Tournament Home Page and Live Coverage
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – For the second consecutive year, the Kutztown University wrestling program will be taking the trip down south to Des Moines, Iowa, to participate in the 2014 Cliff Keen Nationals Duals, a multi-divisional invite-only event hosted by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
The tournament will take place on Jan. 10-12 at the Iowa Events Center located in Des Moines. Practice areas and scales will open at noon on Friday, followed by registration and coaches meetings. Competition will take place on Saturday and Sunday, with the facility opening at 6 a.m. and weigh-ins beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
The National Duals are presented by Hibiclens & United States Marine Corps and are held in honor of Cliff Keen.
This multi-divisional event will consist of schools representing DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA, and a Women's division.
Last week, Kutztown secured the seventh slot in this month's NCAA Division II National Wrestling Rankings released by the NWCA, progressing four spots from 11th in the previous poll and tying the highest national rank in school history set last season.
The Division II component of the tournament will consist of 16 teams, containing some of the toughest competition the KU grapplers will face all season. 10 of the top-20 teams in this month's national rankings will compete in Des Moines, including seven top-10 squads -- Notre Dame, Central Oklahoma, Newberry, St. Cloud State, Kutztown, Indianapolis, and Upper Iowa.
KU placed seventh at the duals last season, the first year it was invited to this prestigious event. Coach
Robert Fisher believes last year's performance may be the greatest accomplishment in the program's history, with expectations to improve this time around and come out with another top-eight result.
Led by the nation's top-ranked heavyweight
Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)), the Maroon and Gold look to make an even bigger statement this time around.
Further tournament, travel, hotel, and schedule information can be found at the Tournament Home Page link posted above.
