About Tournaments
Wrestlers wanting extra matches can attend tournaments virtually any weekend throughout the season, and often during the remainder of the year. The Raiders generally have some wrestlers attending tournaments every weekend throughout the season, and following our regular season into the summer. Check out the tournament listings for a schedule.

Open or Novice?
There are "open" tournaments which do not restrict the experience level of participants and "novice" tournaments which do place some kind of restriction on experience. The definition of a novice may vary widely, so be sure to check the tournament registration form to verify a wrestler's eligibility.

Open tournaments are generally not recommended for IM wrestlers. Some IM wrestlers who qualify for a Pee Wee division may do well in "open" tournaments where there is a Pee Wee (or Tot) division, since very few Pee Wee wrestler (5-6 years old) will have much experience at all. IM wrestlers should seek out "novice" tournaments as they will be matched with wrestlers with similar experience. All tournaments group their divisions by age group and weight class, so your child will always wrestle someone of comparable weight and age.

Top 100 tournaments?
These tournaments are open events that draw the very best compitition from all over. These events are not for IM wrestlers, but all JV and Varsity wrestlers are encouraged to enter these events to face the best compitition in their respective age and weight classes.

Weight Class
A weight class determines the maximum weight a child can weigh to participate a particular weight class. So if there are 80 and 85 pound weight classes and your child weighs 83, he would participate in the 85 pound weight class. It is generally beneficial to wrestle at the lowest weight class your child can comfortably make in a tournament. So if your child weighs 80.5 and has to weigh in for a tournament and can make 80 pounds by postponing dinner until after weigh ins, that would be a good idea.

Most tournaments do not allow weight class changes after registration, so if you are uncertain whether your child can make the maximum weight, register him for the higher weight class. For example, if your child weighs 81 and there are 80 and 85 lb weight classes, but you know your child will not be able to make 80 pounds, register him at 85. If you have any questions, please consult a coach.

contact:
Tournament Director Jim Senderling