NEWS - @RITWrestling set to compete against nation's best as 2018-19 schedule is announced. #RIT #RITNews #TigerPride https://t.co/br2x0mZGf1
— RIT Athletics (@RITathletics) August 13, 2018
ROCHESTER, NY - Third-year head coach Jason Bovenzi is excited to announce the 2018-19 RIT wrestling schedule. RIT will compete against many of the best teams in not only the state and region but in all of Division III.
The Tigers will hold their annual Brown and Orange Duals during Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend on Oct. 20. RIT opens the regular season at the two-day Ithaca Invitational on Nov. 3-4 before heading to the Northeast Journeymen Duals at Shenendehowa High School on Nov. 10. The Tigers will compete against Division I, II and III teams at the New York State Championship, hosted by Cornell University on Nov. 18.
After the Thanksgiving break, RIT is back in action with a pair of home events to close out the semester. On Dec. 1, RIT will host the 53rd annual RIT Wrestling Invitational at the Gordon Field House. Four days later on Dec. 5, the Tigers host local rival The College at Brockport from Clark Gym.
"Our schedule continues to evolve as we have the potential to roll out our most competitive squad in quite some time," said Bovenzi, who has led RIT to 18 dual wins over the last two years. "We have the potential to put an athlete with NCAA Tournament experience in 5 of our 10 weight classes and have a talented group of returners to challenge for those spots. Couple that with a very impressive incoming class of recruits and our program trajectory is definitely pointing up."
For the second consecutive season, the Tigers will head to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla, to compete in the Citrus Open over Christmas break on Dec. 28-29. RIT rings in 2019 a week later by heading to Oswego to take on York College and Lycoming College in the New York/Pennsylvania Duals.
Dual matches take center stage on Jan. 12 as RIT heads to the Worcester Polytechnic Duals, where they will face Roger Williams College, Trinity College and the hosts.
RIT will compete at the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Championship on Jan. 19 and head to the John Reese Duals, hosted by Wilkes University on Jan. 27. After a week off, RIT will honoring its senior class, while hosting the Tiger Duals. The Tigers close out the regular season at the Mideast Southeast Futures meet at Muhlenberg College.
On Feb. 23-24, RIT will send its top 10 wrestlers to the NCAA Mideast Regional, which will be right down the road at The College at Brockport. The top three performers in each weight class at the regional meet will qualify for the NCAA Championships, which will take place at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Va. on March 8-9.
Last season, three wrestlers competed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers finished the 2017-18 season with nine dual victories, tied for third most in program history and had three wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships for the second straight year.
"We are fortunate to compete in one of the most competitive conferences and regions in the country," said Bovenzi. "While this reality makes qualification more challenging, it prepares our wrestlers for the ultimate goal, which is becoming an All-American and National Champion."