Grand Valley State College repeats as NCWA National Champs.  The 2002 NCWA National Championships concluded Saturday, March 16th with the crowning of Grand Valley State College as team champions with 199.5 points for a second straight year.  They were followed by University of Nevada Reno with 165 points and Apprentice School, out of Virginia, with 140 points.  This was Reno's inaugural appearance in the Championships as they crowned two champions on their way to the runner-up spot in the team race.  Grand Valley crowned three champions and Apprentice School finished with two champions.    The outstanding wrestler of the Championships was 174 pound champion Douglas Cross of Douglas College, Canada.  Cross competed in the what many considered the strongest weight class of the event and won five bouts on this way to the Championships, including an impressive 7-5 victory over NCAA Div. II All American Jason Tapia of the University of Southern Colorado.    These 5th Annual NCWA Championships included forty-eight teams from across the country.  Many of the teams were representing schools that at one time included collegiate wrestling in their sports program.  The NCWA, created under the direction of Jim Guinta, of Dallas, Texas, and others, has provided a unique opportunity for many student athletes to continue their wrestling careers in a collegiate setting.  Many of the teams are self-funded, with a few being sponsored by their respective college or university in some manner.    The 2002 Championships were covered live over the Internet with both webcam and streaming video.  The finals where telecast by a local television station in Easton, Pennsylvania and over the Internet with a direct feed from the television broadcast.  Wrestling fans from across the country were able to follow their teams and individuals wrestlers throughout the event via use of Internet.  After the finals concluded, a special banquet was held at the Headquarters hotel where the champions received a special recognition plaque.  In addition the NCWA will purchase championship rings for each of the champions.    The NCWA hopes to expand the number of teams within its organization next year, which is near eighty schools already.  The main goal of the NCWA is to provide wrestling opportunities for collegiate athletes in colleges and universities where programs once existed or were there is an interest in the sport.  The NCWA believes their organization is doing its part to combat the negative results that have occurred with the interpretations of Title IX legislation.    To find out more about the NCWA please visit their web site at www.ncwa.net.