The Northern Colorado Wrestling season begins on Nov. 3 with a dual meet with Fort Hays State before the Bears head east for a pair of preseason meets in New York. 

It’s a packed scheduled for the No.12-ranked team in the FloWrestling preseason rankings. 

And it comes after a historic season for the Bears, which had its first NCAA National Champion since 1962 and a top-25 team finish. The champion, Andrew Alirez, however, will not be available for Northern Colorado. The 141-pound 2023 NCAA champion is taking an Olympic Redshirt. Alirez went 28-0 last season. 

But the Bears do return Stevo Poulin, the No.6-ranked wrestler at the 125-pound weight class in FloWrestling rankings. Poulin is joined by Vincent Zerban (No. 12 at 157) as the Bears hope to make waves in the Big 12 this season. 

The first Big 12 dual meet is Dec. 10 against West Virginia, but before the conference slate happens, the Bears are heading to Albany, N.Y. in November for the Arm Bar at the Armory on Nov. 17 and then the Black Knight Invitational at West Point, N.Y. on Nov. 19.  

Here’s a look at the schedule. 

Northern Colorado Wrestling Schedule 2023-2024 

• Nov. 3: Fort Hays State; Greeley, Colo. (Bank of Colorado Arena)                      
• Nov. 3: New Mexico Highlands; Greeley, Colo. (Bank of Colorado Arena)                      
• Nov. 17: Buffalo; Albany, N.Y.; Arm Bar at the Armory                                                  
• Nov. 17: Presbyterian College, Albany, N.Y.; Arm Bar at the Armory                                                    
• Nov. 19: Black Knight Invitational; West Point, N.Y.                                             
• Dec. 2: Cougar Clash; Edwardsville, Ill.                                           
• Dec. 10: West Virginia; Greeley, Colo. (Bank of Colorado Arena)                      
• Dec. 17: UNC Duals; Greeley, Colo. (Bank of Colorado Arena)                      
• Jan. 1: Southern Scuffle; Chattanooga, Tenn.                                           
• Jan. 2: Southern Scuffle; Chattanooga, Tenn.                                           
• Jan. 12: Cal Poly; San Luis Obispo, Calif.                                      
• Jan. 13: California Baptist; Riverside, Calif.                                            
• Jan. 19: South Dakota State; Brookings, S.D.                                              
• Jan. 21: North Dakota State; Fargo, N.D.                                                  
• Jan. 26: Wyoming; Greeley, Colo. (Bank of Colorado Arena)                      
• Feb. 10: Utah Valley; Greeley, Colo. (Bank of Colorado Arena)                      
• Feb. 18: Air Force; Colorado Springs, Colo.        

When Is the 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Tournament? 

The Big 12 Wrestling Championships are at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The BOK Center hosted the 2023 NCAA National Championships. The BOK Center hosted the championships in 2023 as well. 

What College Wrestling Teams Are In the Big 12?

The Big 12 wrestling members are different from other sports. Despite being in the Southeastern Conference for other sports, Missouri never left the Big 12 for wrestling. The SEC doesn’t have wrestling as a sport. It has been determined if Oklahoma, which is leaving the Big 12 in other sports after the 2023-2024 seasons, will remain in the conference for wrestling. 

Here are the teams that compete in the Big 12 for wrestling: 

• Air Force 
• California Baptist
• Iowa State 
• Missouri 
• North Dakota State 
• Northern Colorado 
• Northern Iowa 
• Oklahoma 
• Oklahoma State 
• South Dakota State 
• Utah Valley 
• West Virginia 
• Wyoming 

When is the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Tournament?

The NCAA Wrestling Championships are March 21- 23 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. 

More Northern Colorado Wrestling News

Here are more Northern Colorado Wrestling headlines: 

• Early Line-up Look: Northern Colorado Wrestling 2023-24
• 125-Pound Pre-Season NCAA Wrestling Preview & Predictions
• 2023-2024 Wrestling Olympic Redshirt Tracker