GATEWAY CITY WILL SERVE AS NCAA WRESTLING’S EPICENTER OVER BACK-TO-BACK WEEKENDS THIS MARCH

ST. LOUIS – Feb. 11, 2021 – St. Louis will add another NCAA event to its résumé next month as it assists the NCAA with steps to safely host winter sport championships. To address health and safety protocols, the NCAA is moving its Division II Wrestling Championships to the Gateway City. The event will take place March 12-13 at the America’s Center Convention Complex and will be hosted by Lindenwood University, Maryville University, McKendree University, and the St. Louis Sports Commission. The Division II Wrestling Championships were previously held in St. Louis in 2015, and will return to Chaifetz Arena in 2022 as part of a previously-announced site selection.

“I would like to thank the St. Louis Sports Commission, Lindenwood, Maryville, and McKendree for stepping up to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships,” said Miles Van Hee, director of athletics at Western Colorado and chair of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Committee. “St. Louis was a great host for us in 2015 and an excellent location for Division II wrestling. This is a city that’s known for providing excellent NCAA championship experiences and our outstanding wrestlers and coaches are looking forward to that opportunity this season.”

The Division II Wrestling Championships were originally scheduled as part of the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championships Festival, which included men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and men’s and women’s swimming & diving in Birmingham, Ala. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each championship was decoupled to hold its own independent event to better adhere to NCAA health and safety protocols. St. Louis’ more centralized location for the schools that sponsor Division II wrestling and ability to host on the originally scheduled dates of the championship were contributing factors for the move.

“We are excited to bring the NCAA DII Wrestling Championships back to St. Louis,” said Sports Commission Vice President Chris Roseman. “Our DII partners at Lindenwood, Maryville and McKendree have really stepped up to host the event and we’re excited that with the DI Wrestling Championships coming a week later, St. Louis will be the epicenter of college wrestling in March.”

“We’re proud America’s Center was selected to host the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, and with our GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation and extensive health and safety protocols, the student-athletes and coaches are sure to have a great experience,” said Matthew Dewey, general manager of America’s Center.

After the Division II Wrestling Championships take place, the Sports Commission and the University of Missouri will host the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center March 18-20. The Division I Championships are taking place in St. Louis for the ninth time since 2000.

The two events combined will bring more than 500 competitors, coaches and support staff to St. Louis. Ticket availability and capacities for both events are still to be determined.

For more information on the 2021 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, visit ncaa.com/sports/wrestling/d2.

Details on the Division I Wrestling Championships can be found at ncaa.com/wrestling.