The Big 12 has added six affiliate members to its postseason tournament.

Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming were all added to the existing schools: Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia, bringing the total to 10 teams.

“We are excited to announce the addition of affiliate members in sports where the league already maintains a strong competition level,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “The additional institutions will improve and strengthen what are already strong postseason events for the Big 12.”

The new affiliate members will officially join the Big 12 tournament for the 2015-16 academic year.

Last season the Big 12 wrestlers were not able to obtain automatic qualifier status to get into the NCAA tournament, forcing wrestlers to fight their way into the tournament via the at-large process.

“What I think is really important is what this does for the sport of wrestling,” ISU wrestling coach Kevin Jackson said in a statement. “I think it definitely enhances these new programs on their campus and it makes the Big 12 Conference a stronger league when you have 10 teams with the addition of quality affiliate members.”

The Big 12 wrestling championships will become a two-day event taking place at the Sprint Center in Kansas City Missouri on March 5-6, 2016.

Iowa State will not be required to add any of these teams to their meet schedule.

Notes:

• North Dakota State finished 23rd at the NCAA championships last year, the highest of the new affiliate schools.
• South Dakota State is coached by ISU alum and Gilbert native Chris Bono, who graduated in 1997. He is currently fifth on ISU’s all time wins list with 130 wins, he won the 150-pound national title as a junior.
• In 2015 this combined Big 12 would have had 48 NCAA qualifiers.