Memories from past NCAA wrestling tournaments

I spent a lot of time this past week reading memories from readers about the boys' state basketball tournament, most of which came from players.

There are a couple more on Page 8C today, including a wonderful tale about the 1959 Lowden team's nearly two-day journey to Des Moines.

That got me thinking as I plan another trip to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which return to St. Louis later this week. The tournament runs Thursday through Saturday night.

The NCAA wrestling tournament has been one of my favorite events for many years, from my first trip as a reporter in 1985 (in Oklahoma City) to my last in 2009 (in St. Louis).

I made the trip to Omaha in 2010 as a wrestling fan, with my son, Ben. We skipped last year's national meet in Philadelphia, opting for the Big Ten meet in Evanston, Ill., instead.

But we will be back in St. Louis on Thursday, again watching from the stands instead of media row.

Following are some of my highlights:

Best host: St. Louis is a great city for the this event and by far the best location I've visited. It's a great meeting point for wrestling powerhouses in Oklahoma and Iowa, although Penn State and Cornell have thrown a wrench into this theory a bit. But there is a lot to do in St. Louis between sessions, all within walking distance.

Favorite site: The Dean Dome in Chapel Hill, N.C. That's right, basketball-crazy North Carolina hosted this tournament in 1994 and the Dean E. Smith Center was a palace compared to many previous stops. The UNC campus in March also was a beautiful and scenic place to take a walking break between sessions.

Worst site: It's a tie between Albany, N.Y., and Cleveland. Both had some good points (the Rock and Roll Museum in Cleveland and the Baseball Hall of Fame in New York), but neither had that wrestling feel.

Most memorable trip: Oklahoma City in 2006. This isn't so much for the tournament, but a side trip to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, site of the 1995 bombing. Walking around the memorial where the building once stood was chilling, taking the tour fascinating.

Most memorable tournament: Without a doubt, the 1997 tournament in Cedar Falls, where Dan Gable's Iowa final team stormed to the title with 170 points, beating favored Oklahoma State by 56 1/2. I can still see Gable sitting at a table, signing autographs hours after the meet had ended.

Now it's time for more. Gentlemen, clear the mats.