There are currently 2 Youth Wrestling State Championship Tournaments offered in Pennsylvania.  Wrestlers must participate in the area or regional qualifier and place accordingly in order to advance to the state championships.  These are highly competitive open tournaments that attract the best wrestlers in our area.  There are no novice divisions.  Thunder coaches are often present at these tournaments and are always happy to coach our kids.  However, due to the large size and fast paced nature of these events, you are not guaranteed to have a Thunder coach matside.  Don’t worry though, there are usually plenty of coaches around who are happy to fill in in a pinch.  Here is what you need to know:

1.  Keystone State Championships
   1. Website:  HOME | Keystone State Champ
   2. Keystone State Eastern Region Qualifier: February 24-25, 2024 at Spooky Nook in Manheim, Pa.  The top 6 boys in each bracket advance. 
   3. Keystone State Championship: March 15-17, 2024 at Santander Arena in Reading, Pa.
   4. Girls Keystone States:  Open Registration, no qualification required.  There is a girls division at the Eastern Region Tournament, but it is not considered a qualifier.

1. Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling (PJW) State Championships
   1. Website: Home (pajwyouthstates.com)
   2. Downingtown Thunder is in Area XI:  PJW Area XI | PAJW
   3. PJW has a Junior High and a Youth Tournament
      1. Junior High Qualifier is Feb 4th.  The top 4 boys and 2 girls from each weight class advance.
      2. Youth Area XI Qualifier:  March 10th, 2024 at the Exton Square Mall.  The top 3 boys and 2 girls from each age/weight class advance.
   4. PJW Youth State Championship: March 23-24, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pa

Opportunities for Novice Wrestlers

Novice Wrestlers:  First and Second Year Wrestlers

Super Novice Wrestlers: Third Year Wrestlers

There are several great opportunities for Novice Wrestlers to compete in the post season as well.  The Pennsylvania Youth Wrestling website (Pennsylvania Youth Wrestling (pywrestling.com)) is a great resource to “shop” around for tournaments that are best suited for your wrestler.  Here are some things to consider when reading through the various options:

1. Round Robins:  If you’re looking to get mat time, round robins are a great choice.  Wrestlers are placed into groups of 4-6 and wrestle each other.  Awards are often given, and no wrestler is eliminated from competition.  Keep in mind, if your child is in a bracket of 6, he or she will have 5 matches in one day.