Success of 2008 Wrestling Championships Translates to Repeat Appearance Four Years Later

FAYETTE, Iowa – The NCAA Championships Committee has awarded the 2012 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships to Upper Iowa University and the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, or the CRACVB.  The announcement comes just months after the Peacock wrestling team tied for 3rd place with Nebraska-Kearney at the 2009 Championships thanks to a National Champion, a National Runner Up, and two third place finishers.

"We could not be more pleased or proud to have been awarded the 2012 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships," said David Miller, Upper Iowa's Director of Athletics.  "This honor serves as a great compliment to the efforts of our staff, volunteers, and the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and a testament to the success of the 2008 Championships.  We plan to build on that championship to make this an even better event for all involved."

Upper Iowa and the CRACVB teamed up to host the 2008 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships at the U.S. Cellular Center with great success. UIU was awarded the Duane Kramer Sports Tourism Award by the CRACVB for hosting an event that attracted a significant number of visitors to the Cedar Rapids area.

"It was a pleasure partnering with Upper Iowa Athletics to submit a proposal to host the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships," said Mary Lee Malmberg, the Director of Sports Tourism for the CRACVB.  "We are thrilled they will be returning to Cedar Rapids and the U.S. Cellular Center in March of 2012! Eastern Iowa wrestling fans will enjoy the opportunity to view the excellent competition offered by this event in their "back yard".  This will be the second time Upper Iowa has hosted the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids.  In 2008 wrestlers, coaches and families traveling to the competition spent $461,500 in Cedar Rapids' businesses and stayed a total of 1,191 nights in local hotels."

The Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is where the experience starts for visitors, residents and organizations. The CRACVB is responsible for attracting new destination events to the community, providing service and support to existing and repeat events, providing comprehensive information to area visitors and helping drive decisions of future visitor product development. Locally the organization encourages community pride and educates the community on the value of visitors, tourism and travel. Tourism resulted in domestic travel spending of $590.39 million in Linn County in 2008, representing 9.22% of the State total and employing nearly 6,000 people in Linn County. For more information about the CRACVB, visit their website at www.experiencecr.org.

The 2012 Wrestling Championships will once again take place in the U.S. Cellular Center, and while many hotels will serve the event, the Crowne Plaza will house the student-athletes and coaches, while the Marriott will host the staffs from Upper Iowa, the referees and the NCAA Officials.

The U.S. Cellular Center is an ideal venue for the NCAA DII Wrestling Championships.  Its experienced and professional staff will help create a memorable competition for the student-athletes.

The 2012 NCAA Division II Championships will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10.  The Championships will feature the top four wrestlers in each of ten weight classes from the four regions across the country.  Sixteen student-athletes in each weight class will make up the 160 total wrestlers at the event.