EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE wrestling has a full slate of matches set for the Vadalabene Center Sunday.
The Cougars will compete in three matches with Buffalo at 9 a.m., Eastern Michigan at 10:45 a.m. and Grand Canyon at 12:30 p.m. Two more matches are scheduled: Eastern Michigan vs. Campbellsville at 9 a.m. and Grand Canyon vs. Campbellsville at 10:45 a.m.
"We moved the schedule around to accommodate everybody," said SIUE Head Coach Jeremy Spates. "I think it has worked out well that everyone has the matches they wanted."
SIUE was idle last week because of winter storms in the Midwest. The Cougars planned to attend the Missouri Valley Open but the tournament was cancelled due to ice and snow. Spates said he was hoping to use the tournament as preparation for the next few weekends.
"We'll have some fresh faces in the lineup," said Spates. "We need to get those guys some competition."
SIUE enters the matches with a 2-10 dual meet record. Buffalo and Eastern Michigan are both members of the Mid-American Conference. Grand Canyon (Ariz.) is transitioning to the NCAA Division I and is in the same position the Cougars had been in recent years.
Spates said his team has continued to progress and said he is looking forward to the homestand.
"Our young guys are seeing some improvement," Spates said. "Dakota Leach is wrestling well and is starting to figure out the college style. It's the same with Karsten Van Velsor. I think both of them have been getting stronger as the year has moved forward."