Oklahoma City University tabbed as host for 2009 and 2010 NAIA Wrestling National Championships
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by NAIA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is proud to announce that Oklahoma City University will host the 52nd and 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling National Championships. The events, scheduled for March 5-7, 2009 and March 4-6, 2010 in the Abe Lemons Arena inside the Freede Center, mark the second time that the state of Oklahoma will play host to an NAIA wrestling national championship. In 1981 and 1984, Edmond, Okla., hosted the 24th and 27th Annual Championships both won by Central State (Okla.).
"We are thrilled to have Oklahoma City as host for the 2009 and 2010 NAIA Wrestling National Championships," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "I am confident that OCU will carry on the strong tradition of this event and make it a memorable experience for all student-athletes, coaches and fans involved. On behalf of the NAIA, I would like to recognize the efforts of our current host Sioux City, Iowa and what they have done to make the Championship a success."
Oklahoma City University worked in conjunction with the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau to submit a bid for the NAIA wrestling championships.
"We're proud the NAIA gave us this opportunity," Oklahoma City University Athletics Director Jim Abbott said. "Oklahoma is a tradition-rich wrestling state. It makes sense to bring such an event as this to our city and region.
"Our intention is to make this the best NAIA wrestling championship ever. We will focus on the experience the athletes will have here on our campus and in our city. We will work hard to partner with area businesses on this event. We're excited to bring nearly 300 of the nation's finest wrestlers to Oklahoma City University."
The NAIA wrestling championships in Oklahoma City will be the first national collegiate championships hosted on the campus of Oklahoma City University. However, OCU served as the host institution for the 1991 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship held at Twin Hills Country Club in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City University has hosted the Junior Wrestling National Duals the past two years and once more in 2000. The Junior National Duals annually attract the nation's top junior wrestlers. OCU will host the Women's College Wrestling National Championships, which includes teams from all levels of collegiate women's wrestling, on March 15.
"It's such an opportunity for Oklahoma City University to bring the NAIA Championships to our campus," Oklahoma City University wrestling coach Archie Randall said. "Our wrestlers will love nothing more than to wrestle for the national championship in their own backyard."
There are 33 NAIA schools that sponsor a varsity wrestling program. The NAIA Championship includes the team national title and 10 individual champions. Wrestlers qualify for the Championship in one of three ways: placing in the top four in any weight class at the regional tournament; having a .666 or better winning percentage against four-year accredited intercollegiate competition provided he participates in a minimum of 12 matches during the regular season; through an intercollegiate tournament during the season. These standards can be found in the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Manual on pages 13-14.
Wrestling was added as a championship sport in 1958 with Mankato, Minn., serving as the first host and fielding the NAIA's first national championship team in Mankato State (now Minnesota State University). In the history of the sport, there have been 18 national team champions with Lindenwood (Mo.) taking home the 2007 hardware, its second in team history.
Sioux City, Iowa, host since 2005, will welcome nearly 250 student-athletes and coaches March 6-8, 2008 for the 51st Annual Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena. The NAIA estimates that 5,000-8,000 fans attend the wrestling championships each year.
To learn more about the NAIA, visit www.naia.org
"We are thrilled to have Oklahoma City as host for the 2009 and 2010 NAIA Wrestling National Championships," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "I am confident that OCU will carry on the strong tradition of this event and make it a memorable experience for all student-athletes, coaches and fans involved. On behalf of the NAIA, I would like to recognize the efforts of our current host Sioux City, Iowa and what they have done to make the Championship a success."
Oklahoma City University worked in conjunction with the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau to submit a bid for the NAIA wrestling championships.
"We're proud the NAIA gave us this opportunity," Oklahoma City University Athletics Director Jim Abbott said. "Oklahoma is a tradition-rich wrestling state. It makes sense to bring such an event as this to our city and region.
"Our intention is to make this the best NAIA wrestling championship ever. We will focus on the experience the athletes will have here on our campus and in our city. We will work hard to partner with area businesses on this event. We're excited to bring nearly 300 of the nation's finest wrestlers to Oklahoma City University."
The NAIA wrestling championships in Oklahoma City will be the first national collegiate championships hosted on the campus of Oklahoma City University. However, OCU served as the host institution for the 1991 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship held at Twin Hills Country Club in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City University has hosted the Junior Wrestling National Duals the past two years and once more in 2000. The Junior National Duals annually attract the nation's top junior wrestlers. OCU will host the Women's College Wrestling National Championships, which includes teams from all levels of collegiate women's wrestling, on March 15.
"It's such an opportunity for Oklahoma City University to bring the NAIA Championships to our campus," Oklahoma City University wrestling coach Archie Randall said. "Our wrestlers will love nothing more than to wrestle for the national championship in their own backyard."
There are 33 NAIA schools that sponsor a varsity wrestling program. The NAIA Championship includes the team national title and 10 individual champions. Wrestlers qualify for the Championship in one of three ways: placing in the top four in any weight class at the regional tournament; having a .666 or better winning percentage against four-year accredited intercollegiate competition provided he participates in a minimum of 12 matches during the regular season; through an intercollegiate tournament during the season. These standards can be found in the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Manual on pages 13-14.
Wrestling was added as a championship sport in 1958 with Mankato, Minn., serving as the first host and fielding the NAIA's first national championship team in Mankato State (now Minnesota State University). In the history of the sport, there have been 18 national team champions with Lindenwood (Mo.) taking home the 2007 hardware, its second in team history.
Sioux City, Iowa, host since 2005, will welcome nearly 250 student-athletes and coaches March 6-8, 2008 for the 51st Annual Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena. The NAIA estimates that 5,000-8,000 fans attend the wrestling championships each year.
To learn more about the NAIA, visit www.naia.org
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