2013 USA Folkstyle Wrestling at UNI-Dome Puts Cedar Falls on the Map (Blog)

Come this Friday, wrestlers and fans will flood the UNI-Dome for the annual USAW/Cliff Keen Folkstyle National Wrestling Tournament. Athletes will represent 32 states in this final USA Wrestling tournament of the folkstyle season. It is also the first tournament making up the Triple Crown; the other two are the Freestyle Nationals and Greco-Roman Nationals.

State associations from California and Kansas are bringing a number of attendees for the first time this year.  There are seven divisions of wrestlers, ranging in age from 7 years (bantam division) to 56 years (veteran division). Jake Herbert, 2009 World silver medalist and 2012 Olympian, will be present during the weekend as this year’s special guest.

In past years, the tournament has sold out – a testament to the caliber of this prestigious event. It is a fantastic event for Cedar Falls to host, bringing in 2,800 wrestlers along with their coaches and families to our community.  This kind of exposure continues to put Cedar Falls on the map for its ability to successfully host large athletic events.  It also fills up our hotels and restaurants, and most importantly, showcases the community as a quality destination, one that visitors will want to return to.

If it seems a bit more crowded around town this weekend, you will surely know why. Maybe you'll meet someone from California or New Mexico - wherever the person is from, welcome him or her to Cedar Falls!

Written by Clarissa McPheron