PEMBROKE - Six home dates, as well as road trips to West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana, highlight the 2025-26 UNC Pembroke wrestling schedule that was released Wednesday by head coach Othello "O.T." Johnson. 

"This is another opportunity to add on to what 60-plus years of former Braves have built, this group of guys, especially the seniors, have had a very big hand in that and we are very excited to see what they are capable of achieving together as they prepare for their last ride together," said head coach OT Johnson. "You think about a guy like Caleb Grau who started with the program as a teenager and is now a true adult, we can see his growth as a leader on the mat and in his life off the mat, along with Logan Robinson who also looks great from a leadership standpoint and in his own life, so we are excited for them and the rest of the guys in this senior class. We have some young guys who are ready to make an impact as well."

Fans can get an early look at the team on Wednesday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. when the Braves hit the mat for their annual Black & Gold intra-squad event. Admission to that event, as well as all home dual meets, is free.
 
The Braves will officially kick off the new season on November 1 when they travel to West Virginia to compete in the Glenville State Open.

The Black & Gold will lift the lid on its home portion of the schedule when they host the 44th Annual Pembroke Classic, which was renamed to the PJ Smith Pembroke Classic last season. Wrestling action is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Admission to the PJ Smith Pembroke Classic is $10 for the day. Students with a valid student ID are free.
 
The Black & Gold will be in action for their first home dual meet on December 2, as they host Coker for Military Appreciation Night. 

The Braves will hit the road to Ohio in early December for the Yellow Jacket Duals hosted by Baldwin Wallace on December 5, and in mid-December for Indianapolis, Ind. for the 46^th Annual Midwest Classic. The two-day event will take place December 13 and 14 at Nicoson Hall. 

"We have some fun matches and tournaments that are going to prepare our guys for postseason, like the Baldwin Wallace Duals, Midwest Classic, as well as the Conference Carolinas dual-meet season, which is becoming one of the premier conference schedules because each match has such a big impact on the end of season final four," said Johnson.

The Black & Gold will return home January 5 as they host Allen for Youth & Club Night.

The Braves will then trek back to West Virginia for the Fairmont State Duals on January 11, before returning home to host Belmont Abbey on January 23 for Senior Night & Alumni Weekend. UNCP will then wrap up the regular-season portion of the schedule on February 6, as they host Ferrum for Cancer Awareness Night.

The Conference Carolinas Championship is slated for either February 14 or 15, and will be hosted by the East Division regular-season champion, while the NCAA Super Region II Tournament will be held at Lander on March 1, where the top three finishers in each weight class will advance to the National Championships on March 13 and 14 in Sioux Falls, S.D.