Sectional Information

2024 Sectional Tournament Information

Note: Information provided below applies to the BOYS age groups and the GIRLS age groups.

The information below is provided merely as a courtesy. Consult the IKWF by-laws to verify the accuracy of the information listed.

Dates:All sectional tournaments must be wrestled and completed by March 2, 2024.
Note: A Sectional tournament may be run in two (2) consecutive days but must be Friday, March 1st and Saturday, March 2nd. IKWF by-laws do not allow sectional tournaments on Sunday.
Sectional Tournament Director:Shall be the sectional director of each sectional or the sectional director's designee.
Team Eligibility:All teams must be chartered with the IKWF by the postmark deadline of February 1st of each season. A team's primary practice site must reside within the borders of the State of Illinois.
Wrestler Eligibility:Bantam, Intermediate, Novice and Senior Division wrestlers only.

In addition to the regional tournament eligibility requirements, wrestlers must qualify for the sectional tournament by:

1) In sectionals with two (2) regional qualifying tournaments, place in the top six (6).

2) In sectionals with three (3) regional qualifying tournaments, place in the top four (4).
Note: A wrestlers weight class is determined at the regional tournament. Wrestlers MAY NOT switch weight classes for the sectional tournament.
Coach Eligibility:All coaches must hold a current USAW Wrestling Leader Membership, they must be NCEP (copper, bronze, silver, or gold) certified, and they must display their wrestling leader membership card at the sectional tournament as defined in the IKWF by-laws.
Entry Fee:$25 per wrestler. Due at the conclusion of your scratch meeting.
Sectional Tournament Locations:Member teams shall be notified by its sectional director as to where their sectional tournament will be located.
Sectional Entries:Only Bantam, Intermediate, Novice, and Senior division qualifiers from the regional qualifying tournaments. If a sectional qualifier does not make weight at the sectional tournament, his/her participation in the IKWF State Series has ended.
Team Scoring:Bantam, Intermediate, Novice, and Senior - as defined by the National Federation of State High School wrestling rules (see Rule 9 starting on page 50 of the NFHS rule book).
Scoring Wrestlers:In the Bantam, Intermediate, Novice, and Senior divisions teams are limited to two (2) scoring wrestlers at each weight class. If more than two (2) wrestlers are entered at a given weight class, the scoring wrestlers must be declared at the scratch meeting.
Brackets:Bantam, Intermediate, Novice, and Senior: 12-man double elimination bracket with wrestle backs to 3rd place.
Sectional Pairings:See sectional pairings starting on page 35 of the IKWF bylaws.
Individual Awards:Medals will be awarded to the top four (4) place winners.
Team Awards:Plaques will be awarded to the top three (3) teams.
Weigh-ins:All wrestlers, including those in the 275 lbs. weight class are required to weigh-in wearing a competition singlet or a legal two-piece uniform. Each wrestler must make scratch weight. No weight allowance will be given for the first day of competition. Wrestlers are given two (2) consecutive attempts to make weight. Upon entry to the weigh-in area, wrestlers may not attempt to lose weight and may not leave until their attempt(s) has(have) been made. Each participant shall be named to their respective weight class at the time they weigh-in for regional competition.
Day before weigh-ins:If 3/4's of the teams are in agreement, a sectional may hold weigh-ins the day before the sectional tournament. This will be determined by a vote of all participating teams.
Note: Under no circumstances may weigh-ins occur more than one day prior to the sectional tournament.
Advancement to State:Bantam, Intermediate, Novice, and Senior - The top three (3) in each weight class.