Iowa To Host NCAA's First Outdoor Wrestling Meet

Win or lose, the Iowa wrestling team will make NCAA history when the Hawkeyes open their 2015-16 season against Oklahoma State.

The Hawkeyes will host the Cowboys in the first dual meet to be held outdoor in a Division-I football stadium.

The inaugural "Grapple on the Gridiron" will be held at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. The dual meet is scheduled in advance of Iowa's home football game against Minnesota, which kicks off at 7 p.m. (BTN).

The national attendance leader in each of the last nine seasons, Iowa is making 25,000 tickets available for the outdoor dual meet.

The Hawkeyes are chasing the NCAA dual attendance record currently owned by Penn State (15,996). Iowa’s attendance record of 15,955 (Dec. 6, 2008 vs. Iowa State) stood for five years before the Nittany Lions broke the record against Pittsburgh on Dec. 8, 2013.

The Kinnick Stadium match-up will feature two of the country's strongest wrestling programs. The Hawkeyes and Cowboys have combined to win 57 national titles (Iowa 23, OSU 34).

The “Grapple on the Gridiron” is included in the Iowa wrestling season ticket package, which is available for purchase at the UI Athletic Ticket Office, online at hawkeyesports.com, or over the phone at 1-800-IA-HAWKS. Season ticket holders have the first opportunity to purchase additional single tickets to “Grapple on the Gridiron.” General public tickets are available Oct. 1, 2015. Seating is reserved.

The first 15,000 tickets sold will have reserved seating at Carver-Hawkeye Arena should the dual move indoors. Tickets purchased after the first 15,000 will be redeemable for an adult admission ticket to any other home dual on the Hawkeyes’ 2015-16 schedule.

Beginning today, season ticket holders also have the first opportunity to purchase ticket packages to Carver-Hawkeye Arena postseason events, including the 2016 Big Ten Championships and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Iowa’s remaining home schedule includes five Big Ten opponents, a non-conference dual against South Dakota State, the Iowa City Duals, and the Big Ten Championships. The conference tournament is March 5-6 on at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

Maryland headlines an Iowa City Duals lineup that includes Cornell College, Iowa Central Community College, and Grand Canyon State. The Terps will make their first ever appearance in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Nov. 20.

The Big Ten home schedule includes duals against Rutgers (Dec. 10), Purdue (Jan. 22), Minnesota (Jan. 30), and Indiana (Feb.5). Conference road dates include trips to Illinois (Jan. 8), Northwestern (Jan. 10), Wisconsin (Jan. 16), and Nebraska (Jan. 24).

The Hawkeyes return to the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Illinois, on Dec. 29-30. The NCAA Championships are contested March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

SCHEDULE NOTES: All start times and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

2015-16 Iowa Wrestling Schedule

Saturday, Nov. 14 Oklahoma State Iowa City, Iowa

Friday, Nov. 20 Iowa City Duals Iowa City, Iowa
(Baker, Cornell, Iowa CC, Maryland)

Sunday, Nov. 29 at Iowa State Ames, Iowa

Friday, Dec. 4 South Dakota State Iowa City, Iowa

Thursday, Dec. 10 Rutgers Iowa City, Iowa

Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Midlands Evanston, Ill.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Midlands Evanston, Ill.

Friday, Jan. 8 at Illinois Champaign, Ill.

Sunday, Jan. 10 at Northwestern Evanston, Ill.

Saturday, Jan. 16 at Wisconsin Madison, Wis.