Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Wrestling Season Has Arrived
11/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 10, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The 2010-11 IU Wrestling season officially gets underway on Saturday, Feb. 13 when the entire team heads to the Michigan State Open, held inside the Jenison Field House. Wrestling is slated to start at 9 a.m. run into the early evening.
Competition is at a very high level heading into the '10-'11 campaign as a group of five seniors, including four starters, must be replaced by a group of young Hoosiers battling it out for time in the starting dual line-up once Big Ten season arrives. The first step in seizing a line-up slot begins in East Lansing on Saturday.
Click here for `live brackets' of the Michigan State Open.
Hoosier fans can follow the IU Wrestling program like never before this season. In addition to a live blog for all home matches, brand-new Twitter page and Facebook group; seven of Indiana's eight conference dual matches will be broadcast on either the Big Ten Network or at BigTenNetwork.com.
IU WRESTLING VIDEO COVERAGE SCHEDULE (times eastern)
Dec. 15 - Northwestern at Indiana, 7 pm, Live at BigTenNetwork.com
Jan. 14 - Indiana at Minnesota, 8 pm, Live at BigTenNetwork.com
Jan. 23 - Penn State at Indiana, 1 pm, Live at BigTenNetwork.com
Feb. 6 - Indiana at Iowa, 6:30 pm, Live at BigTenNetwork.com
Feb. 11 - Michigan State at Indiana, Big Ten Network (Tape Delay on Feb. 12 at 2 pm)
Feb. 17 - Indiana at Illinois, 8 pm, Live at BigTenNetwork.com
Feb. 18 - Indiana at Purdue, Big Ten Network (Tape Delay on Feb. 19 at 11:30 am)
BACK TO THE MICHIGAN STATE OPEN
The MSU Open is annually one of the largest wrestling tournaments in the country, hosting both an open division and freshman/sophomore division for each weight class. The Hoosiers had success in the event last season, most notably the titles won by Kurt Kinser and Paul Young. It marked Kinser's second straight MSU Open championships, having earned the 157-lbs. crown in 2008 as well.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Five Hoosiers can be found in the top-20 of the most recent Intermat National Rankings. Kurt Kinser and Paul Young each cracked the top-10, coming in at No. 6 and No. 9, respectively.
Both have decided to drop down a weight class for their senior seasons. Kinser returns to the 149-pound division, where he wrestled as a freshman. Meanwhile, Young will compete at 157 pounds for the first time in his collegiate career.
Indiana's three heaviest weight classes are all nationally-ranked as well. Ricky Alcala, a transfer from UC-Davis, is the 14th-ranked heavyweight in the country. In addition, 197-pounder Matt Powless is ranked 19th and Eric Cameron comes in at No. 20 in the 184-pound rankings.
Players Mentioned
