Walsh Jesuit will once again be on the main stage of the high school wrestling world as it hosts the XXV Annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman Wrestling Tournament on December 7-8. The nationally acclaimed tournament is in its 25^th year and will feature the top wrestlers from across the country.

The field of grapplers includes many nationally ranked wrestlers and former state champions competing as both individuals and in teams to form the toughest tournament brackets in the country. Several wrestlers who have competed in the Ironman have gone on to great success at the collegiate and Olympic levels. The Ironman is known as one as of the biggest high school wrestling tournaments in the US.

According to InterMat Wrestling reporter Josh Lowe, “The Walsh Jesuit Ironman is the the nation’s best regular season high school wrestling tournament.”

This year, the event features approximately 800 of the best high school wrestlers spread across 14 weight classes from 102 schools in 23 states. The high-stakes competition will include the most teams and the most wrestlers in the tournament’s illustrious history. Over 5,000 people — including wrestlers, parents, and fans — are expected. Another first is that a wrestler from Hawaii will compete.

With the Ironman being such a big event, a great deal of preparation is required. The event is organized by Bill Reilly, Tournament Director, with the help of WJ Athletic Administrator Mrs. Barb Salata and Athletic Director Mr. Mark Hassman.

“We started preparing for [The Ironman] on January 1 of this year, so it is been 11 months of preparation,” said Mrs. Salata.

As hosts of the tournament, some of WJ’s wrestlers are eligible to participate in both individual and team competitions.  The Warriors will be led by a few seasoned juniors and sophomores but will mainly feature new wrestlers. One of the veterans is junior Adam Salek, who will be participating in the Ironman for the first time.

“We are a very young team, and a lot of guys are in their first year wrestling or wrestled before and were out for a while,” Salek said. “Myself, [juniors] Chase Henderson and Jack Schmidt, and [sophomore] Carter Johnston are all experienced and lead the team.”

He added, “I hope we can possibly win a match or two and grow as a team.”

Tickets are available online or at the front of the Commons during the Ironman. The first whistle starts the matches at 10:00 AM both Friday and Saturday. More information about the XXV Annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman Wrestling Tournament can be found at http://walshjesuitironman.com