Indianapolis, Ind. – Newman University and Hartman Arena has been selected to host the 2024 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship the NCAA announced today.
"Newman University is excited to serve as host of the 2024 NCAA DII Wrestling Championships," said Director of Athletics
Joanna Pryor. "Newman's wrestling program under the leadership of
Ryan Smith has grown into a nationally recognized NCAA Division II program. The team has an individual national DII champion in 2018 and numerous wrestling All-Americans so we know how special this event will be for the community. We thank Visit Wichita for their advocacy in submitting the bid for this NCAA Championship. We look forward to playing a part in bringing this elite athletic event to a truly great sports town."
Hartman Arena is no stranger to hosting championship level sporting events as they have previously hosted NAIA Wrestling Championships, KCAC Conference tournaments along with major concerts.
"This is exciting for Wichita and the local wrestling community," said Newman Wrestling Head Coach
Ryan Smith. "Wrestling has a huge following not only at the collegiate level, but down to the local kids club level. Hosting this championship is an awesome opportunity to bring a high level of competition to the Midwest for these kids to see. Over the years, we have been all over the country in all directions traveling for the National Tournament, it will be a huge advantage and hopefully some motivation for our student-athletes to want to participate when we are the host school in 2024."
Last season, the Jets had two student-athletes advance to the NCAA Division II Championships in Indianapolis before the tournament was cancelled. Newman has had a national qualifier in ten out of the last eleven years, only missing out in 2013. In 2018,
Noel Torres was able to bring home Newman's first Division II National Championship in wrestling. In the last five seasons, eight Jets placed high enough at the National Tournament to earn All-American honors.