For more information, contact:
The St. Louis Sports Commission
314-992-0684
bshulman@stlsports.org

   
NCAA® DIVISION I WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO ST. LOUIS THIS WEEK

700 MATCHES, TRIBUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES,
FREE FAN EVENTS AND MORE ALL IN STORE

PACKED WEEK OF ACTIVITIES BEGINS TUESDAY NIGHT
WITH YOUTH CLINIC AT SCOTTRADE CENTER

ST. LOUIS – March 16, 2009 – Coming to an arena near you: 330 college wrestlers, 76 teams, 700 matches, 95,000 rabid fans. They’re all part of the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which take place at Scottrade Center Thursday to Saturday (March 19-21). The event is hosted by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the University of Missouri, which are producing the Championships for the fifth time this decade. St. Louis previously hosted the event in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2008.

By Saturday night, 10 individual national titles and one team title will be determined. It will be the culmination of three intense, drama-filled days featuring six action-packed sessions.

TICKET INFO: Tickets are available for all six sessions of the Championships. Single-session tickets start at only $9. All-session tickets are as low as $60. Half-session packages are also available. Fans may purchase tickets through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com; by phone at 314-241-1888; or in person at any Ticketmaster outlet, including the Scottrade Center box office.

EVENT IMPACT: With the average attendance expected to surpass 16,000 and total attendance exceeding 95,000, organizers anticipate the 2009 Championships will generate more than $10 million in economic impact. The event will bring more than 15,000 visitors to the region.

YOUTH WRESTLING CLINIC: Prior to the collegiate wrestlers hitting the mats, more than 300 “wrestlers of the future” will take to the floor at Scottrade Center for a free youth wrestling clinic from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (March 17). Boys and girls ages 10 to 16 will receive instruction from the nation’s top college coaches and student-athletes. They’ll learn wrestling skills, conditioning tips, and the importance of practicing good sportsmanship. Parents are also invited to attend a free panel discussion on sportsmanship and NCAA sports.

SALUTE TO THE MILITARY: As part of the free NCAA Fan Festival at St. Louis Union Station, fans will have the chance to meet wrestling and military legends. From 5 to 6:15 p.m. Thursday (March 19), the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will present “Glory Beyond the Sport: Wrestling and the Military,” a tribute to veterans of the armed forces who excelled in the sport. A select group of distinguished veterans will participate in a forum followed by an autograph session with the entire group of servicemen invited by the Hall of Fame.

These are just some of the special events that will take place this week connected to the NCAA Wrestling Championships. The competition schedule and a complete list of all activities follow:

2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Schedule at Scottrade Center

Session 1 - 11 a.m. Thursday
Session 2 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Session 3 - 10 a.m. Friday
Session 4 - 6 p.m. Friday
Session 5 - 9:30 a.m. Saturday
Session 6 - 5:30 p.m. Saturday (Parade of All-Americans at 5 p.m.)

Schedule of Events – All events at St. Louis Union Station unless noted otherwise

Tuesday, March 17

Youth Wrestling Clinic at Scottrade Center 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18

Pre Tournament News Conference at Scottrade Center 1:30 p.m. (selected student-athletes)
2:30 p.m. (selected head coaches)

Thursday, March 19

NCAA Fan Festival Noon – 7 p.m.
USA Wrestling Team Practice 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Wrestling Hall of Fame Presents: “Glory Beyond the Sport: Wrestling and the Military” 5 – 6 p.m.
Autograph Session With Invited Servicemen 5:45 – 6:15 p.m

Friday, March 20

NCAA Fan Festival Noon – 7 p.m.
USA Wrestling Team Practice 2:15 – 3:45 p.m.
Semifinals Preview Show 4 – 5 p.m.
USA Wrestling Autograph Session 5 – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 21

NCAA Fan Festival Noon – 6 p.m.
NWCA Coaches Clinic 1:30 – 3 p.m.
USA Wrestling Team Practice 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Parade of All-Americans at Scottrade Center 5:05 – 5:20 p.m.
Post-Championships Concert 8:30 – 11 p.m.

For more information on the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and the complete listing of events, visit www.stlsports.org/wrestling or NCAA.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Media seeking more information on the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships can contact Brent Shulman, St. Louis Sports Commission communications manager, at 314-992-0684 (office) or 314-677-4369 (cell).

The St. Louis Sports Commission is the privately funded nonprofit organization that benefits St. Louis through sports.

Its mission is to make the St. Louis region a better place to live, visit, work and play through sports.

- www.stlsports.org -