Charleston, S.C. - Head Coach Rob Hjerling and The Citadel Wrestling team announced their 2011-2012 schedule on Thursday, which is highlighted by seven home events.
Opening the season will be the annual Citadel Open at McAlister Field House on Nov. 6. This competition includes freshmen and sophomores from around the southeast. Several members of the team will also be taking part in the Hokie Open in Blacksburg, Va., that same weekend for the second consecutive year.
The Bulldogs will host six dual events this season beginning with North Carolina State on Dec. 17 while Duke, Appalachian State, VMI and Chattanooga will also pay visits to Charleston. The regular season concludes with The Citadel Duals on Feb. 19 at McAlister Field House as the Bulldogs host North Carolina and Sacred Heart.
The Citadel will take part in the "Wrestle for a Cure" Duals in Harrisburg, Pa., for the second straight year on Nov. 12 as they face Lock Haven, Cleveland State and Illinois. The duals are designed to help raise awareness and proceeds for cystic fibrosis.
Staying up north for the next two events, the Bulldog grapplers will take part in the Navy Classic in Annapolis, Md., on Nov. 19 and once again return to University Park, Pa., on Dec. 4 for the Nittany Lion Open.
Returning to Charleston, The Citadel hosts their first of three ACC foes on the season in North Carolina State on Dec. 17 before breaking for the Holidays. They will then part in the annual Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1 and 2 as the event moves to Chattanooga, Tenn. this season.
Duke comes to McAlister Field House on Jan. 6 before The Citadel travels to the prestigious Virginia Duals on Jan. 13 and 14 in Hampton, Va., to face teams that will be named at a later date.
The Bulldogs then begin Southern Conference dual action by hosting three consecutive contests with Appalachian State on Jan. 20, VMI on Jan. 22 and Chattanooga, who has won the regular season title for the last seven seasons, on Jan. 29.
The 18th annual All-Academy Championships will take place on Feb. 4 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Returning to the East Coast, the Bulldogs hit the road for three straight conference contests as they travel to Gardner-Webb on Feb. 10, Davidson on Feb. 11 and Campbell on Feb. 17. Gardner-Webb and Campbell enter their first year as members of the Southern Conference in wrestling in 2011-12.
Concluding the regular season, the Cadets host North Carolina and Sacred Heart in The Citadel Duals at McAlister Field House on Feb. 19 where the Bulldog senior class will be honored.
The 2012 SoCon Championships will take place in Chattanooga, Tenn., on March 3 and the NCAA Championships will be in St. Louis, Mo., from March 15-17, 2012.
"I think it is a competitive and well-balanced schedule for our line-up and roster," said Hjerling. "The team should be prepared for the SoCon Championships and the NCAA Championships by March. The addition of the new programs should make the conference tournament, as well as the regular season league schedule, more exciting."
For more information on Bulldog Wrestling, visit the official website of The Citadel Athletics at www.CitadelSports.com and on Facebook and Twitter at facebook.com/citadelsports and twitter.com/citadelsports.