The Ohio Tournament of Champions (Ohio TofC) is now open for registration for it’s 13th annual event. Scheduled for April 23, 2005, at the Columbus Convention Center (Columbus, OH), the Tournament of Champions is considered by many to be the top amateur youth wrestling event in the country and is easily the largest one day amateur wrestling tournament in the world.
This past year, a record 3350 entries competed and this year’s event is expected to draw 3,500 entries, representing 30+ states. Competition will take place on 30 full-size mats (all under one roof) and in 93 age/weight categories. Each weight class is assigned to a specific mat, where they will compete the entire day, while individual match numbers are displayed on the mat side scoreboards.
Those competing in the Ohio TofC must first qualify into the tournament, in order to compete. This may be done in several manners - either by placing in the top 3 at an official Ohio TofC qualifier (go to
http://www.ohiotofc.com and click on qualifying event in the bottom right corner...then scroll down to the various state listings), or by one of the exempt qualifications listed below:
All former Tournament of Champions Champs
Top 8 @ 2003 or 2004 Tournament of Champions
Top 6 @ at any of the following national (or state) level events in the preceding 24 months:
* Fall Ohio Tournament of Champions (current season only)
* AAU Folkstyle Nationals
* USA Folkstyle Nationals
* AAU Freestyle Nationals
* USA Freestyle Nationals (Kids, Cadets or Juniors)
* National High School Coaches Association Folkstyle Nationals
* Tulsa Nationals
* Reno Worlds
* Mid Atlantic Eastern Nationals Finals
* Gene Mills Eastern Nationals
* All PJW State Qualifiers
* Ohio Youth League Finals (top 4)
* Illinois Kids Open (top 6)
* IKWF State Finals (top 3)
* Liberty Nationals (top 6)
* Mid Michigan (MMWA) Finals (top 3)
* Iowa AAU Kids State (top 6)
* South Dakota AAU Kids State (top 6)
* Missouri Challenge (top 6)
* Missouri AAU Kids State (top 6)
* Marshwood New England Youth Classic (top 6)
* Rocky Mountain Nationals (top 6)
All Ohio District & State H.S. qualifiers
Top 6 at the Ohio Junior High Districts (state qualifying events)
All Ohio Grade School State Qualifiers
Champion of any non qualifying event (youth, middle school/junior high, reserve or varsity level) during the months December, January, February or March of the current wrestling season. Note: Events conducted specifically for first year wrestlers are not valid qualifiers.
All Elite (1986-1988) Wrestlers (or Cadets that choose to wrestle Elite). Elite wrestlers must still be enrolled in high school.
All Cadet (1989-1990) wrestlers that live outside of Ohio.
Any Schoolboy (1991-1992) wrestler that lives outside of Ohio and is a member of his school's high school varsity team. Any High School varsity wrestler who wins at least 10 varsity level matches, during his current scholastic season.
Any High School wrestler who wins at least 15 matches, at any level, (varsity, reserve, freshman), during his current scholastic season.
Any Middle School wrestler who wins at least 13 matches during his current scholastic season.
Top 3 place finishers at any of the Tournament of Champions qualifying events.
To register, you need to go to
http://www.ohiotofc.com and click on registration on the left hand side. You will enter all of your information and print out an entry form/invoice to send in. This form will indicate what materials you need to send and where to send it.
It should be mentioned that the Ohio TofC often fills up and has to turn away wrestlers, so best advice is not to delay on sending in your materials, if you plan to attend. The anticipated date of closure is March 31, but that event could change, (either way), based on entries. This date will be updated on the site as well.
If you have any questions, you can contact: bart@ohiotofc.com
Bart Freidenberg
Ohio Tournament of Champions