After 19 years in Madison, the state team wrestling tournament is headed to Lacrosse as the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association announced a three-year agreement with the La Crosse Center, effective in March 2026.
The move is in efforts to support the rapid growth wrestling has seen in the state over the past few years, with the first ever all-girls state team wrestling tournament making its debut in 2027.
“With the expansion of the state team wrestling tournament format this year and the advent of the state girls team tournament in 2027, this event has actually outgrown the UW Field House’s floor space and warm-up areas,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said. “The UW staff has created a welcoming environment for this tournament for 19 years. We are very grateful for nearly two decades of hospitality and look forward to continuing to host the Individual Championships on UW’s campus at the Kohl Center.
“We are excited to continue to provide the outstanding championship experience for the student-athletes, coaches and spectators with the move to the La Crosse Center.”
The WIAA Board of Control approved expansion increasing qualifying teams in June. The move allows Division 2 and Division 3 to now send an equal number of qualifying teams into the tournament, bringing the total to eight qualifiers across the three divisions.
The venue, built in 1980, allows the tournament to support the additional mats needed to support the influx of athletes. The UW Field House, where the tournament was formally held, was limited to only four mats.
In 2022, the La Crosse Center hosted the first-ever State girls individual wrestling tournament and the previous season hosted Divisions 2, 4 and 5’s boys and girls state basketball tournaments.
“The Wisconsin Wrestling Association (WWA) is extremely pleased with the forward thinking and commitment to advancing wrestling in the great state of Wisconsin,” WWA President Chris Hansen said. “The team state tournament will undoubtedly flourish at the La Crosse Center as the arena has proved wrestling friendly for many years. We thank the WIAA for their collaborative approach in all of these significant improvements to our sport.”
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at alfred.smith@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: WIAA relocates state team wrestling tournament after 19 seasons; expands competition
Reporting by Alfred Smith III, Wausau Daily Herald / Wausau Daily Herald
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