Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) to partner with USA Bracketing for high school wrestling event and weight management

USA Wrestling and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) have partnered for the use of USA Bracketing for all event, results, statistics and weight management beginning with the 2025-26 wrestling season.

With the partnership, all regional, sectional and State Tournament events in Wisconsin will utilize USA Bracketing while WIAA State Tournaments will continue to stream on WIAA.TV of the NFHS Network. Additionally, all school-hosted dual meets and tournaments will be able to utilize the software at no additional cost for the school/host with the ability to stream to multiple providers with fully integrated graphics.

USA Bracketing will allow for event hosts to include multiple levels (varsity and junior varsity) of competition, while simultaneously running individual and dual meet competition in one single event.

The WIAA has a history of being a leader in high school wrestling safety and incorporation of technology, as it was the first state to adopt a 7% minimum body fat for the 1991-92 wrestling season, one of the first to utilize online event management for its Tournament Series, and most-recently piloted a head, neck and cervical (HNC) injury protocol that was approved by the NFHS for other states to follow.

“We are excited to partner with a wrestling tournament management software system that offers a wide range of services at no cost to members for their regular-season and tournament events,” said Mel Dow, WIAA associate director and wrestling administrator. “This is an opportunity to partner with an organization and individuals that have roots in the Wisconsin wrestling community.”

Weight management includes weight assessments, descent plans and roster management that will adhere to the WIAA’s Wrestling Weight Management Plan (to include minimum body fat percentage by gender).

“USA Wrestling is pleased to partner with the WIAA as it moves forward with our USA Bracketing event management software to enhance its high school wrestling organization and operations. USA Bracketing is designed to handle all of the technology needs for state associations, and our partnership with the WIAA will help both organizations to take its programs to the next level. We thank the WIAA for their decision to work with us and look forward to great success in the future,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director.

The WIAA becomes the first state high school association to select USA Bracketing to manage its overall wrestling program and utilize its state-of-the-art technology.

USA Bracketing, the event management software developed by USA Wrestling, serves as the event management software for all USA Wrestling regional and national events. Additionally, USA Bracketing has been utilized by over 1,000 events since launching on Jan. 1, 2025.

The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a private, voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 514 senior high schools and 36 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.