What to watch: Week nine of the college wrestling season

Week nine of the college wrestling season is here. Holiday tournaments kick off on Sunday, 2024 is coming to an end, and we’re just about three months away from national tournaments! Check out the two events you won’t want to miss in week nine.

Ken Kraft Midlands Championships

Date: December 29-30

Time: 9:30 a.m. CT

Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Where to Watch: BIG+

The 60th tournament, hosted by Northwestern at the NOW Arena, will feature 37 men's programs and 11 women’s programs. Nine Big Ten programs are slated to compete at the event: Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. Men's teams include Air Force Academy, Arizona State, Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Buffalo, California Baptist, Cal Poly, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Columbia, Cornell, Edinboro, Franklin & Marshall, George Mason, Harvard, Illinois, Indiana, Lehigh, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio, Ohio State, Oregon State, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Purdue, Rider, Rutgers, SIUE, Stanford, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Women's teams competing include Albion, Aurora, Carthage, Frostburg State, Jarvis Christian, Lindenwood, McKendree, Morton, Presbyterian, St. Andrews, and UW-Stevens Point.

Full Schedule

Sunday, December 29

9:30 a.m. – First Session (10 Mats) – (Championship Rounds 1 & 2, Wrestlebacks)

7:00 p.m. – Second Session (10 Mats) – (Quarterfinals, Wrestlebacks)

Monday, December 30

10:30 a.m. – Third Session (8 Mats) – (Semis, consolation women's division begins)

3:00 p.m. – Fourth Session (4 Mats) – (Men's 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th place matches, women's division finals)

Awards ceremony to conclude at 6:00 p.m.

Soldier Salute

Date: December 29-30

Time: 10 a.m. CT

Location: Xtream Arena, Coralville, Iowa

Where to Watch: BIG+

The third annual tournament, hosted by the Iowa City Area Sports Commission, will feature both women's and men's divisions. Teams competing in the men’s division include Bellarmine, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Missouri, Navy, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Wyoming, and the Naval Academy Preparatory School. The women's division features Baker, Indiana Tech, Iowa, Life, Texas Wesleyan, Tiffin, William Penn, Umpqua Community College, and Dubuque. Action begins at 10 a.m. CT in Iowa, the full schedule is listed below.

Full Schedule (All times are CT)

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Session 1 – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

Session 2 – 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Monday, December 30, 2024

Session 3 – 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Session 4 – 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.