Qwest makes the NCAA wrestling final list

[Coyote]

Arena is finalist for NCAA wrestling meet

ST. LOUIS - The Omaha Sports Commission learned just more than a week ago that Qwest Center Omaha was one of five finalists to host the NCAA wrestling championships between 2008 and 2011.

The NCAA on Thursday released the complete list of finalists. The other finalists include Des Moines, Cleveland, Philadelphia and St. Louis. A new arena in Des Moines is set to open later this year.

The Omaha Sports Commission and MECA will make an in-person presentation in front of the NCAA Wrestling Committee April 16 in La Jolla, Calif., at the committee's annual meeting.

Four bids will be awarded during that four-year period. Omaha hopes to host the event sometime between 2009 and 2011. Omaha did not bid on 2008 since it already is hosting an NCAA men's basketball regional during that time. There were 15 cities that originally submitted bids for the wrestling championships.

The wrestling committee hopes to forward a site recommendation for all four years to the Division I championships/competition cabinet for its review and approval at either its June or September meeting.

"The wrestling committee was extremely impressed with the quality of bids that we received in this process," said Brown Associate Athletic Director Tom Bold, committee chair. "We have conducted in-person site visits in advance of making selections for the first time ever and it was extremely beneficial."

Nebraska Coach Mark Manning said he would love to see the NCAAs be held at the Qwest Center.

"It is an excellent facility," Manning said. "It was a great venue for the Big 12 meet (on March 5). It has everything you need for a big wrestling tournament."

The Omaha Sports Commission next month also will bid on the Nebraska state wrestling tournament.