COLUMBIA, Mo. –Mizzou Wrestling staff released a tentative 2015-16 schedule Tuesday. The Tigers are set to host seven home duals this season. Head coach Brian Smith's squad is coming off of a 24-0 2014-15 campaign, a fourth consecutive conference championship and a fourth-place team finish at the NCAA Championships. Mizzou, which has produced six individual NCAA champions during Smith's tenure, eyes an NCAA team title and the Tigers will face a challenging slate as they prepare to reach that goal this season.
#TigerStyle, ranked No. 7 in WIN Magazine's Preseason Tournament Power Index, will face nine teams in the poll's top 25. That includes a trip to No. 1 Oklahoma State on Jan. 22, a home-opening dual against No. 2 Ohio State (defending national champions) on Dec. 12 and a matchup with No. 6 Cornell at Jesse Hall Auditorium on Jan. 10.
Mizzou will compete in 15 total duals and two tournaments in addition to the NWCA National Duals, the Mid-American Conference Championships and the NCAA Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After the Tigers officially launch the regular season schedule on Nov. 20 with a road dual at SIU Edwardsville, they turn to the Lindenwood Open on Nov. 21.
Following the first weekend of action, Mizzou opens MAC action seeking a second consecutive regular season conference title at No. 23 Northern Iowa. The Tigers then travel west to compete at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational from Dec. 4-5 before returning to the friendly confines of the Hearnes Center on Dec. 12, when the Tigers will look to knock off the Buckeyes for the second consecutive year.
Smith's squad will have a quick turnaround after its high-profile matchup with Ohio State as Mizzou will face three MAC opponents in a row: No. 15 Ohio on Dec. 13 at home, No. 20 Kent State on Dec. 20 on the road and Buffalo on Jan. 8 at home. The dual against Buffalo will feature the Beauty and the Beast event, as Mizzou Gymnastics will share the Hearnes Center with #TigerStyle and take on Illinois simultaneously.
Two days later, Mizzou Wrestling will lift up the curtain and lay down the mats at Jesse Hall Auditorium when the Tigers host No. 6 Cornell on Jan. 10. Following another pair of conference duals vs. Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, Mizzou faces familiar foes in former Big 12 rivals No. 1 Oklahoma State and No. 16 Oklahoma on Jan. 22 and Jan. 31, respectively. The home matchup with the Sooners features a Top-25 clash as the Tigers attempt to improve to 4-0 vs. Oklahoma since moving to the MAC.
Mizzou wraps up its home slate with Senior Day against No. 16 Old Dominion on Jan. 31 before concluding its regular season with three consecutive road trips to Northern Illinois, Appalachian State and No. 12 North Carolina State.
The Tigers will then head back to the NWCA National Duals at a Big Ten school to be named at a later date. Last season, Mizzou ripped off four consecutive wins and toppled No. 1 Iowa to win the National Duals Finals title. The victory handed the Tigers a No. 1 ranking heading into postseason play.
On March 5-6, Mizzou travels to Ypsilanti, Michigan, searching for its fifth consecutive conference championship and fourth consecutive MAC title. Two weeks later, #TigerStyle ends its campaign in the Big Apple, where Mizzou looks to continue its tradition of crowning champions at the NCAA Championships.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @MizzouWrestling.
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#TigerStyle, ranked No. 7 in WIN Magazine's Preseason Tournament Power Index, will face nine teams in the poll's top 25. That includes a trip to No. 1 Oklahoma State on Jan. 22, a home-opening dual against No. 2 Ohio State (defending national champions) on Dec. 12 and a matchup with No. 6 Cornell at Jesse Hall Auditorium on Jan. 10.
Mizzou will compete in 15 total duals and two tournaments in addition to the NWCA National Duals, the Mid-American Conference Championships and the NCAA Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York City. After the Tigers officially launch the regular season schedule on Nov. 20 with a road dual at SIU Edwardsville, they turn to the Lindenwood Open on Nov. 21.
Following the first weekend of action, Mizzou opens MAC action seeking a second consecutive regular season conference title at No. 23 Northern Iowa. The Tigers then travel west to compete at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational from Dec. 4-5 before returning to the friendly confines of the Hearnes Center on Dec. 12, when the Tigers will look to knock off the Buckeyes for the second consecutive year.
Smith's squad will have a quick turnaround after its high-profile matchup with Ohio State as Mizzou will face three MAC opponents in a row: No. 15 Ohio on Dec. 13 at home, No. 20 Kent State on Dec. 20 on the road and Buffalo on Jan. 8 at home. The dual against Buffalo will feature the Beauty and the Beast event, as Mizzou Gymnastics will share the Hearnes Center with #TigerStyle and take on Illinois simultaneously.
Two days later, Mizzou Wrestling will lift up the curtain and lay down the mats at Jesse Hall Auditorium when the Tigers host No. 6 Cornell on Jan. 10. Following another pair of conference duals vs. Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, Mizzou faces familiar foes in former Big 12 rivals No. 1 Oklahoma State and No. 16 Oklahoma on Jan. 22 and Jan. 31, respectively. The home matchup with the Sooners features a Top-25 clash as the Tigers attempt to improve to 4-0 vs. Oklahoma since moving to the MAC.
Mizzou wraps up its home slate with Senior Day against No. 16 Old Dominion on Jan. 31 before concluding its regular season with three consecutive road trips to Northern Illinois, Appalachian State and No. 12 North Carolina State.
The Tigers will then head back to the NWCA National Duals at a Big Ten school to be named at a later date. Last season, Mizzou ripped off four consecutive wins and toppled No. 1 Iowa to win the National Duals Finals title. The victory handed the Tigers a No. 1 ranking heading into postseason play.
On March 5-6, Mizzou travels to Ypsilanti, Michigan, searching for its fifth consecutive conference championship and fourth consecutive MAC title. Two weeks later, #TigerStyle ends its campaign in the Big Apple, where Mizzou looks to continue its tradition of crowning champions at the NCAA Championships.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @MizzouWrestling.
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