Reno Tournament of Champions
Dubbed as the "Toughest Tournament in the USA", the RTOC brings in some of the toughest high school and collegiate wrestlers in the country to compete for individual and team titles. High school wrestlers compete for a chance at High School All American status and collegiate wrestlers are looking for bragging rights.
How it All Started
The Reno Tournament of Champions and College Invitational was created by a group of wrestling enthusiasts during the summer of 1994 who wanted to establish a tournament unlike any other–this “Toughest Tournament in the USA” would bring together the best of the best to raise funds for youth sports programs.
The tournament founders, all former wrestlers, envisioned the event as a true state-by-state high school national championship along with a four-way college dual featuring the best programs in the country. This combined tournament would not only be a great event for competitive wrestling but promised to be exciting enough to build a whole new fan base for this great sport.
The First Tournament
After a year and a half of planning, the first tournament took place in January 1996 in Reno, Nevada and featured 32 of the best high school teams in the nation-possibly the first time ranked teams from both coasts ever competed in a tournament.
Fierce competition made every round tough with the semi-finals and the finals reaching new competitive heights for high school wrestlers. To this day, this first tournament is considered to be the best high school wrestling tournament ever.
A Few Tournaments Later…
Officiated by only the best officials from across the nation, the high school event has grown over the last six years from 32 teams to 84. Even though we have added a considerable number of teams to the event, it is still considered to be the best high school event in the nation.
The college part of the tournament has grown from a four-way college dual with teams like Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Central Michigan and several other top ten teams to a 16-team invitational. The finals of each of the college tournaments have often featured the same wrestlers who would eventually square off in the finals of the NCAA National Championships. In the last two years, we have seen four double overtimes at each tournament providing the spectators and college athletes alike with an opportunity to see college wrestling at its toughest level.
Every wrestler in the tournament feels as if they are wrestling in a national championship event. We honor six placers with the first three having the honor of being named as an “All American.” Designed by Jostens, Our awards and Outstanding Wrestler rings are of the finest quality and craftsmanship and go to those who are honored as the Toughest Wrestlers in the USA.
FAQs
The Reno Tournament of Champions and College Invitational was created by a group of wrestling enthusiasts during the summer of 1994 who wanted to establish a tournament unlike any other–this “Toughest Tournament in the USA” would bring together the best of the best to raise funds for youth sports programs.
What is the hardest youth wrestling tournament? ›
Dubbed as the "Toughest Tournament in the USA", the RTOC brings in some of the toughest high school and collegiate wrestlers in the country to compete for individual and team titles.
Where is the Reno Tournament of Champions? ›
18 Oklahoma wrestling hits the road for the final time before the holiday break, as the Sooners travel to face a competitive field at the 2023 Reno Tournament of Champions on Sunday inside the Reno Events Center.
What is Nuway wrestling? ›
The nation's leading youth sports combat tournament company, featuring Wrestling, Jiu jitsu, Judo, Arm Wrestling, Youth MMA and American Boxing. With tournaments in 10+ states across all age groups, there's a NUWAY event for everyone.
What is the largest youth wrestling tournament? ›
FARGO, N.D. - Every year, the nation's best young wrestlers come together for the world's largest wrestling competition, the 2023 U.S Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D.
Is wrestling the hardest HS sport? ›
Wrestling is considered one of the most physically demanding sports among high school and college athletics and, as such, has a proportionate number of injuries.
What does MFF mean in wrestling? ›
Medical Forfeit- This usually occurs in a tournament when a wrestler is injured in a previous match. If they cannot take the mat in the following match, it's deemed a medical forfeit.
What does IBT stand for in wrestling? ›
– Partnering with Kissimmee Sports for the ninth year in a row, the 2023 Florida High School Individual Bracketed Tournament (IBT) Wrestling State Championships are slated to take place this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (March 2nd- 4th) at Kissimmee's Osceola Heritage Park's - Silver Spurs Arena.
What does MWC mean in wrestling? ›
Minimum Weight Class Certification.
The lowest weight class at which a wrestler may compete will be determined by predicted body weight at 7% body fat (males) and 12 % body fat (females) as follows.
Is wrestling the hardest sport to go d1? ›
Only 2.7% of all wrestlers make it to NCAA competition. Only 2.7% of all wrestlers make it to NCAA competition. That doesn't mean it's the hardest, it means most don't want to wrestle in college.
In the United States, in the First Golden Age of professional wrestling in the 1940s–1960s, Gorgeous George gained mainstream popularity, followed in the Second Golden Age in the 1980s–early 1990s by Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Ric Flair, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Ultimate Warrior, Sting, Dusty ...
Is wrestling the most mentally challenging sport? ›
“Wrestling is like no other sport; it is by far the hardest to compete in both physically and mentally,” he said. “As someone who has played multiple sports, I can guarantee you one period of wrestling feels like one full game of whatever sport you play.”
What is youth wrestling called? ›
Folkstyle is a form of wrestling that is only contested in the United States at the youth levels through college.
