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Girls Wrestling Reaches New Heights at Mayo Civic Center
Section 1 and 2 tournaments see record participation, paving the way for girls wrestling's future in Minnesota
Published on Feb. 6, 2026
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The Section 1 and 2 girls wrestling tournaments held at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota on Friday saw a record number of competitors, just four years after the first MSHSL sanctioned girls section tournament. With nearly 240 wrestlers competing, the growth and excitement around girls wrestling was on full display as the sport continues to gain momentum and respect in the state.
Why it matters
The rapid expansion of girls wrestling in Minnesota, from just 75 competitors at the first sanctioned section tournament in 2022 to nearly 240 this year, highlights the sport's surging popularity and the strides being made to provide female athletes with equal opportunities. The move to host the section tournaments at the prestigious Mayo Civic Center, traditionally home to the boys' events, is a symbolic gesture of the respect and recognition girls wrestling is earning.
The details
Friday's tournaments in Sections 1 and 2 featured 133 and 104 competitors respectively, a far cry from the 75 total across all four sections just four years ago. Coaches and athletes alike marveled at the growth, with St. Charles coach Scott Kobs admitting he never envisioned the sport reaching these heights so quickly. The move to the larger Mayo Civic Center venue was necessitated by the increased participation, providing the girls wrestlers the same opportunity to compete in the renowned facility as their male counterparts.
- The first MSHSL sanctioned girls wrestling section tournaments were held in February 2022.
- On Friday, February 6, 2026, the Section 1 tournament had 133 competitors, while Section 2 had 104 athletes compete at the Mayo Civic Center.
The players
Scott Kobs
The St. Charles coach who expressed surprise at the rapid growth of girls wrestling in Minnesota.
Doug Vaith
The Lake City coach who emphasized the significance of the girls competing in the first section tournament at the Mayo Civic Center.
Hattie Mathre
A Byron standout and two-time state placer who highlighted the respect and recognition the girls are now receiving.
Lauren Elsmore
A Pine Island senior and 2024 state champion who expressed her excitement about competing at the prestigious Civic Center in her final year.
Savannah Vold
A Chatfield coach and 2018 Mayo High School graduate who took pride in being a pioneer for the sport's growth.
What they’re saying
“Give me a second to think, uh, no, heck no,”
— Scott Kobs, St. Charles coach (postbulletin.com)
“When we got done warming up, I sat our girls down, I said, 'Hey girls, take a look around here. You are a part of the very first ever section tournament at the Mayo Civic,'”
— Doug Vaith, Lake City coach (postbulletin.com)
“Being able to see all of the changes and things that are made really shows how much respect we're also gaining as females in the sport.”
— Hattie Mathre (postbulletin.com)
“I'm so happy because in my senior year, like, I never would have thought it would have been at the Civic Center. I'm so fortunate to be able to wrestle here. It feels kind of like the boys' section tournament.”
— Lauren Elsmore, Pine Island senior and 2024 state champion (postbulletin.com)
“It feels so good to be a pioneer for it and to just see how much it's grown since then. Looking on it now, it makes me proud.”
— Savannah Vold, Chatfield coach and 2018 Mayo High School graduate (postbulletin.com)
What’s next
The MSHSL is paving the way to sanction a girls state team tournament as early as next year, joining the likes of Wisconsin and Iowa. The Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association has also hosted a successful team state tournament for the last two years.
The takeaway
The rapid growth and increasing recognition of girls wrestling in Minnesota, exemplified by the record-breaking participation at the Section 1 and 2 tournaments held at the prestigious Mayo Civic Center, highlights the sport's surging popularity and the strides being made to provide female athletes with equal opportunities. This evolution is a testament to the dedication of coaches, athletes, and the broader community in championing the sport's development.
