A Parent’s Guide to the Wrestling Season Calendar

If your child is new to wrestling, one of your first questions might be:

“When does youth wrestling season start?”

Like other organized sports, wrestling follows a structured calendar that varies slightly depending on age, location, and whether your child competes through school or a local club. Understanding the seasonal flow will help your family plan for practices, tournaments, travel, and time commitments.

Let’s break down the wrestling calendar by school level, and introduce offseason options that can help your athlete grow.

When Does High School Wrestling Season Start and End?

In most states, high school wrestling is a winter sport, officially starting in early November and ending by late February or early March with the state championships. These timelines are set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Example: In Texas (UIL), official practice begins November 6, and the state finals take place in late February. Source: NFHS Wrestling Rules, 2025

The high school season includes:

• Early November: Team practices begin

• Late November to December: Dual meets and weekend tournaments start

• January–February: Regional and district tournaments

• February–March: State championship events

Preseason training (such as open mats or optional clubs) may begin as early as September or October, especially in competitive states.

How Long Is the Middle School Wrestling Season?

Middle school wrestling seasons vary more by district, but most begin 2–3 weeks after the high school season. They typically run for 8 to 10 weeks, starting in late November or early December and ending by late January or early February.

• Middle school wrestling focuses more on skill development and participation than intense competition.

• Tournaments are often round-robin style, so all wrestlers get multiple matches, regardless of wins or losses.

• Regional or conference tournaments may be offered but are usually non-qualifying.

This makes the middle school season more beginner-friendly and a great entry point into the sport.

The Role of Offseason Wrestling: Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Camps

Wondering if wrestling ends after the winter season? Not quite.

Thanks to USA Wrestling, many kids stay active in the offseason through freestyle and Greco-Roman styles. This spring/summer season typically runs from March through July and includes:

• Local and national freestyle/Greco tournaments

• Spring/summer wrestling clinics

• Intensive technique-based training camps

• Club practices focused on Olympic-style wrestling

Benefits of Freestyle & Greco:

✅ Improved mat awareness and body control

✅ More diverse offensive strategies

✅ A mental reset from folkstyle repetition

Source: USA Wrestling National Events Calendar, 2025

Offseason participation has been shown to significantly increase a wrestler’s skill level, especially for those pursuing college wrestling opportunities.

Is Year-Round Wrestling Safe and Effective for Kids?

Yes, when done correctly. Training beyond the traditional folkstyle season can enhance your child’s performance and reduce risk of burnout when balanced with rest and variety.

A 2019 study by the NCAA Sport Science Institute found that multi-style and multi-season wrestlers had:

• Better technical skills

• Fewer injuries

• Higher long-term retention

Additionally, a 2016 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found:

• Year-round wrestlers improved VO2 max by 10–15%

• Notable gains in grip strength and mental resilience

These gains help athletes stay competitive and healthy as they progress through high school and beyond.

Expert Insight on Year-Round Wrestling

“Wrestling is no longer a three-month sport. The kids who grow the most are the ones staying active in the spring and summer, whether that’s through freestyle, Greco, or simply hitting camps.”— Cary Kolat, 2x NCAA D1 Champion & Olympic Gold Medalist Wrestler

Starting slow is okay — your child doesn’t need to dive into year-round training immediately. Let them enjoy the school season, build confidence, and fall in love with the sport before exploring advanced training opportunities.

Planning Your Wrestler’s Year with Confidence

Now that you know when wrestling season starts and ends — and how to navigate offseason options — you’re better equipped to support your athlete through every phase of their journey.

To recap:

• High school wrestling: November to March

• Middle school wrestling: Late November to early February

• Offseason (USA Wrestling): March to July

• Optional Preseason: September–October (in some areas)

Whether your child wants to wrestle for fun, fitness, or a future scholarship, understanding the full calendar helps you make the most of every opportunity.

Wrestling isn’t just a sport. It’s a discipline that teaches grit, self-control, and confidence...and now, you're ready to help guide your child through their first season and beyond.

