WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University athletic department has announced the Colonels 2023-24 wrestling schedule Friday morning as part of a series featuring schedules for its winter sports teams.

The Colonels will compete across 16 events during the 2023-24 regular season leading up to the 2024 NCAA Regional under the direction of head coach Jon Laudenslager '99 who is going into his 21st season as the leader of the program. Wilkes is set to compete in seven standalone dual matches, three team dual competitions, and six individual tournaments throughout the regular season with six of those dates at the newly renovated Henry Gymnasium inside the Marts Center.

To view the full schedule, click here.

Wilkes opens the 2023-24 season at the Ned McGinley Invitational hosted by King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Saturday, November 4 at 9:00 a.m. The Colonels host TCNJ at the Marts Center for a dual match on Friday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, November 18 the Colonels travel to Springfield Mass. for the Doug Parker Invitational at 10:00 a.m. and then on Saturday, December 2 the Colonels wrestle at the Blue Jay Classic in Elizabethtown, Pa. starting at 9:00 a.m.

A road dual match at Delaware Valley University on Friday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. is followed by the 90th annual Wilkes Open on Friday, December 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the Marts Center.

Once the calendar turns to the New Year the Colonels head to the Manganaro Duals in Collegeville, Pa. on Saturday, January 6 at 10:00 a.m. and then travel to Williamsport, Pa. to compete at the Budd Whitehill National Duals on Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13.

Wilkes hosts Elizabethtown College on Friday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m. and the University of Scranton for Senior Night on Friday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. for a pair of duals. Then the Colonels host the John Reese Duals on Sunday, January 28 starting at 11:00 a.m.

The John Summa Invitational in Berea, Ohio follows on Saturday, February 3 at 10:00 a.m. Three dual matches are next, first at Ithaca College on Friday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. Then Wilkes hosts Lackawanna College on Saturday, February 10 at 1:00 p.m. and wrestle at cross-town rival King's College on Friday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. The Futures Mideast Tournament will be held in Ewing, N.J. this season on Sunday, February 25 at 10:00 a.m.

The NCAA Regional will take place on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 with the top three finishers in each weight class advancing to the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16.

Wilkes was 2-4 during the 2022-23 season against teams on the 2023-24 dual slate which included TCNJ, Elizabethtown, Delaware Valley, Scranton, Ithaca, and King's.

Wilkes will continue to release its 2023-24 winter schedules with men's and women's swimming on Monday.