Northern Illinois University’s (NIU) Convocation Center is to host the 2026 Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Boys State Wrestling Finals, March 13-14. For more than 25 years, the DeKalb Wrestling Club has been the host organization for the IESA State Wrestling Finals, which attracts approximately 6,000 visitors to the area and contributes an estimated $450,000 to the local economy during the two-day tournament. 

Admission for spectators at the NIU Convocation Center opens at 10 a.m. Friday, March 13 and 8 a.m. Saturday, March 14 with both Class A and Class AA matches starting at 11:30 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. Daily admission fees for the IESA State Wrestling Finals are $15 for adults, and $10 for senior citizens and K-8 students. Admission for pre-school children is free. Additional information about the 2026 IESA State Wrestling Finals is available on the IESA website. 

Boys and girls wrestling student-athletes in grades fifth through eighth from across the state will participate individually and in team competition in a two-class format. A record 327 schools are participating in the 2026 IESA Wrestling State Tournament Series. The IESA State Wrestling Finals made its DeKalb County debut in 1999 with venerable Chick Evans Field House serving as the host venue. The NIU Convocation Center has hosted the event since 2003.  

DeKalb County and NIU’s long history of supporting and hosting youth sports and activities state tournaments include the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Football and Girls Badminton State Championships, IHSA Boys and Girls Basketball Super-Sectionals, ICA cheerleading and dance competitions, IHSEA Esports State Championships and more recently the FIRST Illinois Robotics State Championships. 

The DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau (DCCVB) extends thanks to its local hotel partners Red Roof Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn, Home2 Suites, Best Western Sycamore Inn, The Hotel at Holmes and Comfort Inn and Suites for accommodating IESA staff and tournament officials. The DCCVB is proud of its strong relationship with the IESA, DeKalb Wrestling Club, Northern Illinois University and all of DeKalb County looks forward to welcoming thousands of wrestling fans and competitors from across the state to the NIU Convocation Center the weekend of March 13 – 14.  

Check out ExperienceDeKalbCounty.com for more information on events, attractions, places to eat and to stay in DeKalb County.