Manchester to host Midwest Regional in 2017
Manchester University will host the 2017 Midwest Regional this coming February. Wabash had hosted the past two years, and the tournament will stay in Indiana at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. The top three finishers at each weight will qualify for the 2017 NCAA Championships to be held in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on March 10th and 11th.
Manchester University named Midwest Regional host
NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Manchester University, in conjunction with the Allen County Memorial Coliseum and Visit Fort Wayne groups, has been awarded a bid to host the 2017 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional wrestling Championships.
The event is set for late February at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
“We’re very appreciative of being the host for this big event,” Director of Athletics Rick Espeset said. “It’s a great honor to have our university’s name and brand associated with this type of NCAA competition.”
“Fans should be excited for this coming (to Fort Wayne),” head coach Kevin Lake noted. “There are many athletes on participating teams that are from Fort Wayne and surrounding areas including three-time defending national champion Riley LeFever of Wabash College. It’s an incredible showcase of some of the top student-athletes in NCAA Division III all vying for a berth to the national meet.”
Visit Fort Wayne and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum group mirrored Manchester University’s anticipation.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the NCAA DIII Wrestling Regional to Fort Wayne,” Stephanie Coleman, sports sales manager at Visit Fort Wayne, said. “Early estimates have it bringing a quarter of a million dollars in new spending to our community. We’re so fortunate to have a great collaborative relationship between Visit Fort Wayne, the Memorial Coliseum and Manchester University.”
“Our location is great for the NCAA’s tournaments,” Dan O’Connell, president and CEO of Visit Fort Wayne, admitted. “(The NCAA) was looking for a central location with a high quality venue and a member university and community interested in making the student athlete’s experience at the tournament memorable. We ‘pinned’ all three of those needs, literally.
“Fort Wayne is within a days’ drive of over 90% of the participating institutions,” he added. “We offer an outstanding venue in the Memorial Coliseum which has experience in hosting both wrestling as well as NCAA tournaments. And lastly, along with Manchester University, Visit Fort Wayne is committed to providing every wrestler with a ‘championship experience’.”
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum has played host to the 2010 NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey Midwest Regional and 2006 NCAA Division I men’s volleyball national championship as well as the 2015 and 2016 Cliff Keen National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Duals among its signature events.