The Carl Albert State College wrestling season will begin this week. It will be the third season of existence for the Vikings and the second for the Lady Vikings.
The season will begin tonight for the Vikings with a 7 p.m. road dual against NCAA Division I Arkansas-Little Rock.
Both teams then will be in a pair of road duals at 6 p.m. (women) and 7 p.m. (men) Thursday against Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, followed by the one-day Simpson College Open at 9 a.m. Saturday in Indianola, Iowa.
The CASC Men’s Viking Open will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 11, followed the next day with the CASC Women’s Viking Open — both at CASC’s Mick Thompson Fieldhouse on the Poteau campus.
“We’re ready,” CASC wrestling coach Jake Lords said. “We’ve been practicing and beating each other up for about a month, so we’re ready to go beat some other people up. We’re looking forward to getting on the road and bonding — and have some experiences that will last a lifetime.”
The Lady Vikings will have one local athlete, former Vian Lady Wolverine Taya Hunt at either 143 or 155 pounds. Unfortunately, she will have to medically red-shirt this season due to recovering from injury.
“She’s coming off an ACL injury, and she’s rehabbing that,” Lords said about. We’ll probably redshirt her this year. She’s a great young lady. She’s a hard worker. She’s got a bright future. I’m really excited about her.”
The Vikings currently have three Sallisaw matmen — all at heavyweight, Trey Hudgens, Gavin Throne and Ryan Bashant-Honeycutt.
••• CASC WRESTLING SCHEDULE Nov. 1 – CASC men at Arkansas-Little Rock, 7 p.m.
Nov. 2 – CASC women and men at Indian Hills Community College, at Ottumwa, Iowa, 6 and 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 – CASC women and men at Simpson College Open, at Indianola, Iowa, 9 a.m.
Nov. 7 – CASC women and men at University of the Ozarks, at Clarksville, Ark., 4 and 5 p.m.
Nov. 8 – Ouachita Baptist at CASC men, 7 p.m.
Nov. 10 – Schreiner University at CASC women and men, 6 and 7 p.m.
Nov. 11 – CASC Men’s Viking Open, 9 a.m.
Nov. 12 – CASC Women’s Viking Open, TBA.
Nov. 15 – CASC men at Labette Community College, at Parsons, Kan., 6 p.m.
Nov. 16 – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at CASC men, 6 p.m.
Nov. 18 – CASC men at Lindenwold, Open, at St. Charles, Mo., 9 a.m.
Nov. 19 – CASC women at Lindenwold, Open, at St. Charles, Mo., 9 a.m.
Dec. 2 – CASC women and men at Doane Open, at Crete, Neb., 9 a.m.
Dec. 7 – CASC men at Neosho Community College, at Chanute, Kan., 6 p.m.
Jan. 9 – CASC women and men at Lyon College, at Batesville, Ark., 2 and 3 p.m.
Jan. 12-13 – CASC men at NJCAA Mens Coaches Duals, at Miami, OK, 9 a.m.
Jan. 16 – CASC women at Oklahoma City University, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 – CASC men at Ouachita Baptist University, at Arkadelphia, Ark., 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 – Wayland Baptist at CASC women and men, 6 and 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 – University of the Ozarks at CASC women and men, 6 and 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 – CASC men at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Open, 9 a.m.
Jan. 27 – CASC women at NJCAA Women’s Coaches National Duals, at CASC’s Mick Thompson Fieldhouse in Poteau.
Feb. 3 – CASC women at Grand View Open, at Des Moines, Iowa, 9 a.m.
Feb. 7 – CASC women at Schreiner University, at Kerrville, Texas, 3 p.m.
Feb. 10 – CASC men at South Central District/ Regional Tournament, at Great Bend, Kan., 9 a.m.
March 1-2 – CASC women and men at NJCAA National Championships, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, TBA.
