Information & Registration

15th ANNUAL OHIO NOVICE STATE TOURNAMENT

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2026

Glass City Center | 401 Jefferson Avenue, Toledo, OH 43604

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Session 1: 9:00am - Boys 6U, 8U, 10U, Girls 10U, 12U

Session 2: Approx. 1:00pm - Boys 7U, 9U, 11/12, Girls 6U, 8U

Awards: 1st–6th place medals; custom Rudis award for champions.

REGISTRATION & FEES

Wrestler Entry: $55 - Register and pay online: OhioAthletics.com

Entry increases to $70 on November 29, 2026.
Registration closes December 13, 2026, at midnight OR when 1,200 paid wrestlers are reached, whichever comes first.
NO REFUNDS. Registration has closed early in previous years.

Admission: $15 per person; children 6 and under are free. Valid for both sessions.

Coaches Bands: $35. Required for all coaches and anyone sitting in a coach's chair. Includes admission to both sessions.

MATCH FORMAT & RULES

Modified OHSAA rules
Double elimination
Three 1-minute periods
12-point technical superiority
Certified officials
Headgear required
Maximum of 32 wrestlers per weight class

WEIGH-IN POLICY

Zero weight allowance.
No tournament-day weigh-ins.
Wrestlers who miss weight will move to the next weight class with available openings.
- Brackets will not have more than 32 wrestlers
Weigh-in locations will be posted at NoviceState.com.

WRESTLER ELIGIBILITY

Wrestlers MUST meet ALL requirements:

Ohio resident.
Three or fewer years of wrestling experience (third-year wrestlers are eligible).
No previous OAC State qualification. Current-season qualifications do not count.
- D1 exception: Returning OAC D1 qualifiers may compete if they did not place.
No returning Ohio Novice State finalist (1st or 2nd place), unless the bracket had 6 or fewer wrestlers.
No top-4 finish at a national tournament with more than 6 wrestlers in the bracket.
Must have a birth certificate copy available onsite for age challenges. Digital copies accepted.

GIRLS' ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Girls may compete in ONE division only.
No top-4 finish in any state or national tournament with more than 6 wrestlers in the bracket.
Current-season results do not count.
All other eligibility requirements apply.

CHALLENGES: $50 fee for age, weight, or novice-standing challenges. Must be submitted by the end of the wrestler's second bracket round. See NoviceState.com/FAQ.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

NO JUNIOR HIGH DIVISION FOR 2027. Due to the date change, seventh- and eighth-grade wrestlers are NOT eligible.

Website: www.NoviceState.com
Social Media: @OhioNoviceState
Email: OhioNoviceState@gmail.com

**Please note our divisions are not the same as other tournaments**

Boys Weight Classes & Divisions: ZERO weight allowance.

Boys 6U - Birth Year: 2020 and later

37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 57, 62, 75

Boys 7U - Birth Year: 2019

45, 50, 55, 58, 61, 65, 70, 85, 120

Boys 8U - Birth Year: 2018

45, 50, 55, 58, 61, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 120

Boys 9U - Birth Year - 2017

55, 60, 65, 68, 71, 75, 80, 85, 95, 110, 130, 150

Boys 10U - Birth Year: 2016

55, 60, 65, 68, 71, 75, 80, 85, 95, 110, 130, 160

Boys 12U - Birth Years: 2014-2015

68, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, 120, 120, 140, 160

Girls Weight Classes & Divisions: ZERO weight allowance.

Girls 6U - Birth Year: 2020 and later

37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 57, 62, 75

Girls 8U - Birth Years: 2018-2019

43, 49, 54 ,61, 68, 75, 85, 100, 115

Girls 10U - Birth Years: 2016-2017

50, 55, 60, 70, 75, 82, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130

Girls 12U - Birth Years: 2014-2015

72, 80, 86, 92, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 155, 170, 190, 235

Due to the date change we will not be having a Junior High Division for the 2027 Ohio Novice State. No 7th or 8th Graders are allowed to participate.

Weigh Ins: NO weigh ins day of the tournament and there is ZERO weight allowance.

Weigh in locations posted at www.NoviceState.com.

Check our FAQ for more weigh in questions and answers.

Contact: Websites: www.NoviceState.com Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter: Ohio Novice State

Please email questions to OhioNoviceState@gmail.com

For all other questions call Amy Mattin-Fleming

Tournament Director: Michael Mattin

CLICK HERE to Register

**Please note our divisions are not the same as other tournaments**