KENOSHA, Wis. – The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has announced it has approved Parkside wrestling to join as an associated member for the 2021 season, one year earlier than previously announced. The Rangers wrestling program was slated to officially join the NSIC for the 2021-22 season, but faced scheduling difficulties during the pandemic. The announcement creates a 6-dual schedule for the Rangers in 2021 and a chance to compete for a conference championship.  

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"On behalf of the Parkside wrestling program, we'd like to thank Commissioner Erin Lind, the conference office, and the wrestling coaches and administrators around the NSIC for being so accommodating to us during this time," head coach Dr. Corey VanGroll '09 said. "The team is excited to have competition on the calendar after a long summer and preseason of uncertainty.  We look forward to our first season in NSIC." 

The NSIC Wrestling schedule will be six duals starting the second week of January and concluding the second week of February. Schools will compete against six of its nine conference opponents. A regular season champion will be crowned based on win percentage from the six duals.
 
Parkside is scheduled to open the 2021 season at home against Augustana on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. The Rangers also have home duals against Southwest Minnesota State (Jan. 21) and St. Cloud State (Feb. 4) and will hit the road to face Northern State (Jan. 14), Upper Iowa (Jan. 28) and Minnesota State (Feb. 11). The decision on spectators at Parkside's home events is yet to be determined.
 
The Rangers went 7-6 last season and faced three NSIC opponents in Augustana, Minnesota State and MSU-Moorhead. Joe Arroyo, Airk Furseth and Shane Gantz were all honored as All-Americans last season.