Big Ten Network to air Big Ten Wrestling Championships LIVE on March 9

<< Back to Articles
Mike Vest (Big Ten Network)
02/14/2008


Big Ten Network to Air Seven Winter Championships

Winners in gymnastics, swimming and diving, track and field and wrestling to be crowned on network

CHICAGO - The Big Ten Network will televise the 2008 Big Ten Championships in the sports of men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's indoor track and field and wrestling during a six-week span from February 29 through April 5. All of these events will be produced in stunning high definition.

Sunday, March 9, will feature a live, three-hour presentation of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships at 3 PM ET from Minneapolis, Minn. Featured will be seven top-20 teams nationally wrestling (No. 1 Iowa, No. 4 Minnesota, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 9 Illinois, No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 19 Penn State).

"These sports have tremendous followings, but have not received as much coverage as some other sports. So we're really pleased to bring fans these championship events," network President Mark Silverman said.  

The coverage begins at 8 PM ET on Friday, February 29, with the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships from the campus of Ohio State. The Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships will appear at 8 PM ET on Thursday, March 6, from Ann Arbor, Mich.

In addition to the wrestling broadcast on Sunday, March 9, some of the nation's best athletes will be featured at the Big Ten Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Wisconsin.

Coverage continues at 7 PM ET on Monday, March 10, with the Big Ten Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships from the University of Minnesota.

The network will televise three straight nights of Big Ten Gymnastics Championships beginning Thursday, April 3. The women's championships will air at 8 PM ET on Thursday from the campus of the University of Michigan. The men's championships will be carried live from State College, Pa., at 7 PM ET on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5.

Entering last weekend's action, the Big Ten had 37 teams ranked in the top 25 nationally in Olympic sports programs for the winter season. In addition to the ranked wrestling teams, there are top-10 teams in men's gymnastics (No. 1 Penn State, No. 5 Illinois, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Ohio State, No. 8 Minnesota and No. 10 Iowa), women's gymnastics (No. 5 Michigan), men's swimming and diving (No. 4 Michigan, No. 7 Indiana and No. 8 Minnesota), women's swimming and diving (No. 9 Minnesota), women's track and field (No. 6 Michigan), and 

The complete television schedule for the 2008 Big Ten Men's and Women's Gymnastics, Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving, Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field and Wrestling Championships appears below, including information on whether the events will be televised live or on a delayed basis. For more information on the Big Ten Championships, go to www.bigten.org or www.BigTenNetwork.com.

Big Ten Network Winter Championships Schedule:

(W) Swimming & Diving, Th-Sa, Feb 21-23, at Ohio State
Airdate: Friday, 2/29 - 8:00pm
 
(M) Swimming & Diving, Th-Sa, Feb 28-Mar 1 at Michigan
Airdate: Thursday, 3/6 - 8:00pm
 Minnesota
 
Wrestling, Sa-Su, Mar 8-9 at Minnesota
Airdate: Sunday, 3/9 - LIVE - 3:00pm
 
(M) Indoor Track & Field, Sa-Su, Mar 1-2 at Wisconsin
Airdate: Sunday, 3/9 - 8:00pm
 
(W) Indoor Track & Field, Sa-Su, Mar 1-2 at Minnesota
Airdate: Monday, 3/10 - 7:00pm
 
(W) Gymnastics, Sat Mar 29 at Michigan
Airdate: Thursday, 4/3 - 8:00pm
 
(M) Gymnastics, Fri, Apr 4 at Penn State
 Airdate: LIVE - 7:00pm
 
(M) Gymnastics, Sat, Apr 5 at Penn State
 Airdate: LIVE - 7:00pm