LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Wrestling has released its full 2025-26 slate, featuring a trip to Big 10 territory and hosting an ACC foe.
"Our schedule has been prepared to give our cadet-wrestlers the opportunity to see some of the best competition in the country," says VMI Wrestling Head Coach
Jim Gibson. "Michigan is a consistent top-10 program, so it will be a great experience for our guys in Ann Arbor. The Cliff Keen Invitational is one of the toughest in-season tournaments and will provide a great test for the program. We are also excited to be able to host Duke, a Power Four program, in Cormack Hall this year."
The Keydets are set to host eight duals at Cormack Hall this winter, along with traveling to three tournaments with one neutral site matchup.
Before the season officially begins, VMI will continue its rich tradition of Wrestling in Barracks, an intrasquad scrimmage hosted inside the Institute's new barracks, on October 23 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, and the match is open to the public.
The Keydets open the regular season at the Southeast Open, hosted by Roanoke College, on November 2. VMI's first dual of the campaign will be against Emory & Henry (November 7) at Cormack Hall.
The Keydets face top-tier Power Four opponents in 2025, including a trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to battle the Michigan Wolverines (November 9). If that was not enough, VMI will then host ACC member Duke (November 22) in a tri-match.
VMI's remaining non-conference home slate features Mercyhurst (November 22), Sacred Heart (December 20), and Bloomsburg (December 20). After the bout with Michigan, the road schedule continues with Edinboro (November 16), before taking talents to the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas (December 5-6) and the Soldier Salute in Coralville, Iowa (January 3).
Southern Conference play kicks off on January 15, when VMI faces the reigning SoCon champs, Appalachian State, in Boone, North Carolina. The Keydets then turn the page to Bellarmine (January 23) for a neutral-site affair at Benedictine College Preparatory in Richmond, Virginia, for Alumni Weekend.
VMI also travels to Presbyterian (February 1), Gardner-Webb (February 15), and The Citadel (February 22), while hosting Chattanooga (February 6), Davidson (February 7 or 8), and Campbell (February 13).
The SoCon Championship in Asheville, North Carolina, will be March 6-7, while the NCAA Championship in Cleveland, Ohio, will be March 19-21.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
