AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State wrestling program will welcome six new affiliate members to the Big 12 Conference in 2015-16. The historic announcement was made on Wednesday, highlighted by the additions of Air Force, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.

“What I think is really important is what this does for the sport of wrestling,” Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson said. “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 affiliate member additions are effective beginning with the 2015-16 academic year. Affiliate members will compete for the Conference's postseason championship as well as the league's automatic qualification to the NCAA postseason.

The 10-team Big 12 Wrestling Championship will be hosted at Kansas City's Sprint Center for the first time this season. The championship will now be a two-day event on March 5-6, allowing student-athletes to get a better feel for a multi-day tournament like the NCAA postseason.

“It was really important to get the automatic qualification back,” Jackson said. “It makes us more attractive to recruits when you're in an automatic qualifying conference. We also now have the ability to have a two-day tournament and simulate the NCAA tournament, which is very important.”

In addition to the six new affiliate members in wrestling, the conference also announced that Denver will participate in the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship.

“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. “The additional institutions will improve and strengthen what are already strong postseason events for the Big 12. We are looking forward to welcoming coaches, student-athletes and fans from each of the affiliate institutions to future Big 12 Gymnastics and Wrestling Championships.”