CLINTON, SC – Bringing back a host of competitors while simultaneously welcoming a fresh batch of recruits from a season that displayed a number of positives and gradual signs of improvement, the Presbyterian College men’s wrestling team uncovered their 2022-23 campaign on Tuesday afternoon, declared by program director. Mark Cody and head coach Zach Sheaffer.
With 20 events on the horizon for the Blue Hose, the season’s four-month long trek begins on Nov. 6 at the Princeton Open in New Jersey.
“Our staff will approach this season with a high level of excitement knowing the balance that our roster will have with a good mix of younger and more experienced athletes”, proclaimed Sheaffer when commenting on the schedule’s disclosing. “We will see some new faces at every weight class this year, which will give our players great opportunities to grow over the course of the schedule and develop to where we want this program to be”.
After heading to Ivy League territory for the aforementioned Princeton Open, the Blue Hose continues their busy November lineup with a neutral site contest against Michigan State in Charleston on Nov. 12.th. This will be followed up with The Citadel Open just 24 hours later at the same venue, setting the stage for the final contest of the month at Queens on Nov. 20.th.
Presbyterian’s pre-holiday schedule figures to be a busy one, participating in a head-to-head duel with Truett McConnell on Dec. 2nd in the Peach State which precedes the multi-team Brawl at the Beach the next afternoon at Myrtle Beach.
Following a Dec. 16th road trip to meet Davidson in North Carolina, the Blue Hose will set their sights on a triple threat series with both George Mason and Duke that will serve as the season’s home opener on the 21.stthe first of four meetings that will have the Templeton Center as a backdrop.
Wringing in 2023 with back-to-back contests in Lancaster, Penn. On Jan. 5th and 6th (a one-on-one versus Franklin & Marshall and another multi-team tournament hosted by the same school), PC returns to Clinton for another three-way on the 22.nd to host both The Citadel and VMI.
Concluding the January journey with a home battle against Chattanooga on the 27th and a drive north to Campbell the following day, Presbyterian will put a bow on their home schedule when welcoming Gardner-Webb on Feb. 12.
The final two series before postseason territory rears it head, PC rounds out the regular season with consecutive visits to Appalachian State and Bellarmine (Feb. 19th and 23rdrespectively) for the final precursor to the SoCon Championships.
That conference title tourney will take place over a 48-hour window from March 4th-5thheld from Boone, NC as a qualification trial for the incoming NCAA Championships on March 16th that will last until the 19th. Taking place at Tulsa, Oklahoma, the National Tournament will officially bring an end to PC’s 2022-23 crusade.
“We have been able to line up a very exciting schedule for our home events this season, possibly the biggest we have had in our young life as a program” exclaimed Shaeffer. “It’s gotten all of us very eager to get the ball rolling, and we hope to see a great atmosphere from our fans all year long”.