Wisconsin Wrestling Championships Moving too La Crosse Center in 2026
STEVENS POINT, WI – In a move driven by growth and the addition of new competitions, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) announced today a three-year agreement to relocate the state team wrestling tournament to the La crosse Center, beginning in March 2026. the decision comes as the sport expands to include a state girls team tournament in 2027, necessitating a larger venue than the current location at the University of Wisconsin Field House.
“Wiht 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,” explained WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser. “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.”
The change is a direct response to the WIAA board of Control’s June decision to increase qualifying teams in Divisions 2 and 3 to eight, mirroring Division 1. this expansion requires additional wrestling mats – six in total – beyond the four currently accommodated at the UW Field House. The addition of a dual-match format to determine the girls team champion in 2026-27 further solidifies the need for a larger space.
The La Crosse Center, built in 1980, offers a substantial 21,000 square feet of competition area, capable of hosting 8-10 wrestling mats. The venue boasts a seating capacity of 4,537 and includes built-in concession areas, alongside ample space for team warm-up and staging.
This isn’t the first time the La Crosse Center has hosted WIAA championship events. the facility successfully hosted the inaugural state girls individual wrestling tournament in 2022 and served as a venue for divisions 2, 4, and 5 of the state boys and girls basketball tournaments in 2021 as a COVID-19 mitigation strategy.The Center also has a long history of athletic events, including hosting the Bi-State Wrestling classic since 1982, and previously housed the La Crosse Catbirds (Continental Basketball Association) and the La crosse Spartans (Indoor Football League).
The WIAA anticipates a seamless transition to the La Crosse center, continuing to provide a high-quality championship experience for student-athletes, coaches, and spectators alike. The move underscores the growing popularity of wrestling in Wisconsin and the WIAA’s commitment to accommodating the sport’s continued expansion.
Keywords: Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, WIAA, wrestling, La Crosse Center, state tournament, high school sports, Wisconsin, girls wrestling, team wrestling, UW Field House, Stephanie Hauser.
