Photo by: Chris Mora
Wrestling Releases 2021 Schedule Packed with Pac-12, Big-12 Competition
12/16/2020 9:50:00 AM | Wrestling
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University has released its 2021 wrestling schedule, with nine duals and eight matchups against opponents from the Pac-12 and Big 12 on the docket for the new year.
Five first-time opponents and matchups with four Pac-12 and four more Big 12 teams make up the Lancers' all-dual schedule. Several clashes against ranked opponents from last year make for an exciting, albeit shortened 2021 season. Due to all the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CBU's schedule and opponents this year are subject to change.
CBU will travel to face a Stanford team that ended last season No. 24 overall. The Lancers will also face North Dakota State and Fresno State squads that were ranked No. 11 and 20 in the final NCAA Division I Mid-Major Rankings of 2020.
"Though we have a relatively short season this year, we are excited to have some very high-ranking teams and a number of Big 12 and Pac-12 teams on the schedule," Coach Lennie Zalesky said. "We are looking forward to the chance to get back out there and compete again against some very good teams."
The Lancers are set to open the season with three first-time opponents. CBU will make its 2021 debut versus Vanguard at home in the Van Dyne Gym on Jan. 2 before facing Utah Valley in Orem, Utah on Jan. 8. UVU is a member of the Big 12 Conference and qualified three wrestlers for the 2020 NCAA Division I Championships before it was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
From there, the Lancers will travel to San Luis Obispo to face Northern Colorado, another Big 12 squad that qualified five individuals for the 2020 NCAAs. It will be the first-ever meetings with the Wolverines and Bears.
CBU will then dual three familiar West Coast/Pac-12 opponents. The Lancers will take on Cal Poly and Oregon State in a doubleheader on Jan. 14 back in San Luis Obispo. It will be the eighth time the Lancers face the Mustangs. It will be the third year in a row CBU has faced the Beavers, who finished fourth in the Pac-12 last year.
A day later, the Lancers will dual Stanford for the 11th time in their 13-year history. It could be the last time, too, as the Cardinal announced plans to cut the program at the end of the 2021 season. Stanford went 11-4, finished runner-up in the Pac-12 and saw five wrestlers earn NCAA berths last season.
From there, CBU returns to Cal Poly on Jan. 24, but will be there to face two more new opponents in a neutral-site doubleheader with North Dakota State and Little Rock.
The Little Rock Trojans completed their first year as a program and in the Pac-12 last season. North Dakota State is a member of the Big 12 Conference that had six Bison qualify for the 2020 NCAA Championship.
The Lancers will return home for a dual with Fresno State on Jan. 30 in what is scheduled to be their Senior Day. It will be the second-ever and perhaps last meeting between CBU and Fresno State, as the Big 12 Bulldogs also announced plans to cut the program at the end of the academic year.
Five first-time opponents and matchups with four Pac-12 and four more Big 12 teams make up the Lancers' all-dual schedule. Several clashes against ranked opponents from last year make for an exciting, albeit shortened 2021 season. Due to all the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CBU's schedule and opponents this year are subject to change.
CBU will travel to face a Stanford team that ended last season No. 24 overall. The Lancers will also face North Dakota State and Fresno State squads that were ranked No. 11 and 20 in the final NCAA Division I Mid-Major Rankings of 2020.
"Though we have a relatively short season this year, we are excited to have some very high-ranking teams and a number of Big 12 and Pac-12 teams on the schedule," Coach Lennie Zalesky said. "We are looking forward to the chance to get back out there and compete again against some very good teams."
The Lancers are set to open the season with three first-time opponents. CBU will make its 2021 debut versus Vanguard at home in the Van Dyne Gym on Jan. 2 before facing Utah Valley in Orem, Utah on Jan. 8. UVU is a member of the Big 12 Conference and qualified three wrestlers for the 2020 NCAA Division I Championships before it was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
From there, the Lancers will travel to San Luis Obispo to face Northern Colorado, another Big 12 squad that qualified five individuals for the 2020 NCAAs. It will be the first-ever meetings with the Wolverines and Bears.
CBU will then dual three familiar West Coast/Pac-12 opponents. The Lancers will take on Cal Poly and Oregon State in a doubleheader on Jan. 14 back in San Luis Obispo. It will be the eighth time the Lancers face the Mustangs. It will be the third year in a row CBU has faced the Beavers, who finished fourth in the Pac-12 last year.
A day later, the Lancers will dual Stanford for the 11th time in their 13-year history. It could be the last time, too, as the Cardinal announced plans to cut the program at the end of the 2021 season. Stanford went 11-4, finished runner-up in the Pac-12 and saw five wrestlers earn NCAA berths last season.
From there, CBU returns to Cal Poly on Jan. 24, but will be there to face two more new opponents in a neutral-site doubleheader with North Dakota State and Little Rock.
The Little Rock Trojans completed their first year as a program and in the Pac-12 last season. North Dakota State is a member of the Big 12 Conference that had six Bison qualify for the 2020 NCAA Championship.
The Lancers will return home for a dual with Fresno State on Jan. 30 in what is scheduled to be their Senior Day. It will be the second-ever and perhaps last meeting between CBU and Fresno State, as the Big 12 Bulldogs also announced plans to cut the program at the end of the academic year.
No videos available.
