A challenging schedule lies ahead for the Saint Ignatius wrestling program.

In some ways, it's ideal. The Wildcats will be tested in the early and midway stages of the season before tapering down for the stretch run.

The slate of tournaments and dual matches will present plenty of chances for learning and improving throughout the season. The Wildcats are a young group this season, so all challenges are learning opportunities. 

"By design, it exposes our guys to some nationally-ranked wrestlers and some of the top wrestlers in the state," said Head Coach Mark Sullivan. "And then we have a little bit of a lull where they can work on what they need to in order to get to the state tournament."

For fans looking to set the countdown timer to wrestling season, mark the date December 6. That's the date of the first competition of the season – the Solon Comet Classic. The two-day tournament on December 6-7 should present a good opening test.

The next weekend will see top competition from Northeast Ohio and the country convene on Walsh Jesuit High School. The Ironman Tournament, from December 13-14, will feature a few Wildcats. Expect to see some of the Wildcats' lightweights to be in attendance. 

The first dual match of the season will be the toughest. The Wildcats head to Lakewood to face St. Edward on December 19.

"The St. Ed's match is always fun. They'll always bring one of the best dual meet teams in the state, if not in the country," Sullivan said. "So that'll be good to gauge where our guys are at. It's also exciting for the fans to see Saint Ignatius and St. Ed's compete. Obviously, their wrestling team has been dominant in the country over the last 40 years, so it's a good challenge for us."

After some time off for Christmas, the Wildcats will be back in action on December 29-30. The men of Ohio City will travel south on I-77 to Brecksville-Broadview Heights for the Bees' Holiday Tournament. The invitational always features great wrestlers and good challenges.

The Wildcats open 2020 with the Minutemen Duals on January 11. Revere will be the host school of the duals tournament.

On January 18-19, the Wildcats will be in Cincinnati for the annual Catholic Invitational Tournament. The Elder Panthers are the hosts of the tournament this season. Last year, the Wildcats finished in 3rd place. 

Next weekend, the Wildcats will be closer to home. Padua will host the Wildcats and Dublin Scioto for a tri-match. Last year, the Mat Cats defeated both teams, but both squads gave a good fight. 

"Dublin Scioto is typically a very good team. Padua has always been a school where they have 4-5 good guys," Sullivan said. "They always challenge us at certain weights, though depth-wise, they'll be down a bit. But they always have a lot of good talent." 

The Wildcats' long-awaited home opener takes place on January 31. Sullivan Gym will host the Mat Cats for the first time in the 2019-20 season for a tri-match vs. Akron Firestone and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. Both teams are new additions to the schedule this year.

After the OHSAA Team Duals Tournament, the Wildcats host another tri-match on February 14. Cuyahoga Heights and North Ridgeville will head to Ohio City a fun Valentine's Day contest. The two teams did not face the Wildcats last year.

The regular season ends on February 21. The Wildcats will host Strongsville at Sullivan Gym for a 6 pm showdown. Last February, the Mustangs gave the Wildcats a good showing. This year's matchup will be Senior Night and Alumni Night, which should be a festive occasion at West 30th and Lorain.

"We taper down quite a bit. That way, we can start preparing for Sectionals, Districts, and States," Sullivan said. "It's what a lot of teams are doing these days to rest some guys. It's a difficult sport, some guys get beat up and need to get healthy."

Besides Sullivan and the Athletic Department, credit needs to be given to Associate Head Coach Jon Polick. 

Polick spends hours upon hours in compiling the schedule for the Wildcats. 

"I have to give credit to Coach Polick. He does a lot of emailing coaches to schedule teams," Sullivan said. "He always checks with me about how I feel on certain teams. But we're on the same page. We know that the tournaments is where we get the bulk of our work in preparation. The dual meets are the times where the kids can go out and have some fun. A lot of cheering. That's the fun part."

Look for the Wildcats to be challenged this season. The 2019-20 campaign should be a fun one for the Mat Cats.