USAWWomenHS_Youth

USA Wrestling’s Girls 16U and 14U Nationals Duals set for Westfield, Indiana, June 19-22, 2024

by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Logo for the USA Wrestling 16U and 14U National Duals

USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, has announced that its 2024 16U and 14U Girls National Dual Meet Championships will be held at Grand Park Event Center in Westfield, Indiana, June 19-22, 2024. The event will also return to the Grand Park Event Center in 2025.


The tournament features teams from USA Wrestling state associations from across the nation, competing in dual meets in the two Olympic styles, freestyle and Greco-Roman. It will include the 16U age group (athletes who are 15 and 16 years old) and the 14U age group (athletes who are 13 and 14 years old.)


This will be the first time that this combined competition has been held. The Girls 16U National Duals is a brand new event, making its debut in Westfield. The Girls 14U National Duals have been held since 2018, and was hosted alongside the Junior National Duals for boys and girls in Tulsa, Okla. from 2018-2023.  


The local organizers are the Hamilton County Sports Authority and the Indiana State Wrestling Association (ISWA), USA Wrestling’s state association in Indiana.


“USA Wrestling is excited to bring an exciting new event to Westfield for the next two years,” said Pete Isais, USA Wrestling National Events Director. “Girls wrestling is the fastest growing youth sport in our nation, and we are pleased to offer expanded opportunity for young female wrestlers. The ISWA has been a great partner in hosting major USA Wrestling events in the past. We can’t wait to work with the local community in Hamilton County, and to have our athletes compete in a first-class facility like the Grand Park Event Center.”


“The Indiana State Wrestling Association (ISWA) is honored to bring the USA Wrestling National Girls Duals to Indiana”, said ISWA President Pat Culp.  “Our state includes talented women in wrestling including World medalists Katie Downing Kriebel, Sarah Hildebrandt and Kayla Miracle.  Sarah is also a bronze medalist for the USA Olympic Team and Kayla is an Olympic Team member. Our high school program will reach 1,500 plus girls in wrestling this year.  Such amazing growth in the last 8-10 years for this sport. We look forward to hosting this prestigious event in 2024 and 2025.”


“This is a special opportunity for us to partner with USA Wrestling and host a rising sport that has such a rich talent pool in the state of Indiana,” said Hamilton County Sports Authority Director Carl Daniels. “We look forward to witnessing the passion and dedication these exceptional female athletes will bring to Hamilton County.”


The Grand Park Events Center has been a centerpiece to the 400+ acre Grand Park sports complex since the summer of 2016. This 377,000 square-food facility spans wider than the St. Louis Arch stands tall. The facility includes 3 full-size synthetic fields, 4 locker rooms, office and meeting space, a full-service cafeteria, and a sports pub. It also serves as the home for partners such as Indiana Soccer Association and Indiana Fire Academy. The facility has been used for a variety of sports competitions, including wrestling.


USA Wrestling previously held the 16U National Duals for Boys at the Grand Park Event Center in Westfield in 2021. Indiana has successfully hosted many other major USA Wrestling national and regional events in the state in the past.


The competition schedule, entry fees, spectator ticket prices and other event information will be announced at a later date.


GIRLS 16U NATIONAL DUALS (brand new event in 2024)


GIRLS 14U NATIONAL DUALS

2018 – Tulsa, Okla.

2019 – Tulsa, Okla.

2021 – Tulsa, Okla.

2022 – Tulsa, Okla.

2023 - Tulsa, Okla.