The Ironman Wrestling Tournament, held annually at Walsh Jesuit, is considered by many to be the premier wrestling tournament in the country. The event hosts 500 wrestlers from 26 states, 96 schools, and represents 14 weight classes.

Fans once again expect a great weekend of wrestling, and this year’s field will not disappoint. Hosting such a large tournament takes a ton of work by many individuals in the Walsh Jesuit community.

Tournament manager and Walsh Jesuit Athletic Director Barb Salata does work behind the scenes such as hiring officials. She has been working tirelessly for the past couple of weeks and admits to having “sleepless nights” due to the amount of work she has been doing.

Walsh Jesuit Golf Coach Bill Reilly is also heavily involved and is a “pivotal part” in making the tournament a great success according to Mrs. Salata. He facilitates all events, such as the coaches’ meeting. When asked why the Ironman has enjoyed such a prestigious reputation for so long, he credited two individuals, Bob Preusse and Corey Haddad, who “identify the best wrestlers and teams across the country and get in contact with them.”

These two individuals have done a great job once again as this year’s field from 26 states contains 18 nationally ranked teams and 62 state champions.

Volunteer workers constitute another element that makes the Ironman Tournament a success. Countless Walsh Jesuit students volunteer to help work the mats and concessions, and Mr. Reilly believes that the volunteers have “such a good time working (this event).” Mrs. Truax and Noelle Johnson, mother of Walsh students Brad, Brennan, and Samantha Johnson, also deserve a ton of credit for their work as they run the mats and concessions, respectively.

As the days count down until the 23rd annual Ironman Tournament officially begins, the excitement and anticipation for the event continues to grow. Senior Kevin Cavanaugh believes the tournament “lives up to the hype it receives across the country” because “the competition level is insane.” He added that the Ironman is “unlike any other tournament I’ve ever been a part of throughout my entire wrestling career.” His favorite Ironman memory is the match in which his hand was raised for the first time, signifying his first victory. Unfortunately for Kevin, he will be unable to compete this year due to an injury.

Wrestler Matt Fields, a junior, looks forward to competing in the Ironman for the first time. He has participated in other nationally ranked wrestling tournaments such as the Fargo Nationals, Super 32, and the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament where he finished in second place. He has attended the Ironman before and believes the “intensity of the crowd” makes the tournament great. Matt is “super excited” to be able to compete against the “best in the country at [his] own house,” the Dome.

The Pioneer will be providing live updates via Twitter throughout the tournament for those not able to attend this highly anticipated event.