2004 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Oklahoma State wins 32nd National Championship; More than 15,000 people visit St. Louis
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Click on any thumbnail above to begin slide show. Photos by Dave Preston. |
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March 18-20, 2004 - Savvis Center
The drama, passion, and excitement of college wrestling's most prestigious event returned to St. Louis as the Sports Commission and the University of Missouri welcomed the 74 th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships back to Savvis Center.
Union Station and the streets of St. Louis were busy and vibrant as more than 15,000 fans, athletes, coaches, and officials poured into downtown. The Championships generated between $8 and $10 million in economic impact. The total attendance was 87,675 and more than 10,000 downtown hotel room nights were occupied during the three-day tournament.
Oklahoma State won the team championship for the second consecutive year. Seven all-Americans and one national champion helped the Cowboys win for an NCAA record 32 nd time. Oklahoma State scored 123.5 points, 41.5 points ahead of runner-up Iowa (82 points). Lehigh and Ohio State tied for third place with 77.5 points.
Individually, Matt Gentry gave Stanford its first-ever champion, winning the 157-pound weight class and Jesse Jantzen became the first Harvard winner since 1938 by taking the 149-pound weight class. Greg Jones of West Virginia (184), Damion Hahn from Minnesota (197), and heavyweight Tommy Rolands of Ohio State all won their second national championship.
The other NCAA champions were: Jason Powell, Nebraska (125); Zach Robertson, Iowa State (133); Cliff Moore, Iowa (141); Troy Letters, Lehigh (165); and Chris Pendleton, Oklahoma State (174).
Just as it did for the 2000 Championships, St. Louis received rave reviews as a tournament host. According to a survey conducted by Webster University Professor Patrick Rishe, more than 92 percent of fans rated St. Louis as a ‘very good' or ‘excellent' host city for the 2004 championships. Rishe's study also found that 94 percent of fans had a ‘very favorable' or ‘favorable' overall experience in the Gateway City.
For the first time in tournament history, fans in the stands were not the only ones able to watch the event as it happened. ESPN2 aired the final session live. It was the highest-rated NCAA Wrestling broadcast for the network.
More than 450 volunteers were an integral part of the event's success. Volunteers were involved in virtually every aspect of the tournament and poured their heart, energy and enthusiasm into making the 2004 wrestling championships an event to remember.
St. Louis becomes the first city to host the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in back-to-back years when the event returns to Savvis Center March 17-19, 2005.