA Championships Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mar. 22 (Saturday) at NCAA Championships Oklahoma City, Okla.