The Expocentre offers 210,000 square feet of event space.
This venue has served as the site for numerous national sporting competitions,
including the 1988 US Olympic Trials, the USA Wrestling Kansas State Folkstyle
Championships and the USA Wrestling Kids Folkstyle Nationals. Click here for facility map of the Expocentre.
The Expocentre held its first event in 1987 with a
sold-out concert featuring Kenny Rogers, T. Graham Brown and Ronnie Milsap. At
times, there are six events hosted simultaneously in the facilities, and
typically over 600 events are booked annually. Landon Arena is located inside
the Expocentre and currently is home to the Topeka RoadRunners NAHL hockey team
and the Kansas Koyotes APFL football team.
Topeka will welcome the wrestling national championships
for the first time in the 56-year history of the event. The city is listed with
a population of nearly 123,000 and located approximately 60 miles from Kansas
City, Mo. The state has hosted three previous NAIA Wrestling National
Championships in the city of Hays in 1980, 1990 and 1992.
“We are looking forward to having the NAIA Wrestling
National Championships in Topeka for 2014 and 2015,” said Jim Carr, NAIA
President and CEO. “The sport of wrestling has a strong presence in the state
of Kansas. The city of Topeka has proven that they have hosted successful
national events. The NAIA is excited to have this friendly community provide a
wonderful experience for all NAIA student-athletes and teams.”
The Kansas chapter of USA Wrestling, which is the
national governing body for wrestling in the United States, ranks No. 1 in the
nation in certified coaches and No. 4 in the nation in youth participation.
Visit Topeka Inc.,
is a non-profit organization created to promote Topeka as a tourist destination
and a great place to hold conventions, trade shows, tournaments and other
sporting events. The city’s inception dates back to 1854 and is remembered for
one significant piece of American history – the United States Supreme Court
case between Brown v. Board of Education.
The Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council is in existence
to enhance the quality of life and the economy in the Topeka community by
leading the effort to develop and promote youth, amateur and collegiate
sporting events.
“We are so very excited to work with the NAIA to welcome
the NAIA Wrestling National Championships for 2014 and 2015 to Topeka,” said
Jeffrey Alderman, Director of Sales at Visit Topeka Inc. “This outstanding
competition will allow us to showcase our wonderful city to the many
participants and thousands of spectators, and is a win-win for our community
and the NAIA.”
The Heart of America
Athletic Conference (HAAC) was founded in 1971 and is the
governing body of 10 conference schools located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and
Nebraska. Three schools have been members of the conference since its inception
– Baker (Kan.), Graceland (Iowa) and Missouri Valley. Peru State (Neb.) became
the newest school to join the storied conference as the Bobcats began full
competition during the 2011-12 academic year. Baker, Benedictine (Kan.) and
Missouri Valley sponsor the sport of wrestling in the HAAC.
The national championships consist of 10 individual
weight classes. Those competitions occur during four sessions with two each
day. There are currently 41 NAIA Wrestling varsity programs for the 2013
season. For a complete list of wrestling schools, click here.
Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and
championships in proper balance with the overall educational experience. In
2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character-building aspects
of sport. Through Champions of Character, the NAIA seeks to create an
environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is
committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values:
integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
To learn more about NAIA wrestling, click here.
Alan Grosbach
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Manager of Communications and Sports Information
1200 Grand Boulevard | Kansas City, MO 64106
