2003 NCWA NATIONAL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

RETURN TO LAFAYETTE COLLEGE THIS WEEKEND

EASTON, PA. – The 2003 National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) National Championships are scheduled to take place this coming weekend, Friday March 14 and Saturday, March 15 at Lafayette College’s Allan P. Kirby Sports Center.

48 teams from the NCWA will send wrestlers to the nationals with the opening ceremonies slated for Friday morning at 9:20 a.m., followed by session one at 9:30 a.m.  Session two will close our Friday’s wrestling action starting at 7 p.m.  On Saturday, session three will start the day at 10 a.m. Championship ceremonies will begin at 4:15 p.m. with the finals and consolation finals to begin at 4:30 p.m.

All-day session tickets will cost $15 per adult and $7 per student.  Individual sessions for adults cost $7.50, while students pay $4 per session.  A tournament all-session pass is also available for adults for $25 and to students for $12. 

Grand Valley State University (Mich.) is back seeking the illusive “three-peat” as they won the titles in 2001 and 2002.  “Our guys have seen good competition this year and made improvements as the year went along,” said Grand Valley head wrestling coach Dave Mills.  “We are looking forward to what should be a tough national tournament.”

Grand Valley State took home three individual champions and six All-Americans taking the team crown with 199.5 points.  First-time participant University of Nevada-Reno was second with 165 points, while The Apprentice School came in third with 140.  Rounding out the top 10 were: University of Southern Colorado (98.5), Pensacola Christian (92), University of Delaware (78.5), Baptist Bible College (77.5), University of Central Florida (74), Kansas State University (66.5) and San Diego State University (56).

Since the induction of the first NCWA National Wrestling Championships in 1998, Pensacola Christian has won two team titles (1999, 2000).  Grand Valley State also has won two titles (2001, 2002).  Yale won the very first NCWA National Championship in 1998.

The middle weights appear to be the deepest of the field this year starts at 157, 165, 174 having four returning All-Americans.  The 184 pound class is possibly the strongest with six returning All-Americans, including last year’s champion Danny Micka of Georgia Tech, last year’s Most Outstanding Wrestler in Travis Cross of Douglas College and the 2001 champion at 174 pounds in Kevin McGill from Yale University. 

This year you can follow the tournament on the internet at www.ncwa.net  or at www.realtimescorebook.com.