(IHSAA) BOONE, Iowa – With COVID-19 precautions and attendance restrictions in place, the IHSAA Board of Control determined Thursday to conduct the 2021 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships as currently scheduled at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The state dual team tournament (Wednesday) and state traditional tournament (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) remain planned to run in their usual sessions and formats from February 17-20. Competition and spectator guidelines for these IHSAA events will continue to follow the most updated proclamations and guidance with state and local government officials, and Iowa Events Center.

“The IHSAA is grateful to all those who have worked to make this wrestling season possible,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said. “The board feels strongly that the traditional schedule can be safely completed for the largest possible competition and audience at each day of the 2021 IHSAA State Wrestling Championships.”

Social distancing requirements and COVID-19 related safety precautions will limit spectator capacity, create reserved seating blocks, and change participant procedures at Wells Fargo Arena. The IHSAA State Wrestling Championships average more than 75,000 attendees across all sessions annually, but capacity will currently allow for less than 4,000 tickets per session this year.

The traditional tournament features 672 individual qualifiers from more than 200 member school wrestling programs. The dual team tournament qualifies eight teams per classification and has been contested on the day before the traditional tournament since moving to Wells Fargo Arena in 2012.

Ticketing information for each date will be announced by the IHSAA and Iowa Events Center as it becomes available. Participating member schools will be contacted first for purchasing options.

Due to restricted capacity and to offer participating wrestlers an opportunity to remain at the event, ticket prices have been increased to $15 per session (dual team tournament, traditional tournament sessions 1-7) and $20 for the traditional tournament finals (session 8).

Cheerleaders will be unable to attend the state traditional tournament as event performers due to space limitations.

Further details on attendance and entry for member schools, credentialed media, and event personnel will be announced as they become available.