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Youngstown Today
By the People, for the People
Youngstown Hosts Large Grade School Wrestling Tournament
Covelli Center welcomes over 1,400 young wrestlers from across Ohio for annual state championships
Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:20pm
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The Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio hosted the annual Ohio Grade School Wrestling State Championships this past weekend, welcoming over 1,400 young wrestlers from 200 teams across the state to compete on 12 mats for the chance to be crowned one of 64 individual champions. The event, organized by the Ohio Athletic Committee, aims to provide the young athletes with a professional-level experience, including walking out through a tunnel onto the arena floor.
Why it matters
The Ohio Grade School Wrestling State Championships is a long-running event that gives young wrestlers throughout the state an opportunity to compete on a big stage and experience the excitement of a major tournament. Hosting the event at the Covelli Center, a large arena normally used for professional sports and concerts, adds to the sense of occasion and prestige for the young athletes.
The details
The two-weekend tournament featured wrestlers ages 5-12 competing in seven different divisions. Wrestlers also competed as part of teams, with five team trophies awarded. Organizers say a lot of planning goes into the event, working with athletic directors, coaches, and facilities to coordinate the qualifying events that lead up to the state championships.
- The Ohio Grade School Wrestling State Championships took place over the last two weekends in March 2026.
- Next year, the event will be moved to February to shorten the overall wrestling season for the young athletes.
The players
Jared Opfer
Director of the Ohio Athletic Committee, the organization that runs the Ohio Grade School Wrestling State Championships.
Covelli Center
The large arena in Youngstown, Ohio that has hosted the state wrestling championships for over 20 years, providing the young athletes with a professional-level experience.
What they’re saying
“We have eight qualifiers for each weekend, so eight qualifiers meet into one state tournament, and so they're from every corner of the state. Bunch of clubs over to in our clubs each weekend, boys and girls. So it's exciting. Two weekends are a lot of people packing into Youngstown and having a good time.”
— Jared Opfer, Director, Ohio Athletic Committee
“You see the dads file on the kid with the camera through the tunnel, you know, taking pictures on the floor because it is a big time feel walking out in the arena.”
— Jared Opfer, Director, Ohio Athletic Committee
What’s next
Next year, the Ohio Grade School Wrestling State Championships will be moved to February, ending the overall wrestling season slightly earlier for the young athletes.
The takeaway
The Ohio Grade School Wrestling State Championships provides a unique opportunity for young wrestlers across the state to compete on a big stage and experience the excitement of a major tournament. Hosting the event at the Covelli Center adds to the sense of occasion and prestige for the athletes, helping to inspire the next generation of wrestling champions.
