2026 KSHSAA Wrestling State Championship: Brackets, Schedule & How to Watch
The 2026 Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Wrestling State Championship is set to unfold across four Kansas cities – Overland Park, Park City, Salina, and Hays – on and . The tournament, steeped in nearly a century of tradition since its inception in 1930, will feature competition across four classifications for both boys and girls: Class 6A, 5A, 4A, and 3-1A.
The event marks a continuation of a robust wrestling season in Kansas, which saw regional competitions for girls’ classifications (4A and 3-1A) held on and , and for boys’ classifications (6A and 5A) on and respectively. These regional contests determined the qualifiers for the state championship, with the number of qualifying wrestlers varying by classification.
For Class 4A and 3-1A girls, the top four finishers in each weight class from regional competition advanced to the state tournament. Class 6A and 5A girls saw the top eight wrestlers in each weight class qualify. The boys’ regional competitions followed a similar pattern, with the top four from Class 4A and 3-1A and the top eight from Class 6A and 5A earning their places at state.
The weight classes for the 2026 championship are as follows: for boys, 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, and 285 pounds. Girls will compete in 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, and 235-pound weight classes.
The daily schedule at each location will begin with weigh-ins at 7:00 a.m. Central Time, followed by an opening ceremony and parade of athletes at 8:45 a.m. Competition will then commence with multiple rounds throughout the day, culminating in championship finals on . The schedule includes dedicated time for consolation brackets, allowing wrestlers who initially lose a match to continue competing for placement.
For those unable to attend in person, live coverage of the 2026 KSHSAA Kansas Wrestling State Championship will be available on FloWrestling and the FloSports app. Archived footage will also be accessible on these platforms following the conclusion of each match, providing a comprehensive record of the tournament.
The 2025 championship saw Manhattan High School claim the Class 6A boys’ title, Goddard High School win Class 5A, Rose Hill High School take the Class 4A crown, and Hoxie High School emerge victorious in Class 3-1A. On the girls’ side, Garden City High School won Class 6A, Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School secured the Class 5A title, Tonganoxie High School prevailed in Class 4A, and Norton Community High School won Class 3-1A.
The evolution of girls’ wrestling in Kansas is noteworthy. The first team to win a girls’ state title was Washburn Rural in 2020, when there was only one classification. From 2021 to 2024, competition was divided into two classifications. The 2026 championship will see the girls compete in the same four classifications as the boys, mirroring the structure of the boys’ tournament and signifying a continued commitment to the growth of the sport for female athletes.
Beyond the competition itself, the championship serves as a showcase for the dedication and skill of Kansas high school wrestlers. The event’s longevity – approaching its centennial in 2030 – underscores the enduring popularity of wrestling within the state and its importance to the communities that host and participate in the tournament. The integration of Trackwrestling’s tournament tracking tools into FloWrestling further enhances the experience for fans, providing real-time results, brackets, and athlete profiles.
As of , FloWrestling publishes national high school wrestling rankings, offering a broader context for the performance of Kansas wrestlers on a national stage. The story of Brock Hardy, a former youth wrestler now competing at the University of Nebraska, highlights the potential pathways for young athletes who excel in the sport.