What to expect leading up to the 2020 NAIA and NCAA postseason events
There was some buzz last weekend about the top 3 programs from the 2019 WCWA National Championships (Menlo, Simon Fraser & McKendree) not competing this year. It’s not breaking news at this point, but there’s been an abrupt shift away from the WCWA as the NAIA and NCAA are taking steps toward women’s wrestling being classified a championship sport. Both governing bodies have granted women’s wrestling emerging sport status, the NAIA in 2018 and the NCAA in 2020, respectively. So, as exciting as the WCWA’s were this year, the daily grind of the season is far from over.
NCAA programs have just 3 weeks before their first exclusive postseason event in Adrian, MI. The National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships will take place on March 6th and 7th. Between now and then, there are still some tough matches lined up, including a senior night dual for McKendree, who will host Oklahoma City on Feb. 21.
NAIA programs have an additional week before the 2020 NAIA National Invitational in Jamestown, ND, and a whole lot more wrestling to do. For starters, there are still 10+ duals and pair of tournaments scheduled. Menlo will host Southern Oregon for a senior night dual on Feb. 17.
On top of that, 4 NAIA conference championships–Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), Mid-South Conference (MSC), Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) & the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)–will be contested the final week of Feb and the first week of March. The SAC and CCC will be contested for the first time ever, this year.
Rankings have been hyped up this season more than ever. We can expect to see another coaches poll for both governing bodies leading up to the championships. McKendree and Simon Fraser are tied for the #1 tournament team rank and King is #3 for the NCAA. Campbellsville, Menlo and Life are ranked top 3, in that order, by the latest NAIA coaches poll.
Full rankings: NCAA, NAIA.
Duals
Feb 14
Grandview University @ U. of Saint Mary | Leavenworth KS, 6PM CT | watch
Gannon University @ Tiffin University | Tiffin OH, 6PM ET | watch
Feb 15
Tri: Cumberlands, Oklahoma City & Lyon | Batesville AR, 2pm CT | watch
U. of Saint Mary @ Ottawa University | Ottawa KS, 7PM CT | watch
Feb 17
Southern Oregon @ Menlo | Atherton CA, 7PM PT | watch
Feb 18
North Central @ UW-Stevens Point | Stevens Point WI, 7PM CT | watch
Feb 19
Missouri Valley @ Central Methodist | Fayette MO, 7PM CT | watch
Feb 20
MacMurray @ Central Methodist | Fayette MO 6PM CT | watch
Umpqua CC @ Southern Oregon | Ashland OR, 7PM PT | watch
Feb 21
U. of Saint Mary @ Midland University | Fremont NE, 5PM CT | watch
Oklahoma City @ McKendree | Lebanon IL, 7PM CT | watch
Lion Duals | Franklin Springs GA, 6PM ET | watch
Ferrum @ Limestone | Gaffney SC, 7PM ET | watch
Feb 25
King @ Emmanuel | Franklin Springs GA, | watch
Feb 29
East Stroudsburg @ Gannon University | Erie PA 1PM ET | watch
Tournaments
Feb 22
Lady Warrior Open | Fremont, NE, 9AM CT
– teams on Track: Colorado Mesa, Grand View, Lakeland, Lyon, Midland, Presbyterian, Saint Mary, Waldorf
Emmanuel Women’s Open | Franklin Springs GA, 9AM ET
– teams on Track: Emmanuel, King, Schreiner, Tiffin
Feb 29
Tigers Open | Campbellsville, KY | watch
teams: Campbellsville, Life
Conference Championships
Feb 22
Mid-South Conference Championships (MSC) | Bowling Green, KY | watch
Teams: Campbellsville, Cumberlands, Life, Brewton-Parker
Feb 29
Sooner Athletic Conference Championships (SAC) | Plainview, TX | watch
Teams: Lyon, Oklahoma City, Wayland Baptist, Texas Wesleyan, Waldorf, Missouri Baptist & Central Christian
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships (KCAC) | Ottawa, KS | watch
Teams: Jamestown, Midland, Missouri Valley, Ottawa, U. of Saint Mary, York
Mar 1
Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships (CCC) | Ashland, OR | watch
Teams: Menlo, Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Simpson, Warner Pacific, Life Pacific, Providence, Corban (2021)
National Championships
March 6 – 7
National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships | Adrian, MI | NCAA schools only
March 13 – 14
NAIA National Invitational | Jamestown, ND | NAIA schools only
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