Welcome to a one-of-a-kind opportunity to wrestle inside of an actual penitentiary!  Moundsville Penitentiary, in Moundsville WV, was built in 1866 and decommissioned in 1995.  This former state penitentiary now offers day tours, paranormal investigations, escape rooms, and a haunted house in October!

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The tournament will be held in the event center which is located in the courtyard inside the walls of the penitentiary.  Our first year we had over 600 wrestlers in attendance from all over the US and Canada! Last year we broke over 800 wrestlers from 10+ states around the country!  Register early to make sure you get your spot!

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Escape The Pen Open and Girls division Champions will receive a custom pair of handcuffs! Novice Champions and place winners receive custom handcuff medals!

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All attendees are eligible for a discounted penitentiary tour.  See below for details to plan your stay accordingly

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DATE & LOCATION

Wrestling will be held in the event center which is located in the courtyard inside the walls of the penitentiary on Saturday and Sunday May 17-18, 2025.  Enter through the North Gate off of 8th St.

Moundsville Penitentiary

818 Jefferson Ave

Moundsville, WV 26041

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Saturday 5/17 - Open Divisions

• Session 1 starts at 9:00 AM

  • Open 8U, Open 12U, Senior Men​

• Session 2 starts at 2:00 PM

  • Open 6U, Open 10U, High School​

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Sunday 5/18 -  15U, Novice & Girls Divisions

• Session 3 starts at 9:00 AM

  • NOVICE 5U, 7U, 9U, 11U, Open 15U​

• Session 4 starts at 2:00 PM

  • GIRLS 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 15U, HS, & Senior Women

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*Doors open at 7:00 AM both days

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REGISTRATION FEES AND DEADLINES​​

• $45 for online registrations until Friday May 16th at 11:00 AM

• $60 for WALK-INS if limit of 900 wrestlers not met (*will update website if full)

• $30 Double Bracket at weigh-ins (*ALL double bracketing will be handled at weigh-ins.  Double bracket must be in a different age/division) 

LAST DAY FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION IS FRIDAY, MAY 16th AT 11:00 AM

**WE WILL CLOSE ONLINE REGISTRATIONS PRIOR TO CUT OFF DATE/TIME IF REGISTRATIONS REACH 900 WRESTLERS**

*a $3.00 service charge added to each transaction for online registrations

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AGE, DIVISIONS & WEIGHT CLASSES

All divisions are Folkstyle

Age as of 12/31/2024

Grade as of 2024-25 School Year

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OPEN – Saturday 5/17 (Except for 15U)

• 6U (+1lb) - 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80 - Session 2 (Saturday)

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• 8U (+1lb) – 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 110 – Session 1 (Saturday)

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• 10U (+1lb) – 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 120, 160 – Session 2 (Saturday)

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• 12U (+1lb) – 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 115, 125, 135, 145, 160, 200​ – Session 1 (Saturday)

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• 15U - (+2lbs) – 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 122, 130, 138, 145, 155, 165, 185, 210, 250 – Session 3 (Sunday)

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• HIGH SCHOOL  (+3lbs) – 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, 285 – Session 2 (Saturday)

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• SENIOR - Graduated 2024 or earlier -  (+4lbs) – 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197,  220, 285 – Session 1 (Saturday)

 

NOVICE – Sunday, 5/18

*Must be in second year or less of wrestling to qualify*

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• 5U (+1lb) – 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 75 – Session 3 (Sunday)

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• 7U (+1lb) – 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 110 – Session 3 (Sunday)

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• 9U (+1lb)– 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 120, 150 - Session 3 (Sunday)

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• 11U (+1lb)– 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 120, 135, 150 - Session 3 (Sunday)

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GIRLS – Sunday, 5/18

• 6U (+1lb) – 40, 47, 55, 65, 80 – Session 4 (Sunday)

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• 8U (+1lb) – 45, 52, 58, 65, 73, 82, 95, 110 – Session 4 (Sunday)

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• 10U (+1lb) – 50, 58, 65, 73, 80, 92, 105, 120, 140 – Session 4 (Sunday)

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• 12U (+1lb) – 55, 64, 73, 80, 92, 101, 112, 125, 160 – Session 4 (Sunday)

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• 15U (+2lbs) – 75, 83, 92, 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 180, 210 –Session 4 (Sunday)

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• HIGH SCHOOL (+3lbs)– 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235 – Session 4 (Sunday)

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• WOMEN'S SENIOR - Graduated 2024 or earlier - Madison Weights - Session 4 (Sunday)

