GROWING BRUTE-ADIDAS NATIONALS FINDS NEW HOME IN KANSAS CITY
By Jason Bryant
Director of Media Relations
National Wrestling Coaches Association
Brute-adidas is pleased to announce that the fourth annual Brute-adidas Nationals have found a new home.
The 2007 Brute-adidas Nationals will be held at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City , Mo. , on April 6-7. The last three years, the event has been held in Nebraska , twice in Lincoln and last year at Sapp Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha .
The Brute-adidas Nationals was the first tournament on a national scale to group wrestlers up by grade, with a freshman vs. freshman, sophomore vs. sophomore, junior vs. junior and senior vs. senior format. Last year’s event featured dozens of nationally ranked wrestlers, state champions and state placewinners.
“As the event grows we want to remain true to our core mission of providing a premiere nationally based event, attracting top wrestlers and coaches, and having the event duration as brief as possible since the participants are students first,” said John Purnell, the CEO of Brute.
“Moving to the larger KCI Center is allowing us to remain true to our mission, and adding more age groups.”
Last year, the tournament had the four high school divisions, but the fourth annual event will expand down to the youngest of competitors with 14 age divisions – one per each grade starting at first grade all the way through the senior class.
Purnell sees merit in the expansion.
“This will give younger wrestlers the ability to compete in front of a nationally-based audience, and for college coaches to see future stars in their development,” said Purnell.
“The KCI Expos Center is an ideal site due to the convenience of surrounding hotels and restaurants and close to a major airport,” he said.
“The Brute-adidas Nationals continues to grow in participation numbers and national stature, allowing us to contribute more funds back to our partner in this event, the National Wrestling Coaches Association. We have a mutually created fund to assist in creating new college wrestling programs and support those programs struggling to remain in existence,” said Purnell.
“Our partnership with the Brute-adidas Nationals is part of our core mission of saving college wrestling programs and creating new ones,” said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. “The growth of the event will make the entire sport of wrestling stronger as we’re continuing to provide support for programs in need.”
More information about host hotels, registration and general tournament information will be available on the Brute-adidas Nationals website www.bruteadidasnationals.com and online registration will begin November 1.
