It should be no great revelation that winning matches can be a magic formula for increasing attendance at college wrestling meets. The University of Illinois, Big Ten champions for the first time since 1952, again proved that during the 2004-05 regular season, which recently concluded. For the first time in the history of Illinois wrestling, the school finished in the top ten in the U.S. in attendance for home dual meets. With an average attendance of 1,436 and a total attendance of 8,616, Illinois finished ninth this past season. Illinois also achieved its two highest attendance figures of all-time for home wrestling dual meets, drawing 3,573 against Iowa on Jan. 28, 2005, and 2,048 against Northwestern on Feb. 17, 2005, both at Huff Hall on the Illinois campus in Champaign. But tradition also plays a role in filling the seats at college wrestling. Once again, the perennial powerhouse of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes was tops in both total and average attendance for the 2004-05 regular season. Iowa averaged 5,073 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City and totaled 35,511 in attendance. This was all despite a disappointing season, by Iowa standards anyway, in which the Hawkeyes finished just 10-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten in dual meets, fourth at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, and had no Big Ten individual champions. Here is the Illinois wrestling press release about this historic breakthrough in attendance: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mar. 9, 2005Cassie Arner Wrestling Attendance Ranked No. 9 NationallyIllini Ranked Top-10 For First Time In School History CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini wrestling team broke into the Top-10 for home dual attendance for the first time in school history, posting an average of 1,436 fans over six home meets at Huff Hall. On their way to Big Ten Dual Meet and Big Ten Tournament Championship titles, the Illini posted two new all-time attendance highs this season. For a 25-7 victory over Iowa on Jan. 28, the squad attracted a school record 3,573 fans. Their previous record of 2,037 was set in 2001 for the dual against Minnesota, and the Fighting Illini topped that record again on Feb. 17, when the Illini dominated Northwestern, 29-6. National RankingsRk Top 10 2004-05 Total Best Visitor1 Iowa 5,073 35,511 6,832 Iowa St.2 Okla St 4,542 27,249 8,697 Okla.3 Lehigh 2,488 17,417 5,828* Okla. St.4 Penn St 2,209 15,463 3,207 Iowa5 Minnesota 2,123 11,700 3,058 Okla. St.6 Iowa St 1,946 15,570 4,726 Okla. St.7 Hofstra 1,571 7,853 2,018 Okla. St.8 Mich. St 1,469 10,281 3,349 Michigan9 Illinois 1,436 8,616 3,573* Iowa10 Michigan 1,371 8,225 1,926 Penn. St. Huff Hall Top-10 Wrestling Attendance1. 3,573 vs. Iowa (1/28/05)2. 2,048 vs. Northwestern (2/17/05)3. 2,037 vs. Minnesota (2/4/01)4. 1,669 vs. Minnesota (2/6/04)5. 1,623 vs. Purdue (2/17/00)6. 1,533 vs. Iowa (2/24/02)7. 1,512 vs. Marquette/SIUE (12/11/99)8. 1,397 vs. Purdue (2/22/04)9. 1,378 vs. Iowa (2/7/98)10. 1,264 vs. Ohio State (2/18/01)
