August 9, 2006

Kearney to Host 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Second Time in Kearney

      Kearney, Neb. –  The University of Nebraska at Kearney has been selected as the host institution for the 2007 NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships.

      The two-day event will be March 9-10 and be held in the Health & Sports Center. This is the second time UNK has hosted the event, the first being in 1995.

      The State of Nebraska is no stranger to this event as UNO has hosted the tournament four times, including this past March.

      Greg Waggoner, Athletic Director at Western State and Chair of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Committee said, "The committee is excited to bring this championship event back to the West Region for 2007. The people at the University of Nebraska at Kearney have hosted numerous NCAA championship competitions in recent years and we're confident they'll stage a first class event. Their proposal to our committee was impressive and we expect the 2007 NCAA D-II Wrestling Championships to be nothing short of outstanding."

      Annually, 160 competitors representing 30 plus schools qualify for the tournament.  

      "We look forward to rolling out the red carpet for the teams, support staffs and fans who will attend this event. We're excited to showcase the University and the City of Kearney to the nation," said Jon McBride, UNK Athletic Director.

      Under the direction of head coach Marc Bauer, UNK has become a national powerhouse on the mats. The Lopers have had six top 10 finishes at the NCAA's since 1999, including runner up finishes in 2003 and 2006.

      “It is a great honor and privilege to be selected to host the 2007 NCAA D-II Wrestling Championships. Not only is this going to be great exposure for our program and the university but it will also benefit the community," Bauer said. "We have gained a lot of valuable experience and knowledge running national and state-level youth and college tournaments the past few years and we are now ready to take on an even greater event like the NCAA's. If all goes well, we will look to continue to put the bid in for the meet on a regular basis.”

      In addition to wrestling, UNK has hosted NCAA regionals in men's basketball, cross country, softball and volleyball as a well as a first-round football playoff game.