ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network and ESPN Regional Television (ERT), the nation’s largest producer and distributor of collegiate sports programming, along with Double Sport Apparel and the Oklahoma City All Sports Association, will present the first-ever ESPNU Double Sport Wrestling Invitational, which will be held at the Ford Center (Oklahoma City, Okla.) on Sunday, Feb. 12. It was announced today by Pete Derzis, senior vice president, ESPN Regional Television. The Wrestling Invitational will bring together two nationally prominent wrestling programs, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, to host the doubleheader event. The matches will be televised live on ESPNU starting at 1 p.m. ET.
“We are excited to showcase several of the nation’s top wrestling programs in Oklahoma City,” Derzis said. “We are hoping to establish a top-notch event that will give wrestling an opportunity to grow within the community and on ESPNU.”
“The ESPNU Double Sport Wrestling Invitational has the promise to become one of the leading annual events in this sport,” said Burke Magnus, vice president and general manager, ESPNU. “We are thrilled to present the best in college wrestling to college sports fans across the nation.”
At 1 p.m., the Oklahoma Sooners will meet the Pride of Hofstra, followed by a match-up between 2005 NCAA National Wrestling Champion Oklahoma State and the nationally ranked Golden Gophers of Minnesota. The ESPNU Double Sport Wrestling Invitational will commence the wrestling season at Ford Center, which will also host the 2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships a month later with coverage on ESPN and ESPNU.
“It is exciting that wrestling is getting some national recognition,” said Oklahoma State Coach John Smith. “There is no question that we appreciate ESPN for taking an interest in a very strong sport in a good area for wrestling. ”
“This is going to be an exciting event for wrestling, because two of the nation’s best teams will be com,¬peting side-by-side,” said Oklahoma Coach Jack Spates. “This is also an honor for Oklahoma wrestling to be competing against an outstanding opponent in Hofstra. This will be an outstanding challenge to our wrestlers and we know we need to come prepared.”
“We’re elated to be a part of the ESPNU Double Sport Wrestling Invitational,” said Minnesota Coach J Robinson. “It should be a great event for the fans, as well as our student-athletes. It’s important for all of us in the sport to work together to make sure that collegiate wrestling continues to grow. We’re grateful that ESPNU and Double Sport are committed to putting together a world-class event.”
“We are excited about participating in the ESPNU Double Sport Wrestling Invitational in February,” said Hofstra Coach Tom Ryan. “I am sure it is going to be a great day of college wrestling with four exciting and dynamic programs. In addition, it will be a good experience for our team to get a preview of the National Championships at the Ford Center in front of the great wrestling fans of the state of Oklahoma. We appreciate ESPN’s and Double Sport’s promotion of college wrestling. ”
Tickets for both the ESPNU Double Sport Wrestling Invitational and the 2006 NCAA Wrestling Championships are available by calling the Ford Center ticket office at 405-235-8288 or logging on to ticketmaster.com.
“We are delighted to once again showcase our city as one of the premier college event locations in our region,” said Tim Brassfield, executive director of the Oklahoma City All Sports Association. “Oklahoma City has a rich heritage when it comes to wrestling and we hope to help ESPNU in establishing an event that will become a traditional ritual for wrestling fans.”
“Double Sport is honored to be working together with ESPN and looks forward to shining a national spotlight on collegiate wrestling, “said Mario Mercado, founder and president of Double Sport. “Bringing four of the country’s top programs together is a great way to display the tremendous athletes competing in NCAA Division I wrestling today
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