State-by-State High School Wrestling Calendar (2025 Season Overview)

State	Practice Starts	First Competition	State Championships	Notes
Alabama (AHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Traditional season timeline
Alaska (ASAA)	Late Oct	Mid Nov	Early Dec	One of the earliest state tournaments
Arizona (AIA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	3–4 divisions by school size
Arkansas (AAA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Mid Feb	Shorter competition window
California (CIF)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Ends with CIF State Championships
Colorado (CHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Late Feb	CHSAA hosts 4 classifications
Connecticut (CIAC)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Early Mar	Includes State Open after Class Champs
Delaware (DIAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Late Feb	Single state championship division
Florida (FHSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Early Mar	Ends later than most states
Georgia (GHSA)	Late Oct	Mid Nov	Mid Feb	Duals and Traditional Championships
Hawaii (HHSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	May include outer island regionals
Idaho (IHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Late Feb	Multiple state tournament sites
Illinois (IHSA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Ends with dual and individual state
Indiana (IHSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Mid Feb	Single-class system statewide
Iowa (IGHSAU/IAHSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Mid Feb	Girls’ state added recently
Kansas (KSHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Often wraps before end of Feb
Kentucky (KHSAA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Follows NFHS winter model
Louisiana (LHSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Mid Feb	3 divisions based on size
Maine (MPA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Includes regional qualifying tournaments
Maryland (MPSSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Mid Mar	One of the latest-ending states
Massachusetts (MIAA)	Late Nov	Mid Dec	Late Feb	Includes Sectionals and States
Michigan (MHSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Early Mar	Duals and Individual tournaments
Minnesota (MSHSL)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Strong wrestling culture
Mississippi (MHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Early Feb	One of the shorter seasons
Missouri (MSHSAA)	Late Oct	Mid Nov	Mid Feb	Multiple class championships
Montana (MHSA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Growing girls’ participation
Nebraska (NSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Hosts State Duals & Individual
Nevada (NIAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Ends before basketball playoffs
New Hampshire (NHIAA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Class & Meet of Champions structure
New Jersey (NJSIAA)	Late Nov	Mid Dec	Early Mar	Includes regionals and AC finals
New Mexico (NMAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	3 classifications
New York (NYSPHSAA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Includes Eastern States Classic
North Carolina (NCHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Duals + Individual championships
North Dakota (NDHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Strong wrestling heritage
Ohio (OHSAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Early Mar	Includes Sectionals, Districts, States
Oklahoma (OSSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	6A to 3A classification
Oregon (OSAA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Hosts traditional & dual meets
Pennsylvania (PIAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Early Mar	Ends with Hershey State Finals
Rhode Island (RIIL)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Single-division system
South Carolina (SCHSL)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Mid Feb	Regionals feed into state brackets
South Dakota (SDHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Combined boys & girls events
Tennessee (TSSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Mid Feb	Traditional and dual tournaments
Texas (UIL)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Late Feb	UIL governs public school wrestling
Utah (UHSAA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	6A to 1A classification
Vermont (VPA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Mid Feb	One of the smaller wrestling states
Virginia (VHSL)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Strong private school competition, too
Washington (WIAA)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Mat Classic state tournament
West Virginia (WVSSAC)	Mid Nov	Early Dec	Mid Feb	Consistent winter sport schedule
Wisconsin (WIAA)	Early Nov	Early Dec	Late Feb	Ends with State at Kohl Center
Wyoming (WHSAA)	Early Nov	Late Nov	Late Feb	Boys and girls run together

⚠️ Note: Always check your official state association’s calendar for the current year. Specific dates may vary slightly due to holidays or scheduling shifts.

About the Author: Ivan McClay and Keep Kids Wrestling

Ivan McClay is a former national wrestling champion, college coach, and the founder of Keep Kids Wrestling (KKW), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth wrestlers, parents, and coaches through events, education, and resources. Ivan coached at both Ohio Northern University and Notre Dame College, where he helped bring ONU into the national rankings and recruited the top incoming class in NCAA Division II wrestling Season. His leadership has also extended beyond the college mat, he’s helped gyms across the country like Donahue Wrestling Academy, Ground Zero MMA, Premier Martial Arts, and 512 Outlaw Wrestling rediscover their passion for the sport. With a heart for developing character through wrestling, Ivan launched KKW to fight harmful stereotypes in youth sports and to build a strong support system for wrestling families. From Parent’s Night Out events to technique camps and printable resources, Ivan’s mission is to keep kids inspired, parents involved, and the sport of wrestling thriving for the next generation.