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PERIODS

• 5U, 6U, 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U & 11U (Open & Novice, Boys & Girls) – 1:00, 1:00, 1:00

• 12U & 15U (Boys & Girls) – 1:15, 1:15, 1:15

• HIGH SCHOOL (Boys & Girls) and SENIOR – 1:30, 1:30, 1:30​

• All divisions will have modified 1 minute overtime with 30 second ride out

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WEIGH-IN SCHEDULE (please note different location for Friday early weigh-in)
Friday, 5/16

• Early Weigh-in (Optional) - $20 per wrestler

  • 6:00pm-8:00pm

  • Location – Holiday Inn Express, 225 Teletech Drive, Moundsville, WV 26041

  • All divisions and sessions eligible

 

Saturday, 5/17

• 7:00am-8:00am (For Session 1)

• 12:00pm to 1:00pm (For Session 2)

  • ​Location – Event Facility at Moundsville Penitentiary

 

• Early Weigh-in for Sessions 3 & 4 (Optional) - $20 per wrestler

  • 5:00pm to 6:00pm

    • Location – Event Facility at Moundsville Penitentiary

 

Sunday, 5/18

• 7:00am to 8:00am (For Session 3)

• 12:00pm to 1:00pm (For Session 4)

  • Location – Event Facility at Moundsville Penitentiary

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HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS

We are very fortunate to work with local hotels to secure discounted room blocks.  There are only 2 hotels very close by.  The Holiday Inn is the host hotel and the closest to the venue.  They have been incredibly welcoming with BTC and have even decorated the lobby for our event.  A wonderful host hotel!! The Sleep Inn is approx 1.5 miles from the penitentiary and also a wonderful choice!

Through this link you are also able to hold a block of rooms for your team to ensure you are all together at the same hotel!  Once you create the block it will be held for 14 days and given a link to share with your friends, family and/or teammates. We recommend booking your rooms early!! You are able to enter and earn points with your rewards numbers with this booking link as well. 

 

 

 

 

AWARDS

• CUSTOM HANDCUFFS FOR OPEN AND GIRLS CHAMPIONS!

  • Custom medals for 1st-4th place

• Custom medals for 1st-4th place in the Novice Division​

• There will be a podium presentation for the top 4 place winners

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ADMISSION AND PARKING

Bag chairs recommended as no seating is provided.  We also have use of the courtyard so feel free to bring pop up canopies to set up outside in the grassy courtyard. The brackets for the tournament will be run on FLO ARENA so you can access them on your phone to see when your wrestler will be up.

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Only street parking is available - please plan accordingly.  ABSOLUTELY NO CARS PERMITTED INSIDE THE COURTYARD.  It is best to plan to drop off at the North Gate and then go park if needed.

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Tournament is held at the event center behind the penitentiary within the yard walls.  Enter through the North Gate off of 8th Street.

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We are only permitted in the courtyard and event center.  You may not enter the penitentiary unless on a guided tour.  We do not have access to any areas that are fenced/roped off.  Please monitor kids at all times!

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ADULTS - $15

2 Day Pass - $20

STUDENTS - $5

Ages 5 & Under - Free

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RULES

- Headgear optional
- College Out of Bounds
- Singlet not required at weigh-ins
- Modified scholastic rules used for all divisions. Tournament will be double elimination or round robin.
- Tournament Director reserves the right to combine weight classes upon need.
- All officials’ decisions are final
- No video reviews
- Any disrespectful conduct towards wrestlers, adults, staff, or officials will not be tolerated and can result in removal from the tournament

 

NO REFUNDS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF TOURNAMENT

Challenges:
- Anyone wishing to challenge the age or experience level of a wrestler must present physical proof prior to or during the tournament.
- Any wrestler found wrestling in a division that they are not eligible for, by age or experience level, will be removed from the tournament.
- Final decision is left to the discretion of the Tournament Director.

 

Please contact breakthechainswrestling@gmail.com with any questions

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PENITENTIARY TOUR DISCOUNT

Everyone who attends the tournament is eligible for a discount for the Penitentiary Tour! The tour runs on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-4pm.  You will need a discount coupon (only need 1 per family/group) that will be distributed at the tournament.  The coupons will also be distributed at the early weigh-ins on Friday night.  You must present the coupon from the tournament in order to receive the tour discount.  COUPONS CAN NOT BE REDEEMED OLIE. Tour groups are limited to 50 people per tour.

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Discounted tour rates:

Adults - $11+tax

Kids (6-16) - $10+tax

Kids 5 & under are free

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Be sure to check out the website of the historic Moundsville Penitentiary at www.wvpentours.com

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