THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO ASHEVILLE
Explore Asheville Two-Year Deal Strengthens SoCon Partnership and Expands Community Presence
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (November 11, 2024) – Today, the Southern Conference announced that the Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championship will return to Asheville, North Carolina, for a two-day event in both 2025 and 2026. The event, sponsored by Explore Asheville, will strengthen a longstanding partnership between the league and the Asheville community, expand the championship's reach, and provide the excitement of collegiate wrestling to locals and fans.
“On behalf of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, we are energized and filled with heart to build upon the long-standing relationship between the Southern Conference and our community,” said President and CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority Vic Isley. “SoCon’s expansion of its event footprint here fires up our community comeback with customers and business momentum in Asheville, as sports fans, athletes and their families join us in 2025.”
The Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championship will be held at Kimmel Arena on the campus of UNC Asheville, March 7-8, 2025, and will coincide with the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships, which will also take place in Asheville, March 6-10, 2025, at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville. This overlapping schedule is designed to create an exciting atmosphere of competition and camaraderie. Bringing SoCon fans and the Western North Carolina region together for an action-packed week will elevate both events and further connect fans to the SoCon brand.
“We are excited for Asheville, North Carolina to host the Explore Asheville Southern Conference Wrestling Championship for the next two years,” said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. “The Asheville area has proven to be an exceptional championship host, and we look forward to applying the best aspects of the Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships to wrestling, at a time when the sport is experiencing a national resurgence. Asheville is a remarkable, unique, and fun championship destination and the partnerships we have in place suggests we can enhance the experience for our wrestling student-athletes, coaches and fans. The visibility and opportunities surrounding the Explore Asheville Southern Conference Wrestling Championship will build on the strong relationships and community support of the Asheville area and will help support hurricane recovery for local businesses by bringing people to Buncombe County.”
The return of wrestling to Asheville aligns with the league’s broader vision of enhancing the championship experience and expanding its footprint across the region. Alongside this vision, the league aims to continue to amplify the message that “It’s All Here” in the SoCon.
“We are thrilled to once again host the SoCon Wrestling Championship in the Sherrill Center on our beautiful campus,” stated UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone. “Our staff working with Explore Asheville is dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for the student-athletes, coaches, and spectators, and we look forward to welcoming all nine schools to Asheville.”
Ticket information and the full schedule for the 2025 Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championship will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit the Southern Conference website at www.soconsports.com and follow the Southern Conference on social media.
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Media Contact:
Ashley Greenstein
agreenstein@exploreasheville.com
828.318.8960
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