If you’ve ever walked into the Xcel Energy Center in late February, you know that smell. It’s a mix of floor wax, popcorn, and the faint, unmistakable scent of laundry detergent and sweat. It's the scent of the Minnesota state tournament wrestling season.
Honestly, most people who don't live in the Midwest think of wrestling as a niche sport. They’re wrong. In Minnesota, this isn't just a tournament; it’s a four-day pilgrimage. For many, it’s more important than the state hockey tournament. Seriously. While the hockey hair gets the viral tweets, the wrestling mats in St. Paul are where some of the most insane athletic stories in the country actually happen.
The 2026 MSHSL state wrestling tournament is set to take over Grand Casino Arena (the local name for the X' during MSHSL events) from February 25 to February 28. If you’re planning to head down, you’re looking at a crowd that often tops 50,000 people over the course of the weekend. Last year, the three-day attendance hit 58,283. That’s not a typo. It’s a packed house of folks in carhartt jackets and school spirit hoodies, all screaming for a kid from a town of 400 people just as loudly as they do for the big AAA powerhouses.
The Chaos of the Mats: Understanding the Format
People who aren't familiar with the Minnesota state tournament wrestling setup usually get confused by the sheer volume of matches. Imagine eight mats all running at the same time. Whistles are blowing every ten seconds. Referees are hitting the mat. It’s sensory overload.
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Basically, the tournament is split into three classes—A, AA, and AAA—based on school size. But here’s the kicker: just because a kid is in Class A doesn't mean they aren't elite. Some of the nastiest wrestlers in state history came out of tiny schools like Frazee or Kenyon-Wanamingo.
The schedule usually breaks down like this:
The first day is almost always about the teams. We’re talking dual meets. It’s the ultimate "us against them" vibe. Watching a powerhouse like St. Michael-Albertville (STMA) or Simley try to dismantle a section rival is pure drama. In 2025, STMA took home the Class AAA team title again, proving that their factory of talent isn't slowing down.
Then comes the individual tournament. This is where the legends are made. You’ve got 14 weight classes per division, and every single bracket is a minefield. One bad sprawl or a slipped headlock and your dreams are done. No second chances in the championship bracket. It’s brutal, and that’s why we love it.
The Rise of the Girls Division
We have to talk about how the girls' division has completely changed the energy in the building. A few years ago, it was a side note. Now? It’s a main event.
Last year, we saw some absolute history. Charli Raymond from Simley secured her fourth title. Think about that for a second. Winning four state titles as a high schooler is statistically nearly impossible. It requires a level of consistency and health that most pro athletes can't maintain.
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And she wasn't alone. The Northfield duo of Caley Graber and Ella Pagel dominated the podium again. These aren't just "good for the girls' division" wrestlers; these are some of the most technical, aggressive athletes in the entire building, regardless of gender.
Why the 2026 Brackets Will Be Insane
If you’re looking ahead to the Minnesota state tournament wrestling matches in 2026, keep your eyes on the rankings. Names like Trey Beissel from Hastings and Gage Bjerga from Staples-Motley are already popping up on national radars. Beissel, a Minnesota commit, is currently ranked #17 in the country at 132 lbs by FloWrestling. Bjerga is right behind him at #20.
These kids aren't just wrestling for a plastic trophy. They’re wrestling for scholarships and a spot in the history books alongside names like Gable Steveson and the Sanders brothers.
But what most people get wrong is thinking the favorites always win. Every year, some unranked senior from a random section in northern Minnesota goes on a "Cinderella" run. They'll beat the #1 seed in the quarterfinals with a late-period reversal, and the whole arena will erupt. It’s the kind of stuff that makes grown men cry in the stands.
Small Town Pride vs. Big School Dominance
The geography of Minnesota wrestling is fascinating. You have the "Wrestling Factories."
Simley.
Apple Valley (historically).
Kasson-Mantorville.
STMA.
These programs are built different. They have youth programs that start kids when they can barely walk. By the time they hit the Xcel Energy Center, they’ve wrestled 500 matches.
But then you have the Class A schools. Towns like Jackson County Central or Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. For these communities, the state tournament is basically a local holiday. They’ll bring five charter buses to St. Paul. They’ll take over a whole block of hotels. When a JCC wrestler gets a pin, you can hear the roar all the way at the Mall of America. Sorta.
Actionable Tips for Attending the Tournament
If you’re actually going to show up this year, don't be a rookie. Here is how you handle the weekend without losing your mind:
- Buy tickets early: The MSHSL moved to digital tickets a while ago. Don't show up at the box office expecting a paper stub. Use the official MSHSL app.
- The "Guillotine" is your Bible: If you want to know who’s who, check The Guillotine. It’s the definitive source for MN wrestling rankings. If a kid is ranked there, they’re the real deal.
- Park at the Seven Corners: Or somewhere further out and walk. The ramps right next to the Xcel will charge you $30+ and take two hours to exit.
- Watch the Warm-ups: The intensity in the tunnels and the warm-up areas is sometimes better than the matches themselves. You see the focus, the weight-cutting exhaustion, and the coaches' last-minute pep talks.
- Stay for the Finals: The "Parade of Champions" is one of the coolest sights in sports. Every finalist walks out under the spotlights. The lights go down, the music starts, and you realize these are just kids under all that pressure.
The Minnesota state tournament wrestling experience is about more than just points on a scoreboard. It’s about the kid who spent all winter running in a plastic suit to make weight. It’s about the dad who hasn't missed a tournament since 1984.
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Limitations? Sure, the venue is crowded and the food is overpriced. Sometimes the officiating is questionable—ask any coach in Section 1 and they'll give you an earful. But when that final whistle blows on Saturday night and a new champion is crowned, none of that matters.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure you're tracking the section tournaments in mid-February. That's where the real heartbreaks happen—the kids who are ranked top-5 in state but lose in the "true second" match and never even get to step foot on the Xcel mats. That is the reality of Minnesota wrestling. It's beautiful, it's mean, and it's the best show in town.
For the most up-to-date brackets as we approach February 25, keep an eye on the MSHSL official tournament portal. Start looking at the Section 4AAA and 1AA results first; those are usually the "sections of death" that determine who the real podium threats will be.