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6th ANNUAL
PA NOVICE STATE TOURNAMENT
FEBRUARY 21, 2026
C3 SPORTS & EVENTS CENTER

THE PA NOVICE STATE TOURNAMENT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE YOUNG WRESTLERS A CHANCE TO GAIN EXPERIENCE BY TESTING THEIR SKILLS IN BIGGER, MORE COMPETITIVE BRACKETS, AGAINST OTHER WRESTLERS OF THE SAME EXPERIENCE LEVEL FROM AROUND THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.  THIS IS NOT A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!  WRESTLERS SHOULD USE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS A BUILDING BLOCK TOWARDS COMPETING IN FUTURE STATE TOURNAMENTS BY SETTING AND WORKING TOWARDS THEIR GOALS.

WHERE:               

C3 Sports and Event Center

200 Ellis Place, State College, PA 16801

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WHEN:

Saturday, February 21, 2026

 

SESSIONS:                 

Session 1 – 9:00 am start  – All Novice Divisions

Session 2 – 2:00 pm start – All First Year Divisions

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Doors open at 7:00 am

 

 

Registration:

  • Online Registration - $45 by Friday, February, 20th at 11:00 am 

  • Walk-ins - $60

  • ​Double bracketing - $30   done at scales not online 

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ANY CHANGES TO WRESTLER'S NAME, WEIGHT CLASS, DIVISION, DOUBLE BRAKETING, ETC. CAN BE HANDLED AT THE SCALES ON THE DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT

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QUALIFICATIONS: 

To be qualified, a wrestler MUST meet ALL requirements:

  1. Must be a Pennsylvania Resident

  2. Wrestler must have two (2) years or less experience competing.  This can be their second year of competing.  Years as a practice-room wrestler with no competitions do not count.

  3. Wrestlers must be in their 1st year of wrestling to compete in 1st year division

  4. No Keystone or PJW Boys Division State Medalists

  5. Keystone's Future Stars place winners (6U division) are eligible as long as they meet the other qualifications listed here.

  6. All wrestlers MUST have a COPY of their Birth Certificate on-site in the event of an age challenge

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WEIGHT CLASSES AND DIVISIONS:

NO WEIGHT ALLOWANCE! - FLAT WEIGHT!

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Boys Novice - Session 1: (Age as of 12/31/25)

NO WEIGHT ALLOWANCE!

  • ​​6U - 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80 

  • 8U - 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 75, 85, 90, 110

  • 10U - 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 120, 150

  • ​12U - 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 115, 140, 160

                       

Girls Novice - Session 1: (Age as of 12/31/25)

NO WEIGHT ALLOWANCE!

  • ​6U - 40, 45, 50, 55, 65

  • 8U - 45, 51, 57, 63, 69, 76, 83, 90, 105

  • 10U - 56, 63, 70, 78, 86, 94, 102, 110, 125

  • 12U - 60, 66, 72, 78, 84, 92, 100, 108, 116, 125, 145

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Boys First Year - Session 2: (Age as of 12/31/25)

NO WEIGHT ALLOWANCE!

  • ​5U - 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 75

  • ​7U - 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 75, 85, 110

  • ​9U - 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 115, 130

  • ​11U - 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 110, 130, 150

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Girls First Year - Session 2: (Age as of 12/31/25)

NO WEIGHT ALLOWANCE!

  • ​5U - 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 75

  • ​7U - 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 75, 85, 110

  • ​9U - 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 115, 130

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MATCHES:                

Modified PIAA rules:

  • Three - 1 minute periods with modified overtime

  • Double Elimination OR Round Robin

  • 15 pt. technical fall

  • Certified Officials

 

Weigh-ins:

**Please note - there is NO weight allowance for this tournament.  This is not meant to be punitive but to prepare wrestlers for state tournaments where exact weight is required.  If they miss weight, we will gladly bump up to next weight class**

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Early Weigh-Ins: (optional)

  • Friday 2/20

    • 6:00-8:00 pm – Cost: $20 per wrestler

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 Regular Weigh-Ins:

  • Saturday 2/21

    • Session 1 (All Novice Divisions)

      • 7:00-8:00 am 

    • Session 2 (All First Year Divisions)

      • 12:00-1:00 pm

HOTELS:

​This is a STAY-TO-SAVE TOURNAMENT - All non-commuting participants in the tournament are encouraged to book their hotel accommodations through this site. We appreciate your support as these partnered hotels assist in supporting our event. We do the work for you to contract the lowest rates available!  And you can still earn your hotel loyalty rewards!

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You also have the ability to save a block of rooms for your friends, family or teammates to ensure you are all staying in the same hotel! 

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Please note you must use the reservation link below to receive the group discounted rate or to make reservations within your team block:

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AWARDS:       

Medals for top 4 place winners in all divisions

                                   

 

ADMISSION:

  • $15 per person

  • $5 for students (High School and below)

  • 5 & Under are Free

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No chairs provided.  Limited bleachers available.  Bag chairs encouraged.

 

NO coolers or outside food permitted per facility rules!! Concession available all day.

 

 

RULES:

  • Headgear Optional (but highly recommended)

  • Singlets not required for weigh in

  • 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

 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 email any questions to panovicestates@gmail.com

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