14-03-2025
Largest collegiate wrestling championship draws thousands
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—The National Collegiate Wrestling Association is hosting its three-day national championship, with 578 male athletes and 195 female athletes competing for a title.
The NCWA says this championship is the largest collegiate championship in history. 146 colleges are represented, drawn from nine conferences around the country.
'For them to get here they've gone through a conference championship, probably a state championship, and prior to that a full season of wrestling,' said Jim Giunta, executive director of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association.
NCWA has a three-year contract with Visit Shreveport-Bossier, this championship is their second of the three.
Visit Shreveport-Bossier says this partnership brings thousands of people to the area, supporting economic development.
'We're estimating that these 13,000 attendees, are going to bring in 2 million dollars approximately to the Shreveport Bossier area. That is almost 2,000 room nights that are going to be filled and there's going to be people spending money all across our community,' said Emma Boone, public relations and digital content manager for Visit Shreveport-Bossier.
Boone adds that it is not just hotel rooms, but dining at restaurants, exploring attractions, spending money at gas stations, and shopping at our local retail stores.
Centenary's basketball player Alisha Green can balance it all
On day one of the event, fans were already cheering loudly in the stands.
'The sport is growing exponentially in the women's side of wrestling. It's just exploding. And so, if they want to see some real wrestling, some fans yelling, let me tell you the dads don't really yell for the guys, but boy they yell for the girls,' said Giunta.
The full schedule for the championship can be found here on the NCWA 2025 website.
Giunta says the finals will take place on Saturday at 2 PM.
'We'll have the stage set up, the smoke, the fireworks, the whole shebang, it'll be fun and exciting if they want to come out and watch we'd love to have them.'
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