National Duals Invitational Announces 2026 Automatic Qualifications

The National Duals Invitational, a groundbreaking $1 million collegiate wrestling event sponsored by Paycom, has announced the teams earning automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Featuring top programs from across the country, the tournament will bring elite competition and high-stakes prize money to Tulsa this December.

Penn State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio State, Stanford, Michigan, Iowa State, Minnesota and NC State have all received automatic qualifier invitations. Because all four of last year’s National Duals Invitational top finishers also placed in the NCAA Championships’ top 10, only 10 automatic qualification spots will be awarded in 2026.

Finalists Named for 2026 USA Wrestling Anthony-Maroulis Trophy

Five finalists have been selected for the 2026 USA Wrestling Anthony-Maroulis Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s best women’s college wrestler—Kennedy Blades of Iowa, Erin Hikiji of Providence, Audrey Jimenez of Lehigh, Cristelle Rodriguez of Doane and Kylie Welker of Iowa.

Hikiji was the Hawaii winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award in 2022 while Jimenez was the Arizona and West Region winner in 2024.

Blades, Jimenez and Welker were champions at the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling National Championships. Hikiji and Rodriguez earned national titles at the NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championships.

The award winner will be selected by a vote from three constituent groups—women’s college head coaches, national wrestling media and the fans. Each group accounts for one-third of the total vote.

Public voting is now open at usawrestlingevents.com/wcwoty and will run through Tuesday, March 31. The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 2.

Valencia Competes at Dan Kolov – Nikola Petrov International Friday

2025 World champion Zahid Valencia, who was the California and National winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2015, is the lone entrant for the U.S. at the 63rd annual Dan Kolov – Nikola Petrov International. In the 86 kg bracket, Valencia competes on Friday at the “Kolodruma” in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Friday’s competition begins at 10:30 a.m. local time/4:30 a.m. ET. Repechage and medal matches are slated to start at 5 p.m. local time/11 a.m. ET.

Hall of Fame Launches 50th Anniversary Coloring Books

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is excited to announce that it is creating a series of wrestling coloring books as part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration. 

The series of five coloring books are being created by Foundation for Wrestling Art & Innovation founder and former wrestler Ross Bendik, a member of the Hall of Fame's 50th Anniversary committee. 

The coloring books will be divided into five decades, beginning with 1976 when the museum opened.

Elsbury Named 2026 Iowa High School Female Wrestler of the Year Award Recipient

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum has announced that Autumn Elsbury of South Tama High School has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Iowa High School Female Wrestler of the Year award.

This award is presented annually to the top female high school senior wrestler in Iowa.

Anthony-Maroulis Trophy Will Be Presented To USA Wrestling's Women’s College Wrestler of the Year

The USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award, now in its fourth year, has been named the Anthony-Maroulis Trophy after Victoria Anthony and Helen Maroulis, who are the first four-time women’s college national champions.

Anthony and Maroulis both won a fourth WCWA national title in 2014 as teammates at Simon Fraser University, becoming the first wrestlers in history to achieve the feat. Anthony earned her title first at 109 pounds, and was quickly followed by Maroulis at 130 pounds.

Kerberos Capital Management Is Title Sponsor for USA Wrestling's Final X

USA Wrestling and Kerberos Capital Management are proud to announce a new partnership with Kerberos as the title sponsor for 2026 Final X.

2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Friday, June 19. Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. Senior World Team for men’s and women’s freestyle.

Ross Named 2026 Bob Steenlage Iowa High School Wrestler of the Year Recipient

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum has announced that Dreshaun Ross of Fort Dodge High School has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Bob Steenlage Iowa High School Wrestler of the Year award. 

Named in honor of the first four-time Iowa high school state champion, the award is presented annually to the top high school senior wrestler in Iowa.